Reading a book in store: Is it stealing?

[Jack O Lantern]

Just wondering what the consensus is on this.

Personally I think it is stealing.

Option 3 is Depending on the stituation. That might mean something like, if a person buys 30 books and reads two in store that's ok but stealing them all is wrong.

 

[[A]]

I think you'd make a great dictator.

 

[Morg]

what about the person that reads it in the bathroom?

 

[Tron Bonne]

Unless you read it, and then buy it, I'm just going to say yes.

 

[Cdnmouse]

I totally think it is stealing. I work in a comic book store and have for 6 years, and I have to say that it really P's me off when a person comes in, stands in one place, reads through like 3 comics, and then walks out.

 

[Dark Victory]

Depends on the comic

 

[MadVillainy]

ya its kind of stealing.

 

[Dread]

I would imagine folks who work at comic shops or sympathize with them will vote, "Yes". Fans who actually read comics on the shelf without buying them will either vote "No" or "It Depends".

My answer is that it depends. A chap who comes into the shop, never buys anything, reads a few books and leaves, that is wrong and I can understand a clerk being irritated. On the other hand, a regular customer that comes in every week or at least two weeks out of four and usually always buys a few books (which, with today's prices, a 4 book week can easily cost $13-$16 on average) happens to thumb through one, it's not a big deal.

The real issue is that, to be frank, the quality of many comics is rather suspect, and it's the only way a fan can be any sort of informed customer. I have occasionally flipped through a book I was mulling buy, and if on a flip it looks decent, I will actually buy it. Especially in an era when Marvel expects you to throw $4 at a blind stab at a new series like DOCTOR VOODOO.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Well, flipping through them just to scout them out I have no problem with or anything, but to actually sit down and read the full comic cover to back is where I think it's closer to stealing

 

[Sawyer]

It's absolutely stealing. You dont just stand there in the store and read the book cover to cover. This isnt a ****ing library! Not only that, but you're getting in the way of others being able to look around. I dont want to have to tell some fatass to move over so I can see what the store has because they're too busy reading some manga without paying! Have a little common decency: look around, if you see something you want, BUY IT and then leave. These people arent following the rules of society...

Anyone who says its not stealing is full of it.

 

[MadVillainy]

its like going to a restaurant eating and not paying

 

[Sawyer]

its like going to a restaurant eating and not paying

Absolutely. These people are awful. They're not following the rules of society.

 

[MadVillainy]

its like having sex with a prostitute and then killing her

 

[Sawyer]

its like having sex with a prostitute and then killing her

Abso-- wait, what?!

 

[SuperFerret]

It's not stealing.

 

[Sawyer]

You're all criminals.

 

[SuperFerret]

You can't steal information.

 

[Tron Bonne]

But you can steal a sale from a bookstore if you only intend to read said work only once

 

[SuperFerret]

Sucks for them, but I can't imagine just reading something once.

Plus, honestly, if you can read an entire book in the store without someone interrupting you and telling you to buy it and stop loitering then they deserve to lose the sale.

 

[CConn]

Well, flipping through them just to scout them out I have no problem with or anything, but to actually sit down and read the full comic cover to back is where I think it's closer to stealing

This makes sense.

We can close the thread now.

 

[Sawyer]

Sucks for them, but I can't imagine just reading something once.

Plus, honestly, if you can read an entire book in the store without someone interrupting you and telling you to buy it and stop loitering then they deserve to lose the sale.

I have to agree with you there. Bookstores really need to be more harsh about this crap. I've seen people standing up, reading a book, page by page for a good hour. Same book. If I worked there, I'd definitely walk up and say "Buy it or **** off already. You're just getting in the way."

 

[Tron Bonne]

Sucks for them, but I can't imagine just reading something once.

Plus, honestly, if you can read an entire book in the store without someone interrupting you and telling you to buy it and stop loitering then they deserve to lose the sale.

Well, if we're talking comic books here, which I mostly was, I can think of a lot of those that I've really only read once. Plus, nowadays, comics don't take anymore then 5-10 minutes to read. In bigger stores like BAM! and Borders it's easy to take a seat in the back of the store and read one or two before any of the employees say anything to you. Shoppers maybe would say something, but they tend to mind themselves.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

Sucks for them, but I can't imagine just reading something once.

Plus, honestly, if you can read an entire book in the store without someone interrupting you and telling you to buy it and stop loitering then they deserve to lose the sale.

What about the creators? If a LCS orders 15 copies of a particular issue and 10 people buy the book but 5 read in store then the next order will only be 10 copies, but 15 people are cosnuming the product. And since 5 less copies are ordered Marvel/DC etc makes less money and therefore so does everyone envolved in the creation of the book.

 

[Addendum]

Well, if we're talking comic books here, which I mostly was, I can think of a lot of those that I've really only read once. Plus, nowadays, comics don't take anymore then 5-10 minutes to read. In bigger stores like BAM! and Borders it's easy to take a seat in the back of the store and read one or two before any of the employees say anything to you. Shoppers maybe would say something, but they tend to mind themselves.

Barnes and Noble has comfy chairs and sofas so you can sit down and read.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, I know. I think, in theory, people are suppose to be able to sit down and read materials they just purchased. I think anyway, I've never worked at any of the big chained bookstores, so I don't know if employees are suppose to just look the other way if they see someone take a couple of comics or novels to those areas without paying, reads them in full, puts them back and then leave