Shakespeare & Co Booksellers

10/11/09

A telling interaction

by richardsonrd at Citysearch

Manager: That'll be $16.23

Me: Does that include the Cooper Union discount?

Manager: You have to tell me before the transaction begins that you are from Cooper Union.

Me: That's why I put my i.d. on the counter with the book. (Pointing to the i.d.)

Manager: Well, I don't look to see what anyone puts on the counter.

Me: (Silent)

Manager: I'll give you the discount this time, but next time you'll be SOL.

Me: That's fine.

Manager: It's more than fine, I did you a favor, and now you can say "thanks." It'll be $13.11

Me: (Silent. Hand the manager my card.)

Manager: (Hands me the receipt.)

Me: (Sign the receipt. Start to walk out with the book.)

Manager: (Voice raised) When someone does you a favor, the polite thing to do is thank them.

Me: (Walking back.) I'm not going to say "thank you."

Manager: The polite thing to do is say "thank you."

Me: I'm not going to argue with you about this. . .

Manager: You're the one who walked back in.

Me: You know why I didn't say "thank you."

Manager: No, I don't.

Me: Yes, you do. You know how you are.

Manager: How am I?

Me: You know how you are. (Walking out) You're incredibly rude.

11/19/04

A big-city chain of bookstores that retains its neighborhood feel.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Plucky mini-chain Shakespeare & Co keeps the independent bookstore flag flying at six locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. While covering all general-interest bases, the selection and the displays are oriented toward hipsters and students. In other words, you'll find a well-stocked philosophy--rather than new age and self-help--section here. Furthermore, the staff are friendlier than at most independent bookstores.

The Goods
Shakespeare & Co. is big enough to offer a little of everything, yet small enough to make finding titles fairly easy. Hardcovers are always 10% off and branches near colleges buy and sell textbooks. Each store is suited to the tastes of its neighborhood, so head to the Upper East Side for trendy, hardcover fiction and literary classics or downtown for play scripts and alternative fiction. As for the store's namesake, the Bard is well-stocked at all locations.