Comments on: Weekend tidbits http://rickyopaterny.com/blog/2006/12/03/weekend-tidbits/ Ricky Opaterny on Books, Music, Art, and Sports Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:25:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rick http://rickyopaterny.com/blog/2006/12/03/weekend-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-7390 Rick Mon, 11 Dec 2006 06:12:53 +0000 http://www.gen-o.com/blog/2006/12/03/weekend-tidbits/#comment-7390 All businesses are supported by their customers on some level, so I don't necessarily think the idea is that far-fetched. What bothers me is that Kepler's does appear in any way to be accountable to its members. Members have no insight into how Kepler's spends their money, no control over what books and periodicals the store carries, and no voting rights over who serves on Kepler's so-called "Board of Directors." To answer your question, if Kepler's makes a great profit, I, as a customer, would hope to receive some sort of return on my investment in the store. I'm not saying that I should contribute membership dues and then earn interest on them or anything, but I should at least get my section of NYRB books and a fiction backwall that includes all works by William Gaddis, John Dos Passos, Saul Bellow, and David Foster Wallace. All businesses are supported by their customers on some level, so I don’t necessarily think the idea is that far-fetched. What bothers me is that Kepler’s does appear in any way to be accountable to its members. Members have no insight into how Kepler’s spends their money, no control over what books and periodicals the store carries, and no voting rights over who serves on Kepler’s so-called “Board of Directors.”

To answer your question, if Kepler’s makes a great profit, I, as a customer, would hope to receive some sort of return on my investment in the store. I’m not saying that I should contribute membership dues and then earn interest on them or anything, but I should at least get my section of NYRB books and a fiction backwall that includes all works by William Gaddis, John Dos Passos, Saul Bellow, and David Foster Wallace.

]]> By: evicious http://rickyopaterny.com/blog/2006/12/03/weekend-tidbits/comment-page-1/#comment-7248 evicious Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:37:01 +0000 http://www.gen-o.com/blog/2006/12/03/weekend-tidbits/#comment-7248 According Kepler's website, this is what you get if you are a member: " * A Kepler’s Member Rewards Card -- you will receive a $20 gift card with the purchase of 20 items. After you have filled your card and received your $20 gift card you will receive another Member Rewards Card. * A Member's Only Shopping Bag -- perfect for the Holidays! You will receive 15% off EVERYTHING you can fit into the bag (One time use) * In-store thank you gift * Invitations to members-only events * Advance notices to Kepler's events and programs * The knowledge that you are enriching our community by supporting Kepler's, your local, independent bookstore!" No matter what level of membership you purchase (Entry Level of $20 to Platinum Level of $2500), the benefits are exactly the same. I don't like the idea of membership programs (can you imagine any other independent business be so bold as to say, "we're going out of business -- let's ask our customers for some money to keep us open"?). But I have to admit it is creative and seems to work so far. But what will happen when Kepler's become a business that makes great profit? Will people be as inclined to contribute to the membership program? According Kepler’s website, this is what you get if you are a member:
” * A Kepler’s Member Rewards Card — you will receive a $20 gift card with the purchase of 20 items. After you have filled your card and received your $20 gift card you will receive another Member Rewards Card.
* A Member’s Only Shopping Bag — perfect for the Holidays! You will receive 15% off EVERYTHING you can fit into the bag (One time use)
* In-store thank you gift
* Invitations to members-only events
* Advance notices to Kepler’s events and programs
* The knowledge that you are enriching our community by supporting Kepler’s, your local, independent bookstore!”

No matter what level of membership you purchase (Entry Level of $20 to Platinum Level of $2500), the benefits are exactly the same. I don’t like the idea of membership programs (can you imagine any other independent business be so bold as to say, “we’re going out of business — let’s ask our customers for some money to keep us open”?). But I have to admit it is creative and seems to work so far. But what will happen when Kepler’s become a business that makes great profit? Will people be as inclined to contribute to the membership program?

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