The Secret Book and Record Store — Local services in Dublin

I messaged the store today via Facebook messenger to enquire about selling second hand books and CDs. After receiving a reply saying that it depends on if they can sell them, I simply asked if I could send a photograph of the items so that they could tell me what they would and would not take. I live a bit away from town and so wanted to avoid bringing in any unnecessary weight with me on the train in future. The reply I received was not only unnecessarily rude, it was also inappropriate. I've attached a screenshot of the message I received. This is a copy and pasted version of it here:

"Hi Sarah. I can't be bothered with all this back and forth stuff. I'm just too old and cranky for it. But because I'm not actually a nasty person I've thought of a compromise. I see you're currently engaged in using up my tax money in Trinners. How about you take the photos and then wander up to my shop and show me. That way my index finger will be freed up from this tedious tap taping torture."

They sent this after sending one previous message. I'm not sure if that constitutes as "back and forth stuff".

As someone who has visited the store previously, and hasn't had a bad experience before, I was appalled by the unprofessional demeanour of the message, as well as the very inappropriate comment about where I attend college. It felt very condescending, and where I attend college definitely should not be a factor.

Furthermore, if they are "too old and cranky" to actually provide pleasant customer service, they, quite frankly, should should either not be in business, find a younger and more pleasant replacement, or adopt a more amicable demeanour.

In future, I would recommend anyone looking to sell second hand books and CDs to this store maybe give them to charity or find another way of selling them on, so as not to inconvenience this second-hand book store, and free them from "tedious tap...

one of those hidden little gems which, if relatively new to the city like me, one can find only if they take a left or right turn off the beaten tourist tracks of downtown dublin. but the pleasure of finding it is worthwhile the search! it's a store for every generation, those who grew up on grunge or heavy-metal and generation z alike! a collection of second-hand books is wonderful and the staff is amazing. as a book lover and collector i always preferred to purchase from small, independent family bookshops. and since the covid madness and lockdown started i felt an even stronger urge to continue supporting the secret book and record store. so, the other day i contacted them to inquire about the book i kinda wanted to have in my library and although i was willing to go there and collect it myself at the doors (as shops are now restricted from having customers inside), dermot offered to personally drop by at my wife's work place and deliver it himself! so... all i can say is i hope that they, being small and independent, will survive this weird times - because the joy of spending time in the store itself and going slowly over the book titles and their record collection is an unparalleled experience for every book and...

Very impressed by the service of this shop and the quality of their books. Delivery was by someone from the shop one day after I ordered. The quality of the books was outstanding. I thought I bought second hand books, but most of these books look better than new and more expensive books I've bought in my life! The books are very, very fair priced. One book was apparently not in stock anymore and the books included a note with a long explanation and how sorry they were (also the man who delivered the books extensively apologised). Not long after I got a refund for the book that was not in stock anymore. Will definitely order...