Sylla McClellan is Past President of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and a scrapper of a small business owner (she runs two in McMinnville, Oregon). And she’s not going to take it anymore. If you are on her newsletter mailing list, today you received the following declaration. After you read this humdinger of a teaser, do yourself a favor and visit the links she provides, including her own Third Street Books blog, where she passionately and articulately expounds.
This Saturday is Ditch Amazon Day. Why, you ask? Well, Amazon has recently announced that they will pay you $5 to browse in a brick and mortar store, scan the bar code of an item you want to purchase and then buy it from them. You can read more about it here and here. You can read more about my thoughts about it here. We think this tactic is dirty. This is Amazon loudly declaring war on brick and mortar stores. So we are offering an alternative announcement: This Saturday, December 10th, bring in proof that you have closed your Amazon account, and you will receive 15% off your purchase, plus a $5 gift certificate.
Go Sylla!
Way to go! Great idea. Thank You.
Isn’t taking bar codes in that fashion the same as stealing?
Great idea Sylla. Thanks for sharing
I applaud your feisty taking on of Amazon! If I were closer I would come in and meet you. Next time we are there I will . . . Heather Sharfeddin (author and resident of McMinnville) is our daughter. Good luck in fighting the BIG BOYS!
Joan, we know Heather! Tell her to keep us updated on what’s she’s working on and that we’ll give her some space here. Thanks for following NWBL, and happy holidays.
this is theft ,plain and simple.
I have rarely purchased anything from Amazon, preferring to pay a little more at an independent book store. I love living in “book city” like Seattle and shopping at stores that offer something besides the “top ten” bestsellers. Hurray for Sylla, more power to you!
Judith Hance
You are a rock star.
I like your way of thinking Sylla but I won’t be able to participate in your offer—not only because I live in Seattle but also because I DO NOT HAVE AN AMAZON ACCOUNT and I never will. I grew up haunting bookstores, a habit I have continued all my life and one that I find substantially increases the quality of my life. Thanks to all of you who give me a place to hang out whenever the mood strikes me.