Another e-mail
A couple of days ago I received the following e-mail (translated by moi from Greek):
What's the story behind this e-mail?
A couple of weeks ago I started searching for a computer-related book to help me study for a course. I tried two local bookstores first, one of which is a branch of another big, Athenian bookstore, and got the same answer as above. We're sorry we don't have it, but you can order it. The price listed is 100 euros plus 4% taxes and it's usually delivered in 4 weeks. After that I asked a friend to check in two other bookstores in Athens. Neither had it, but one of them redirected my friend to their Order department and gave her a phone number for information. I've ordered books from them in the past, but I did that in person during holidays and had my parents receive them. I thought I may as well ask for a price and delivery date and see if they are cheaper or faster. I dialed the number and tried to ask for information, but a lady told me to either send them a fax or an e-mail. All they had to do was to type the ISBN code in the database. Surely that couldn't take more than two minutes. Anyway I sent an e-mail the same day and waited for an answer, till I eventually forgot it. And then I received the above. So basically, it took them two weeks, half of estimated delivery time, to find the answer and get back to me. And they even gave me the option of a phone call! It's a good thing I found another way to get hold of the book. A cheaper and slightly illegal.
Dear Ms ___,
in answer to your e-mail, sent 1/10/2004, we'd like to inform you that the book "D__ I__ C__" is not available at our bookstore. However there is the possibility of ordering it from abroad.
Delivery time is 30-40 days and 50% of the book's price, which is estimated at 145 euros, is required to be paid in advance.
At your disposal for any additional help (Ms ___, tel:___)
Kind regards,
Sales department of big bookstore in Athens
What's the story behind this e-mail?
A couple of weeks ago I started searching for a computer-related book to help me study for a course. I tried two local bookstores first, one of which is a branch of another big, Athenian bookstore, and got the same answer as above. We're sorry we don't have it, but you can order it. The price listed is 100 euros plus 4% taxes and it's usually delivered in 4 weeks. After that I asked a friend to check in two other bookstores in Athens. Neither had it, but one of them redirected my friend to their Order department and gave her a phone number for information. I've ordered books from them in the past, but I did that in person during holidays and had my parents receive them. I thought I may as well ask for a price and delivery date and see if they are cheaper or faster. I dialed the number and tried to ask for information, but a lady told me to either send them a fax or an e-mail. All they had to do was to type the ISBN code in the database. Surely that couldn't take more than two minutes. Anyway I sent an e-mail the same day and waited for an answer, till I eventually forgot it. And then I received the above. So basically, it took them two weeks, half of estimated delivery time, to find the answer and get back to me. And they even gave me the option of a phone call! It's a good thing I found another way to get hold of the book. A cheaper and slightly illegal.
posted by Maria | 10/15/2004 11:30:00 pm
145 €, good heavens! I never order books in bookstores anymore because I had so much trouble with them in the past. They either never contact you (although they always promise to do so) or call after two months to tell you that your book is "unfortunately out of print". No wonder people prefer ordering books via the internet. On the other hand, sometimes Amazon does not sell books that are available in bookshops. The life of a student can be a bitch...*sigh*.
Btw, I'm sorry for messing around with the comments. I didn't know the first post actually worked.
Cashima
This student's life would be so much easier if professors based their lectures on books translated in Greek and therefore easier to find.
Don't worry about the comments, I don't think it was your fault. I only received one notification, so Blogger somehow messed up. But it gave me a thrill when I saw I had more comments than what I expected.
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