By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
The sign outside the downtown Bestsellers beckons
customers by promising to match prices (when shipping
costs are included) from Internet book merchants
such as Amazon.com.

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Upstart local
book store picks up
’Net gauntlet

Bestsellers vows to
match online prices

By Peter Wagner
Star-Bulletin

A hand-written sign outside a downtown book shop is drawing interest.

Bestsellers, which opened last year at Bishop Square, is offering to match any price for any book available on the Internet -- plus shipping and handling.

Just bring in the quote and they'll tack on transportation.

Bestsellers owner Brian Melzack figures he has little to lose and much to gain.

"People say, "I can order it for 40 percent off through the Internet," Melzack said. "But when you add postage and handling the cost goes way up. And you have to wait for the book."

Actual savings to Internet book shoppers, he said, is often minimal.

"What we're saying is, 'Hey folks, support your local businesses.' "

Mulling the offer outside Bestsellers yesterday was Betsy Marcinkus, who buys most of her books on the Internet. She likes the 50 percent discounts, the lack of state excise taxes and the convenience of home delivery.

But Marcinkus, who spends several hundred dollars a month on books, has found the savings can be slim. She recently paid 75 cents more for a book ordered on the Internet than she would have paid at Borders, where she earlier shopped.

Still, she saved on cab fare.

"I didn't have to take a taxi to Borders," she said. "It's the convenience."

Ever alert to a customer, Melzack stepped over to offer Marcinkus free home delivery on a purchase at his store, which drew a look of interest.

Melzack, who opened his store last August, doesn't know exactly how much business he is losing to Amazon.com Inc. and other Internet book sellers. But he's concerned.

"As a local business person, I have to fight the perception that things are cheaper on the Internet, and they're not," he said.

He hopes other businesses will follow his lead to stem the flow of consumer dollars out of Hawaii.

Melzack marvels at the overnight success of Amazon.com, but predicts it won't last. Still sustaining heavy losses despite huge sales, that trend can't go on, he says.

"No business can afford to have those kinds of losses year after year," he said.

Meanwhile, Melzack said, Bestsellers is planning to open a second store, in Waikiki later this year.