Online shopping of books is revolutionising the reading habit of Malayalis with the traditional bookshops taking a hit in the process. A click of the mouse is all that a reader needs to do to get his or her favourite book without going to a bookstore and searching all the shelves. The online counterparts bring the book to your doorsteps within days of ordering.
With attractive discounts, websites like Flipkart and Indiatimes have succeeded in persuading many readers to get their books online.
Courier companies like Bluedart and Aramex claim to have delivered a high number of books to customers across the state these days.
“We deliver close to 150 books a day in Kozhikode. The figure rises to around 850 when cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are also taken into account,” says Jayesh R, Kozhikode branch manager of ‘Aramex’. And it has not always been this good, they add. “Just over a year ago, we were delivering only one-fifth of what we are doing now,” he says.
Book enthusiasts say that while the range of choices available in online bookstores is the prime reason for opting for them, the discounts that they offer is another factor.
Subin Abraham, a native of Eranhipalam, says that online book stores have changed his shopping views to such an extent that visits to regular book stalls are out of question.
“Detailed book reviews by multiple users is just one of the many attractions that lure me to online stores. The discounts play their part as well,” he says.
T Vivek, an avid reader from Feroke, is excited about the immense possibilities of online book shopping. “I could not get Histories by Herodotus in spite of going through every bookstore. I finally laid my hands on the book after ordering it online from Flipkart.
“While people think twice before going for electronics and other items online because there is no assurance of quality, books are a relatively safe option,” Vivek says.
The surge made by online book stores has also taken a toll on their regular counterparts.
Arun R, a sales executive at DC Books, feels that book sales have been on a low for the past few months.
“We sell an average of 25 books daily at the RP Mall outlet of DC Books. It used to be much more than that,” he says.