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When I began buying books (in the 1960s), used book stores were made of brick and mortar. The internet was a dream of writers like Isaac Asimov. To buy a used book you walked into a used book store, browsed the shelves (arranged, of course, by topic), found something you wanted, and then went to the register to pay the proprietor. The store was a one- or two-person operation. After a few visits, the proprietor and customer were usually friends and a stop at the store was a social occasion. As the proprietor got to know you, he would often call (on the land-line phone--only Dick Tracy had a cell phone) when he got in books you might be interested in. A relationship developed between buyer and seller. It was a friendly, positive experience. OTIS PRAIRIEDOG’S USED BOOKS, ETC. is a two-person, (newfangled) old-fashioned bookstore. We find our books, most of which are one-of-a-kind, the old fashioned way. We visit library book sales, thrift shops, garage sales and the like, and I am a regular at the local flea market. (I go alone to the flea market--Sandy has no intention of getting up at 5 AM). We also buy libraries, from a carton of books to a roomful. We usually end up with several hundred new (old--used) books each week. The books are examined, sorted, and either sold immediately to buyers or listed on the internet. OTIS PRAIRIEDOG’S USED BOOKS, ETC. does not specialize, but we have developed a knack for finding that odd title in a collectable niche. As a rule we do not list much common fiction or the latest, hottest titles. (If we do find these, and they are worth the effort, they are usually listed on Amazon.com.) Our books are fairly priced, based on the internet market, the condition of the book, scarcity, etc. We are usually not the cheapest available, but as a matter of policy, we offer an inexpensive, fair value for your dollar. You are free to compare our prices, after all, with other copies of a book that are on the internet. One problem, traditional with the old-fashioned bookstore, is that you never know what you will find. One advantage, traditional to the old-fashioned bookstore, is that you never know what you will find. It makes the search interesting and is definitely more fun for both the buyer and seller! I recently made a large buy of quality hardcover science fiction titles. It was the first time. Two weeks later I found fifty more science fiction titles, mostly first editions. I have only purchased two or three sci-fi titles since. Our plans, as I am writing this, are to open OTIS PRAIRIEDOG’S USED BOOKS, ETC. with 1,000 or more books in stock and listed. My goal is to list an additional 100 or more books each week. What books are listed will depend entirely on what books we find. Since we live in Delaware, we are more likely to find books of Delaware interest than, say, North Dakota. But I have listed a spiral-bound fund raising cookbook from a small church in North Dakota. And another from Honolulu, Hawaii. If you are looking for a specific book about World War II, we likely will not have it. But if you are looking for an addition to a collection or library about World War II, we likely will have something interesting. |
Special Books
Give Me the Hudson or the Yukon
$4.50 |
1000 Difficult Bible Questions Answered
$6.00 |
The Trail of Tears
$3.00 |