Secrets of a Bookseller

I have been working in a bookstore for just about a month now. In some ways it is even better than I imagined. But in other ways, it isn't quite as wonderful as I had pictured. I am by no means an expert, but here are a few "secrets" I have learned over the past four weeks.

My current TBR pile!

1. We want you to ask us questions! A lot of people seem embarrassed to ask for help finding books. There is no reason to be! The whole reason I have a job is so that I can help you and trust me, we have the strangest displays so finding books on your own can be tricky. Ask us where to find things. Ask us for recommendations. Ask us what we are currently reading!
2. We want to discuss books with you. This is related to the first one, but we actually do want to talk to you. So many retailers are focused on getting people out the door as quickly as possible and if you're in a rush I'm happy to do that. But I also love talking to and connecting with my customers. I want to hear your opinions on books and which books are on your TBR list. I want to hear what book you're trying to convince your middle schooler to read. I even want to hear about your day! Don't be afraid to treat your customer service rep or cashier like a real person. 
3. Slow days are torture. Seriously. There is nothing worse then a slow day with no projects to work on. Literally all I want to do is go curl up in a corner and dig into a new book. 
4. Straightening and dusting is oddly therapeutic. I used to work in a convenience store so straightening up at the end of the night was so frustratingly dull. Now I love it! I love wandering the aisles making everything look nice, keeping the shelves clean and organizing the books. It is very calming. With that being said, I hate picking up after disrespectful customers. Please don't leave your romance novels in the kids section or throw books on the floor!
5. Not everyone who works in a book store is a book person. I was surprised to learn this! I thought everyone would be as in love with reading as I am. But like I mentioned above, don't be afraid to ask questions, ask around and find someone you can connect with who can make awesome recommendations just for you!
6. We understand that on-line shopping is frequently "better". Trust me, I understand that Amazon has amazing deals and that on-line shopping is super convenient. But I personally can't resist buying a book when I walk into a bookstore. Nothing beats the feel of real books in your hand or getting personalized face-to-face customer service and recommendations. 

So what's your favorite bookstore and why? Have you ever thought about working in a bookstore?