More Droppings - absurd remarks made by customers and of course, bookshop owners. You can add your droppings here.

Child picking up a Dickens first edition - "look mum £150 - you could buy a sky dish for that"....another no sale!
(Boz Books)

Customer: I want potato peeler and plastic bags (repeats twice)
Bookseller: Is that a cookery book ?
Customer: No I want a potato peeler and plastic bags- this is the hardwear shop isn't it ?
(Boz Books)

The classic, which is a regular occurrance is "but this book costs more than when it was new, that can't be right!"
The two responses are:-
1) You can pay me with 1933 pennies.
2) So does your house!
(River Reads)

Customer: have you go any books on windows? Computer savy assistant: Would that be 95 ,98 or 2000 madam?
Customer: Well, our house was built in the 50's, which one would you recommend!
(Darren Bell)

Wife over her shoulder to her husband, who is perusing a racy 1970s paperback with (as I recall) a topless nun on the cover: "The woman next door won't like it if you buy that..."
(Roy B)

Overheard whilst I was selling at a school book fair. Boy: (aged around 5): Can I have this book, Mum? Mother: What do you need a book for? You can't read!
(Amanda)

'Do you know all your books?'
'How much are all your books?'
'Where do you get them all - for instance this one?'
'You are not going in there!' (Often heard from the street.)
'You can go in there but don't buy anything'.
(Mercat Books)

Customer: Do you rent out books in here?
Bookseller: Er no. You could try the library? Down the road?
Customer: No! I want THIS book. But I don't want to BUY it. I just want to rent it. You really mean to say I can't rent out a book, I have to buy it?
*Bookseller quietly moves away*
(Anon)

Customer: Do you have a copy of the complete works of Edger Allen Poe?
Bookseller: We should do! Have you tried in classics. Customer: Yes but I am not sure who worte it.
(Anon)

'A few Saturdays ago, a young woman came into the shop, followed by her parents. They stood, transfixed, in the doorway, whereupon the young woman said "It's books". I said "Yes, we try to be helpful by having it written across the front of the shop. May I help you in any way?" She turned round to go out, saying "We've gorra buke at 'ome. Is it a bible?" - give me strength!!'
(Gordon Hill, Bowdon Books, Clitheroe)

'I received a telephone call from an elderly lady who was selling a "signed" Bible. On further enquiries as to who had actually signed it I was told in no uncertain terms "the author of course!" '
(John D. Staley Fine Books)

'These prices must be wrong. This book is thinner than that one and that one's only £6. This one says it's £8, but it's thinner. It's wrong, isn't it?'
(hgilma)

Student walks into antiquarian bookshop. "Do you have a copy of THE IDIOT by Homer?"
(bjarnetokerud)

"Oooh look dear, 'Roggets threesaurus' we've been looking for that for ages!
(Halloweenbooks)

Time may have moved on but the book trade and its customers remain as idiosyncratic as ever and if our experiences at INPRINT are anything to go by, the remarks are just as amusing and worthy of recording. So, if you have any 'droppings' you would like to share, send them off to us in the form below and we will publish them on site.