Posts Tagged ‘retail. charity’
» posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 1:17 am by Jon Hunter
Second Hand Books Shops Feel The Pinch from Oxfam
Second hand book dealers have surprised many people by taking a pop at Oxfam. It is rare that anyone is bold enough to take a pop at such an established charity as Oxfam. However things have got so bad for the second hand book industry they are willing to speak out and claim that Oxfam is putting them out of business.
Booksellers claim that Oxfam is the “Tesco of the second hand book market” and that unfair competition from Oxfam is responsible for the closure of many seconds hand book shops recently.
Since opening its first second hand book shop in 1987 Oxfam now has 121 second hand bookshops in different parts of the country, selling over 19 million pounds worth of books lat year, and is considered the largest retailer of second hand books in Europe.
Book Dealers are arguing that Oxfam is able to compete unfairly in the marketplace due to there charitable status, they get free staffing from volunteers , they do not have to pay for stock and they get an 80% reduction on business rates.
Oxfam have responded by stating that there are many other factors currently affecting the viability of second hand book sellers, such as the fall in new book prices due to big retailers, and the ability to buy second hand books online.
Bookdealers seem unclear about what measures should be taken. Do they want Oxfam stopped from selling books? Do they reject the idea that an obvious charity should receive charitable status? Do they believe they should receive free product and staffing to be donated to themselves by general populace so they can make personal profit?
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