{"id":236024,"date":"2019-10-14T10:42:45","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T05:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/?p=236024"},"modified":"2019-10-14T10:42:45","modified_gmt":"2019-10-14T05:42:45","slug":"saeed-book-bank-could-close-and-people-have-mixed-feelings-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/saeed-book-bank-could-close-and-people-have-mixed-feelings-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Saeed Book Bank Could Close and People Have Mixed Feelings About It"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Book lovers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi take note.\u00a0 The famous Saeed Book Bank is closing down soon.<\/p>\n<p>Many people are of the view that even as it closes down, its owners need to self-reflect. Blaming young people for not reading is neither here nor there. This explains the mixed emotions to the news:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Is this end of Saeed Book Bank?? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Islamabad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Islamabad<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/n21EL1CWfN\">pic.twitter.com\/n21EL1CWfN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShirazHassan\/status\/1182662558743965699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no habit of reading in Pakistan. People will buy a hundred thousand dollar smartphone but when it comes to books they&#8217;ll buy pirated copies.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Many folks opine why no one buys books from Saeed Book bank any more. This megastore gained traction by providing used books at affordable prices at the beginning. It is no less a local landmark for twin cities&#8217; residents. In fact, its the largest bookstore in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/salmanmasood\/status\/1182690022140633088<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; letter-spacing: 5px; font-size: 16px; margin: 0;\">ALSO READ<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; font-family: Raleway ,sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/meet-these-three-pakistani-american-sisters-who-are-all-teenage-authors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Meet These Three Pakistani-American Sisters Who Are All Teenage Authors!<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Some people argue that the store just couldn&#8217;t evolve with time, and that&#8217;s what has become their undoing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sadly the demise of the store is inevitable. The store is too large and the collection is pretty dull compared to the smaller stores in the area. Even in 2014 the late Qureshi sb spoke of pressure to give up the space. Downsizing is the option.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shiza Malik (@Shiza__Malik) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Shiza__Malik\/status\/1182978555149541378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Others say the overpriced books, even elevated prices of old and used books, not to mention the customer service (or lack of really), are the real reasons.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">They have a horrible business model and absolutely pathetic customer service. Inhospitable and cold to boot. Plenty of book stores are doing just fine in Pakistan because they actually provide great CS, personalized recommendations &amp; an actual interest in selling books. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nEQs7TXCYZ\">https:\/\/t.co\/nEQs7TXCYZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Containeristan (@guldaar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/guldaar\/status\/1182964605489942529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I agree \ud83d\udcaf % &#8211; their exchange rate system makes the book super expensive. And their attitude towards a consumer is atrocious. I usually just go there, browse and order from readings \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Hashim Nauman (@GhubaraBustard) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GhubaraBustard\/status\/1183190109199458309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Owner of Saeed Book Bank Speaks Out<\/h3>\n<p>The bookstore owner Saeed Ahmed has other ideas. He said they&#8217;ll close down the bookstore and rent out the building to a bank to generate revenue.<\/p>\n<p>Netizens aren&#8217;t about to let this man play &#8216;<em>we&#8217;re all about the books<\/em>&#8216; card. So they narrated their experiences with the store over the years.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Hamster41\/status\/1182861946053373952<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s not forget that time they refused to help the National Book Foundation. This thread goes in-depth regarding it:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A thread about Saeed Book Bank and its lust for money. They refuse to facilitate National Book Foundation members for discount books because that doesn&#39;t suit them. Overpriced books with tags of their own amount and zero customer service. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jii1c0negx\">https:\/\/t.co\/jii1c0negx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Riaz ul Haq (@Riazhaq) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Riazhaq\/status\/1183048383969288192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 12, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; letter-spacing: 5px; font-size: 16px; margin: 0;\">ALSO READ<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; font-family: Raleway ,sans-serif;\" href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/this-cute-childrens-book-about-edhi-introduces-kids-to-pakistans-own-hero\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This Cute Children&#8217;s Book About Edhi Introduces Kids to Pakistan&#8217;s Own Hero [Updated]<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>It may not just be the bitter experiences and a lack of a loyal buyer base, paired with inflexibility that&#8217;s leading to the store being closed down.<\/p>\n<p>Its true that people would rather just read online and buy those books there too. Even in this regard, Saeed Book Bank&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/saeedbookbank.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">e-store <\/a>falls short. Meanwhile, stores like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.readings.com.pk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Readings<\/a> are blooming for doing this right.<\/p>\n<p>Not to mention the fluctuating prices paired with bad customer service are another deterrent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book lovers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi take note.\u00a0 The famous Saeed Book Bank is closing down soon. Many people are of the view that even as it closes down, its owners need to self-reflect. Blaming young people for not reading is neither here nor there. This explains the mixed emotions to the news: Is this end of Saeed Book Bank?? [&hellip;] <a class=\"g1-link g1-link-more\" href=\"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/saeed-book-bank-could-close-and-people-have-mixed-feelings-about-it\/\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":236033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1296,2199,1291],"tags":[],"adace-sponsor":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-236024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"category-featured","9":"category-social-media"},"wps_subtitle":"Check out what people are saying about the famous book store.","img_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saeed-Book-Bank-364x205.jpg",364,205,true],"medium":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saeed-Book-Bank-758x424.jpg",758,424,true],"full":["https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saeed-Book-Bank.jpg",1000,560,false]},"author_name":"Ummara Sheraz","categories_name":["Books","Featured","Social Media"],"title_text":"Saeed Book Bank Could Close and People Have Mixed Feelings About It","related_stories":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?filter&per_page=4&categories=1296,2199,1291&exclude=236024","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=236024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236024"},{"taxonomy":"adace-sponsor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propakistani.pk\/lens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/adace-sponsor?post=236024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}