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Detroit Specials Used Books

@detroitspecials.bsky.social

820 followers 42 following 530 posts

We're Detroit's best used bookstore (that you've never heard of) Gently used & new books in all genres, for all ages. Curated, inclusive, & leftist. Masks are required to shop in-store; we're happy to provide them if needed. https://detroitusedbooks.com

detroitusedbooks.com

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

That's a great idea! We're trying to figure out the budget for warming kits; it wouldn't take too much more to add some hygiene kits to the mix

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

It won't be long until we ALL need some type of mutual aid to survive.

Please comment with your favorite SMALL scale (we're v. smol) mutual aid actions. If your idea fits with our community, we'll do our best to figure it out 👍🏼

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

So I'm also aggressively reviewing our inventory to see where we can cut prices for our customers, and brainstorming with customers and neighbors about other ways to support our community.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

Our ornament swap is inspired by this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqyz...

A lot of people don't realize how tanked this economy is about to be. We don't want anyone to go broke just trying to give their family & friends a nice holiday.

This will find you when you're ready

YouTube video by things your mom should’ve told you

www.youtube.com

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

More info is coming soon! Meanwhile: we're CLOSED this Thursday to start getting the store into holiday party condition.

We're OPEN for our regular Friday & Saturday hours: 2-9 PM.

Hope to see you!

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

Our capacity is only 18 people; this is a 'reserve your slot' situation. Sign ups & details will be posted in 2 weeks.

The PARTY ends at 6. We'll still be open for shopping & ornament swapping til 9.

We don't want anyone to miss out on much, so we'll set some goodies aside for late arrivals!

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

As part of the celebration, we're holding an ornament swap so people can mix up their holiday displays for no cost.

We're also kicking off our annual Holiday Book Flood early: $5-$10 bookish gifts, special holiday collage packs for crafters, fun stocking stuffers, & great surprises for everyone.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 1d

SAVE THE DATE

Our anniversary's really in August. That's a BUSY time, & we haven't been able to celebrate on the day 😭 -- but I can't let 5 YEARS go by without a party!

The 2025 holidays will be financially difficult on everyone. We can help each other have a great time without overspending!

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 2d

Update: it turns out a huge chunk of AWS is down.

Amazon, Canva, Fortnite, and Snapchat are definitely affected and/or completely down. Other services like Google Docs that use AWS are hit or miss until -- ??

No updates on a fix are available yet.

today is gonna be a RIDE

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 2d

Anyway. I'm trying to get another 15+ books entered before bed but I'm not quite desperate enough to turn to ipage (Ingram's database of books) yet.

it's fine for ordering but very Not Great for browsing

There are other places to get that info.

Bookshop.org, here I come 👍

Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores.

An online bookstore that financially supports local independent bookstores and gives back to the book community.

Bookshop.org

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 2d

~inside bookselling secrets, woooooooo~

When I'm adding books to our catalog, I usually grab descriptions from Amazon. It has faster navigation than Ingram, the book distributor from which Amazon pulls that info.

I can't do that tonight, because Amazon's search feature is BORKED 😂

BWAHAHA

Screenshot of Amazon's 500 error landing page. Page reads: SORRY something went wrong on our end - Please go back and try again or go to Amazon's home page.

There's a picture of a cute dog - one of those that looks like a mini malamute - under the text, as if a puppy pic makes up for the site which drove hundreds of independent bookstores out of business suddenly not allowing anyone to search for books.

I mean. It kind of does

Anyway. Bookshop.org is RIGHT THERE so I guess that's where I'm headed next, hashtag bwahahaHAHAHA

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 2d

Seconded. This is nationwide. The librarians I know all say it'll take libraries much longer than usual to get new books. Please be patient with them while they sort out how they'll acquire titles moving forward.

It won't hurt to get on waiting lists now for books you know you'll want to read.

Barbara Gordon @thebookwizard.bsky.social · 2d

This is your reminder to be VERY patient with your libraries as they deal with the loss of what might be their primary vendor.

It’s a hot mess.

Many libraries are nearing the end of their contracts with vendors and have to go out to bid.

But the 2 remaining vendors are swamped.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

Yep. But libraries are a completely different animal to bookstores.

Though I may not want to supply it, I'd NEVER tell someone they can't read something I don't like. What kind of jackass does that?

I'm just not into profiting from things I find hateful.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

That's what all of these Danielle Steele hardcovers that come in without dust jackets are for 🙂

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

Nope.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

Nope.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

I'm sure someone will. Plenty of other bookstores around👍🏼

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

ewww, I've never been unlucky enough to come across Camp of the Saints in the wild. Good on you for tossing it

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

Nope.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

They can.

But instead of spending the hours, days, weeks it would take to repurpose all of these books I barely even want to touch I can spend 30 minutes popping 'round to the recycling center...where anyone who wants them for whatever reason can grab as many as they want out of the bin. Win-win 🙂

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

OOF. I'm so sorry.

...on the other hand, hopefully that means no one else wants them either!

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

Nope.

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Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

And libraries are VERY important for just that reason! I just don't want them in my space ;)

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

WHOA. I had no idea...

Detroit Specials Used Books @detroitspecials.bsky.social · 3d

WHAT

That's AMAZING 😂

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