'A Cheap Book Still Has a High Cost'

"Today a customer mentioned that she could get a new hardcover book online for $15. Our mission is not to shame anyone for their shopping practices, but we do feel a responsibility to educate about what it means when a new hardcover is available for $15 online.... When we order direct from publishers, we get a wholesale discount of 46% off the cover price. The book in question had a cover price of $26.99, meaning our cost for that book from the publishers would be $14.57. If we sold it for $15, we'd make... 43 cents.... But we will say: we feel a responsibility to use our platform to educate people about this stuff. If you've ever wondered why it seems like 'there are no bookstores anymore' or why retail businesses keep closing in your downtown, this is it. A cheap book still has a high cost."

--The Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kans., in a Twitter thread that went viral, with more than 40,000 likes and 16,000 shares
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