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Best grumpy-used-book-store-owner experience ever: A friend and I went into an exceedingly cramped used book store in SF years ago, each looking for a particula

Best grumpy-used-book-store-owner experience ever: A friend and I went into an exceedingly cramped used book store in SF years ago, each looking for a particular title. Books were on shelves and also stacked in piles scattered along the two narrow aisles. There were a few labeled "sections", but within a section, everything was random. There was one other customer, my friend, and me, all tripping over one-another, looking for our books. Owner, from the front register, in a rather annoyed voice: "You know, you should call ahead, so I can tell you if we have your title, and have it ready for you when you come. We don't have room for customers to be rummaging around." So, we accepted defeat, and as we went to leave, the store phone rang, and the owner picked up. After a beat, and as I was stepping out the door, I heard the owner grumpily responding to the caller: "How should I know? I can't keep track of all the books here; you have to come in and look for it yourself..."

rbobby 6y ago
Very discworldian.
8bitsrule 6y ago
Similar story, different outcome: long ago I went into a used bookstore housed in an old firestation (now a theatre). It had many books shelved on its first floor, but the second floor was an acre of heaps. Its owner was a grey-haired and bearded, gruffish old-school book dealer. I was looking for an obscure French novel which was (I did not know) unlikely to be found anywhere, then or now. After quickly trying my luck and utterly failing, I asked about it by author and title. Melvin looked down, shuffled a bit, then said he'd have a look. Upstairs around the firepole he trudged. Five minutes of bumping, ten minutes of shuffling, and down the stairs he came holding it. "It's a little dusty," he offered. I'd pay a sizeable sum to be able to relive that moment.
- moonchild 6y ago
  What book?
- wazoox 6y ago
  I had the same experience about 30 years ago. A very old man (more than 80) had a used book store with 5 meters high shelves and stacks and piles and heaps everywhere. I came in and asked "do you have the works of Antiphon, by any chance? The bilingual version?" "He think for a moment, "ah, do you mean the 1923 translation? I must have it somewhere up there..." And he went up a ladder, rummaged on some shelves, and came back with the old, uncut book, in the battered original edition. I've bought many, many books there for a while, particularly the rare (and expensive when new) "Guillaume Budé" books in their original, paper-cover, uncut editions (https://www.lesbelleslettres.com/les-budes https://www.lesbelleslettres.com/les-budes). Some very sad day, the guy died and the magic store closed forever.
  - TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
    My favourite dusty bookstore story is the "$15 shipping" on this. https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30190277578 https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=3019027757...
closeparen 6y ago
I'm so grateful I got to visit the old seminary co-op bookstore at UChicago before it was destroyed. Low ceiling, hot steam-pipes everywhere, long winding narrow maze made of books. Just the right amount of claustrophobia and fire hazard. That place was magic. https://www.flickr.com/photos/idlethink/2316861882/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/idlethink/2316861882/in/photos...

rbobby 6y ago

Very discworldian.

8bitsrule 6y ago

Similar story, different outcome: long ago I went into a used bookstore housed in an old firestation (now a theatre). It had many books shelved on its first floor, but the second floor was an acre of heaps. Its owner was a grey-haired and bearded, gruffish old-school book dealer. I was looking for an obscure French novel which was (I did not know) unlikely to be found anywhere, then or now. After quickly trying my luck and utterly failing, I asked about it by author and title. Melvin looked down, shuffled a bit, then said he'd have a look. Upstairs around the firepole he trudged. Five minutes of bumping, ten minutes of shuffling, and down the stairs he came holding it. "It's a little dusty," he offered. I'd pay a sizeable sum to be able to relive that moment.

moonchild 6y ago
What book?
wazoox 6y ago
I had the same experience about 30 years ago. A very old man (more than 80) had a used book store with 5 meters high shelves and stacks and piles and heaps everywhere. I came in and asked "do you have the works of Antiphon, by any chance? The bilingual version?" "He think for a moment, "ah, do you mean the 1923 translation? I must have it somewhere up there..." And he went up a ladder, rummaged on some shelves, and came back with the old, uncut book, in the battered original edition. I've bought many, many books there for a while, particularly the rare (and expensive when new) "Guillaume Budé" books in their original, paper-cover, uncut editions (https://www.lesbelleslettres.com/les-budes https://www.lesbelleslettres.com/les-budes). Some very sad day, the guy died and the magic store closed forever.
- TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
  My favourite dusty bookstore story is the "$15 shipping" on this. https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30190277578 https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=3019027757...

closeparen 6y ago

I'm so grateful I got to visit the old seminary co-op bookstore at UChicago before it was destroyed. Low ceiling, hot steam-pipes everywhere, long winding narrow maze made of books. Just the right amount of claustrophobia and fire hazard. That place was magic. https://www.flickr.com/photos/idlethink/2316861882/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/idlethink/2316861882/in/photos...