'Immoral' Oxfam blamed for closure of My Back Pages bookshop in Tonbridge
By 28Maz28 | Friday, March 05, 2010, 10:40
A Tonbridge bookseller is claiming he is being forced out of business by the imminent arrival of Oxfam on the High street - and he believes the way the charity business is run is 'immoral'.
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Mr Books - will Oxfam hit trade there or will My Back Pages be the only loser?
Douglas Jeffers, owner of My Back Pages in Angel Walk, says the opening of a dedicated literary branch of Oxfam is unfair competition, as they don't have to pay wages or buy stock.
"They're businessmen with special privileges, which I don't have and it's harming my business," says Mr Jeffers.
"If I complain it imediately makes me look bad, that's why it's immoral using the guise of sanctity."
The shop is set to close at the end of the month. A spokesman for Oxfam said the charity was simply running its network of shops as an 'effective, innovative business'.
For another Tonbridge bookseller, Mr Books, the jury is still out on the impact Oxfam will have on local booksellers.
"There's no doubt about it that it will effect Mr. Books' trade probably
more so at the bottom end of the market, less so on the more
collectable books but I won't lose sleep over it," he says in his blog.
"After all Oxfam are
a great cause and do alot of brilliant work in third world countries as
has been demonstated with the recent Haiti emergency. Competitition is
good, it sharpens you up, it makes you think how you have to improve
your services to do better than the competition."
What do you think?
Comments
I liked My Back Pages, shame they have gone.
By moochin003 at 11:45 on 26/04/10
ReportI thought the Oxfam shop was brilliant. I love the varied selection of books. Always very interesting.
The staff are enthusiastic and friendly too. If I wanted a book, I would go there first. Very good value too and I always come away thinking I have found a great find.
I have just read Clare Rayner's and I highly recommend it, funny but very down to earth in parts. And I loved the cruise episode where she got airlifted.
By moochin003 at 11:45 on 26/04/10
ReportI do feel sorry for My Back Pages but I dont think he can blame the Oxfam Shop necessarily for his closure. I did not even know about the Oxfam shop until I saw the publicity on this so in a way it helped them. I run a beauty business of which there are several in Tonbridge and I still thrive.
Also I couldnt believe the price of the second hand boods in Oxfam...really expensive...I walked straight out again and into a cheaper charity shop!!!
By Tranquilo Beauty @ Tipz n Toez at 07:36 on 24/03/10
ReportGood heavens this has created a stink hasn't it? I think the Oxfam shop is brilliant - went in the other day and it was clean and fresh smelling, stacked with loads of interesting books (I picked up Claire Raynor's autobiography). Funnily enough I heard someone talking about Mr Books - he had just popped in for a good browse around! No doubt looking on how he can improve and compete, as he said. This can't have been good though can it? Even his blog has taken a hit - he has had to stop people making comments which is why I came on here instead - I don't want to be moderated by a blogger thanks!
By SheilaBrad at 11:54 on 23/03/10
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