The logic of the Logos

Local bookstores and the Chamber of Commerce have been making a fuss about the arrival of the floating bookshop Logos II, which dropped its gangplank on Front Street yesterday. I think its arrival is a good thing.

The local retailers claim that the ship will take valuable business from them in the three days prior to Christmas. They are complaining about the apparent ease with which the ship's crew were granted work permits to enable them to trade here. They point out that the money locals spend on the ship will leave Bermuda rather than helping to sustain the local economy.

These are all valid concerns. But I can't help but think, "So what?".

The ship is only here for two weeks. Moreover, the complaints seem to be centered on only the three days before Christmas (the stores have said that they would be happy for the ship to open afterwards). Are the local retailers going to go under because of three days of reduced sales? Hardly.

The degree to which local sales will be affected is also questionable. According to the ship's operator, it does not carry many current bestsellers. Locals shopping for older titles for Christmas are likely to have already purchased these (either locally or from abroad), rather than risk them being unavailable on the ship. I imagine that spur-of-the-moment purchases will account for much of the sales. The ship may also help to spur a new enthusiasm for books, particularly among children, which may result in increased sales for the local bookstores after the ship leaves.

Moreover, the ship is not purely a commercial enterprise. The crew are also going out into the community, babysitting for young pregnant mothers at the Teen Haven project, doing soup runs with the Salvation Army, and visiting seniors with the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship.

The long-term viability of the local bookstores is not under threat from ships like this. It's at risk from the likes of Amazon, who are moored alongside a virtual dock 365 days of the year. To their credit, some of the local stores do recognise this and have taken steps to stay competitive (for example, the Bermuda Book Store claims to be able to get most books to Bermuda faster and for less than Amazon can).

One of the things I miss about London is the ability to spend an afternoon browsing in a large bookstore - even if I don't actually buy anything. I'm glad that the Logos has given me a rare opportunity to do so here.

» Having just been to look round the Logos, I'm even more convinced that the local stores have nothing to worry about.

I would not describe this ship as a floating Barnes & Noble. It's more like a cheap bargain book store, minus all the books published in the last year. There was no fiction, with the exception of some classics. No books on politics and current affairs. Nothing, in fact, that I would want to buy.

What there was was a large number of Bibles and books with "God" in the title. A lot of rather cheap-looking children's books (no Caldecott medal winners here). And a ton of dictionaries.

There were some CDs too, but nothing from the charts. As far as I could see, it was all either Christian music or cheap classical recordings.

Perhaps local Christian bookstores will suffer. But I don't think the rest should lose any sleep.

Comments

[loki on 23.12.05 at 14:05]

"So what?".

Phil, if you were the owner of a small business, as Hannah Wilmot of the Bermuda Bookstore is, you wouldn't be saying that. It is very expensive indeed to run a small business in Bermuda, what with Payroll Tax, social insurance, mandatory health insurance, etc., and the impact of Christmas sales on local retailers cannot be overstated. As Hannah herself has stated in the press, the Logos does a lot of good work around the world in providing inexpensive reading materials to third world countries, but Bermuda isn't a third world country and it's wrong in principle for government to allow what is, in effect, a large branch of Waterstone's to set up on Bermuda's main shopping street in the days leading up to Christmas. The Logos pays none of the Bermuda-based expenses that local retailers do, is in direct competition with local retailers, and the products sold are not subject to customs duty! And, yes, I am aware that duty is not paid on books, but the Logos is selling products other than books, as well. The Logos intentions may be entirely altruistic, but this government is dead wrong to show such contempt for the retail sector in Bermuda who rely on Christmas sales. Sorry, but this is wrong, wrong, wrong.

[Book Worm on 23.12.05 at 14:25]

So we should not have the boat here because of one woman's moaning?

Besides, she'll be moaning about something else next week.

[loki on 23.12.05 at 14:28]

"So we should not have the boat here because of one woman's moaning?

Besides, she'll be moaning about something else next week."

What a delightful cupcake you are. It's a point of principle, not a question of 'one woman moaning', as you flippantly suggest.

[RedOnion on 23.12.05 at 14:34]

This week it's book stores being undersold, next week it might be electronics, after that it might be clothing. Should that happen those local vendors would also be 'moaning' as Book Worm so eloquently put it. And rightly so!

Book Worm, this sounds personal to me, it makes me wonder what your connection is.

The Government really should be looking at the big picture when they permit these types of things to happen. The struggle of small businesses is common knowledge, to everyone but the governement it seems.

[Uncle Elvis on 23.12.05 at 14:38]

"So we should not have the boat here because of one woman's moaning?"

As long as she's a Bermudian business owner who's business may be negatively affected by this?

Hell, yes.

I gotta agree with Phil that it's turned out ok, but the principle of the thing is just wrong.
Would you be saying that the Crissons were moaning if a jewellery boat pulled up on Front Street?
Would you say that Coopers were moaning if a designer clothes schooner docked on their front door (literally, in this case)?
How about if they had food and drink for sale, with live entertainment? Would Pickled Onion be "moaners" then?

[SmokingGun on 23.12.05 at 14:41]

I have to agree with loki on this. It really is a massive snub at all those people who support the local economy as best they can through out the year to have this happen. The Chamber's members asked that it not start selling until after christmas, nothing more, and yet our leaders felt it un-important to listen.

And guess what, you can't even go down and boycott it because you'll probably get smacked down by a bolt of lightning!!

Wrong, wrong, wrong and stupid, stupid, stupid. And that's all I've got to say about it. I'd better go buy a lightning rod.

[loki on 23.12.05 at 14:42]

"The Government really should be looking at the big picture when they permit these types of things to happen. The struggle of small businesses is common knowledge, to everyone but the governement it seems."

Exactly. It's unbelievable that a foreign organization, that doesn't pay tax of any kind, has been allowed to set up shop on Front Street. Also, if you read between the lines, it appears that government didn't go through any kind of formalities in allowing the Logos to come here and operate this commercial enterprise. This couldn't have happened without the agreement of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety. Now, Paula Cox has explicitly stated that her Ministry didn't get involved in the process, but she declined to say which Ministry had been involved. If you ask me, it looks like it was all done with a nod and a wink because, at the very least, we know that the Ministry of Finance didn't get involved, and they're being awfully coy about how this was actually accomplished.

[JJ on 23.12.05 at 14:57]

New slogan: "DON'T BUY BERMUDA". The government makes it easy for you not to!

[Tiger Bay on 23.12.05 at 15:01]

The government approval for this ship during retail primetime was unfair, and the smarmy remarks by Alex Scott and Lawson Mapp were a smack in the face of local merchants. Shows how disconnected Government is from Bermuda's people and Bermuda's business.

[loki on 23.12.05 at 15:04]

"The government approval for this ship during retail primetime was unfair, and the smarmy remarks by Alex Scott and Lawson Mapp were a smack in the face of local merchants."

OK, I'm glad I wasn't the only one to pick up on that. It sounded awfully like they were actually trying to provoke retailers and rub salt in the wound, so to speak. Not entirely sure what was going on there, but the choice of words by Messrs Scott and Mapp seemed quite calculated.

[Tiger Bay on 23.12.05 at 15:11]

Particularly off key from Lawson: the CofH lives on the taxes paid by merchants. Our leaders are disconnected from real life in Bermuda.

BTW, I stopped buying books from Amazon and get them from Bermuda Bookstore. Her prices are very competitive, the staff are pleasant, and I don't have to deal with the Zipx bandits.

I will not visit the Logos.

[loki on 23.12.05 at 15:16]

"BTW, I stopped buying books from Amazon and get them from Bermuda Bookstore. Her prices are very competitive, the staff are pleasant, and I don't have to deal with the Zipx bandits."

Yep, I haven't bought anything from Amazon in well over a year. The prices are great, I can get anything from either side of the Atlantic for a lot cheaper than I can get them through Amazon, and I get them faster, as well. I send off an email to the shop to place the order and, voila, a few days later they call me to let me know they're in. It's a no-brainer, really.

[hotspur on 23.12.05 at 15:35]

If a boat moored up in Bermuda that was run/supported by a Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Rasta or some other non-Christian organization I wonder if they would have been allowed to peddle their wares right under the nose of Front Street?

What a lovely Christmas present for an already ailing retail industry. I wonder how much pressure Gumment were put under by the local flock to allow this?

[Uncle Elvis on 23.12.05 at 15:49]

Good point, hotspur!

"BUY BERMUDA... unless someone pays me off, then buy from them."

[Steve Moffat on 23.12.05 at 17:35]

The Logos II may not carry recent bestsellers, but I wouldn't bet on it. Normally at this time of year anyway, it's not the bestsellers that sell the best, it's the type of books that the Logos II is carrying that sell.

As the reporter for the BBC pointed out, it's more of a floating Barnes & Noble than a quaint little bookstore.

I have some questions for any guvment lackeys that are lurking...or even any UBP lurkers...

So were 200 work permits issued, and were they paid for?

Did they have to supply Xrays and medical certificates?

How is it that they all got jobs in the retail sector when they are not Bermudian? Aren't those jobs reserved for Bermudians? Were these jobs advertised? No Bermudians answered these advertisements?

The Chamber of Commerce did not know anything about this until Hannah got in touch with them the day after the first article appeared in the Gazzette...and it was more or less a done deal at that time.

A tremendous way to help out Bermudian business.

[loki on 23.12.05 at 17:42]

Steve,

I would refer you to my earlier comments - here's what I believe 'the deal' is, so to speak:

"Also, if you read between the lines, it appears that government didn't go through any kind of formalities in allowing the Logos to come here and operate this commercial enterprise. This couldn't have happened without the agreement of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety. Now, Paula Cox has explicitly stated that her Ministry didn't get involved in the process, but she declined to say which Ministry had been involved. If you ask me, it looks like it was all done with a nod and a wink because, at the very least, we know that the Ministry of Finance didn't get involved, and they're being awfully coy about how this was actually accomplished."

[al-ghorab on 23.12.05 at 17:53]

Forgive me for the cyncicism, but I think it would be a good idea to look at the congrgattion of the cornerstone bible grouping. There are certain connections that will explain parts of this 'nod and wink.' This is sheer cronyism and blatant evangelising.

[Phil on 23.12.05 at 17:55]

Having just been to look round the Logos, I'm even more convinced that the local stores have nothing to worry about.

I would not describe this ship as a floating Barnes & Noble. It's more like a cheap bargain book store, minus all the books published in the last year. There was no fiction, with the exception of some classics. No books on politics and current affairs. Nothing, in fact, that I would want to buy.

What there was was a large number of Bibles and books with "God" in the title. A lot of rather cheap-looking children's books (no Caldecott medal winners here). And a ton of dictionaries.

There were some CDs too, but nothing from the charts. As far as I could see, it was all either Christian music or cheap classical recordings.

Perhaps local Christian bookstores will suffer. But I don't think the rest should lose any sleep.

[Steve Moffat on 23.12.05 at 17:58]

Loki

Check your yahoo mail....

[Tim Taylor on 23.12.05 at 19:28]

Whilst I agree with many posters on the need to be sensitive to the local retailers, I don't think Hannah has any need to worry. I ordered a rather obscure book from the Bermuda Book Store (giving them the Amazon page for reference) and not, in all honesty, expecting to get it time for Christmas.
Wrong.
Five days later, they called me (that's the kind of personal service they give you) to say that it was here. I think I paid a couple of bucks more than the Amazon price.
Hannah, the ship will sail, you have my business for ever. I just wish more local retailers served their customers as well as you do.

[observor on 23.12.05 at 20:50]

Lawson Mapp is a complete idiot for supporting this venture. He cries out to the business community that the mayor should receive a "fair" salary for all the work he does on behalf of the city (notwithstanding the fact that he started using a corporation credit card like his personal ATM machine soon after his elevation to the position) and concurrently decides to spend his own money (although given my earlier remark that is highly unlikely) on an organisation that in no ways contributes to this community. What a jackass !!

Ditto re: the 'Man', but at this point, let's be honest, we expect nothing less from that myopic joker.

[hotspur on 23.12.05 at 22:02]

LIB, I think you’re missing the point. That the books being sold are either (a) shite or (b) telling ridiculous tales of an “Almighty Being who will save Us All” is inconsequential.

The issue is Gumment seem to have bent or broken local guest worker rules while being insensitive to local businesses. Hardly a way to embrace your electorate.

It could have been handled a lot better but, alas, it’s yet another comedy of errors worthy of the Keystone Kops.

[Two Cents on 24.12.05 at 01:16]

This is another example of how scared the Gov't is of offending the "religious" electorate.

To switch around Kanye West's quote.... "Alex Scott doesn't like white people". If he has to piss a few of us off to appease the religious types so be it.

Between the race baiting and the pandering to the church groups, I am not surprised that he has no time for anyone else. Kissing that much ass takes up all his time.

[ace on 24.12.05 at 09:40]

My wife visited this ship last night and she confirmed EXACTLY what Phil said in his last post above.

The ship sells some good children's activity books, which we did buy a few of to use as stocking stuffers, but there was nothing else even remotely interesting to warrent her to buy anything.

She said it was funny that local book sellers were complaining because the ship is no competition for them unless they sell large quantities of religious books. Those (Christian) book stores may have a "beef" with government...but the irony is that they cater to the fundementalist Christian groups that the PLP rely on to stay in power.

The whole story is just bizarre...just bizarre.

I bought two books this year for presents myself and it is actually a bit of an interesting story. The two gentlemen for whom I bought the books are both train "buffs". In early December I ordered one book for one of the gentlemen who is a very important business advisor to our largest clients, through Amazon.com. It is a beautiful book, not my "cup of tea"..but something I knew he would enjoy.

This guy has a friend of his (with their respective wives) travelling with him to spend Christmas in Bermuda. I needed to find a gift for the friend. My wife mentioned that our very own Graeme Outerbridge (aka Wolf) had compiled a book of his own on the same subject. It was a photographic journey around the world focusing on trains.

So, I ran into Graeme at the LIB Robin Hood meeting and asked him about it. He not only organised the book to be available in town the next day, but he was kind enough to sign it.

I found myself in a bit of a dilemma...which one to give to the more important (in pure business terms) guy. Credit must be given where due. Graeme's book is really a fantastic one. I spoke to my partners at the office about this and everyone agreed that a personalised copy of a Bermudiana "work" would be the best choice.

So, the more expensive (Amazon.com) book goes to the friend. Graeme's book will be the one I will give to the advisor.

Thanks wolf...and great job on what I think is a very well put together book.

Buy Bermuda people...it ROCKS!

;-)

Merry Christmas all.

[Bill Cook on 24.12.05 at 09:47]

Yes it was an ill informed decision to time this visit prior to Christmas as my senior advisors in Tiny Tots Nursery told me.

If the books were strictly religious they are pretty much timeless so why upset the retailers with this inflammatory decisinn ?

As one who watches little of the mindless infantile crap on the biggest rip off in Bermuda Cable "Lack of Vision" I tend to read a lot I very much want to encourage booksellers to stay in business,in fact I would advocate that they be subsidised by governments education dept.as reading encourages creative imagination and tax Cable Crap to pay for it as in my opinion they destroy young minds and bodies actually.

[Uncle Elvis on 24.12.05 at 16:25]

Ok.. I don't know if any of you were on Front Street today (24th), but I'm right across the street from this rustbucket.

I was going out for coffee and this loud music started. Folky Christmas junk. A friend, who I was chatting with asked, "Where the hell is that coming from?"
My response, grinning, was, "It's a gift from JAY-sus."

I thought it was from one of the trucks parked outside.

Imagine my surprise when I go outside and see that this cacophony is coming from the ship of the damned... books!
I, of course, ran back inside and dragged my friend out to show him that it was, in fact, a gift from JAY-sus!

So let me get this straight. They can sell books here against the wishes of local businesses. They can work here without work permits.
Now they can have a concert right on Front Street without permits? They can wail and preach for 4 hours and that's ok?

Dudes, you shoulda been there. It was like a car accident. You know you shouldn't watch, yet you find youself staring, mouth agape.

Awful. Illegal. Bullshit.

Although, why I'm surprised, I don't know.

Nah.. there's no church lobby in Bermuda.

[SmokingGun on 27.12.05 at 10:41]

"Buy Bermuda people...it ROCKS!"

Ace - But not as much as the Logos......

"Nah.. there's no church lobby in Bermuda."

Uncle E - Sounds like you were standing in it.....

[Beez Evans on 27.12.05 at 13:16]

First the Amistad, now the Logos. Another example of the government sweeping asside all applicable laws and regulations to suit there own agenda. Both offences within 5 months of each other. They have now set a precedence, one that truly concerns me.

I am offended everyday that I watch the government continually support foreign ventures, while completely ignoring the local business sector. I have been waiting for 14 months now to have an audience with the Minister of Finance on behalf of the Tour Boat Operators. We were even able to have a meeting with the Premier with only 2 weeks notice, but still waiting after 14 months for Cox and still no reply.

I feel for the Bermudian bookstores. I even watched an arrogant "xmas eve shopper" come into the Bermuda Bookstore at 4pm and ask where the Guiness Book of World Records was. When told he waited to long, and they were sold out, he said, "I guess I better take a walk to the book ship, I bet they would have what I need". He proceeded to give them hell for not having the book. I am happy to know he would not have found it onboard the rustbucket.

Uncle Elvis: I heard that "concert" on the 24th. It was awful. Hard to believe we had that awful religous racket center stage on Front St.

[Lisa on 27.12.05 at 21:34]

I walked out of Cafe Cairo the day before Christmas Eve, saw the ship and while looking at the amount of rust on it with disgust - fell over and sprained my foot only to end up on crutches over Christmas.

If that ship had a better paint job it would never have happened! :-D

L.

[SmokingGun on 27.12.05 at 21:42]

Lisa - God works in mysterious ways..... ;)

Hope you are feeling better.

[Raptor on 28.12.05 at 09:21]

Does Logos have non-profit status of any kind, i.e., 501 c3 status in the U.S.?

If so, I still think they should have been made to wait until after Christmas to open for sales, enough to support their charitable services locally perhaps. If not, why let them in at all, or they should have had to secure the usual permits and waited until after Christmas. Perhaps their products could have been limited for sale to a relatively few simple religious children's books, or whatever.

Interesting, as Ace points out, that it's most likely Logos sales would affect the Christian bookstores of the PLP's political base rather than those selling more secular fare.

Actually, I would say there are parts of Bermuda that are Third World.

[Bill Cook on 28.12.05 at 10:46]

If it is true that the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce was made aware thet the ship was going to be here as far back as September (according to Dr Eva Hodgson on talk radio this morning) and waited until the 11th hour to address this issue, then clearly they too are guilty of not looking out for the Retail book sellers.

What this does illustrate is that Government applies the rules that all the rest of us have to abide by, but bends them when it suits their purpose, IE. DEFACTO DICTATORSHIP.

They have however created a precedent for others to abuse our immigration laws in my opinion.

Everyone knows that the Christmas period can constitute a very large percentage of sales volume reflected in the entire annual sales in fact.

[Tiger Bay on 28.12.05 at 11:11]

The "mission" of the Logos is unclear. The book sales fund the ship to ...err... sell more books. Dedicated to the gods of retail I guess.

http://www.mvlogos.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=7&Itemid=234

The Chamber did "too little too late" to represent its members. And the Corporation of Hamilton simply sold them out.

Kind of absolutely undermines "Buy Bermuda" doesn't it, hmm Lawson and Diane?

[Two Cents on 30.12.05 at 10:24]

I have a question...Did local purchasers onboard the Logos II have to pay duty when they left the ship? Obviously there is duty on certain books i.e Children's colouring or picture books (non- reading books) are 22.25% or was that waived as well as work permit fees, etc