This online seller, which also owns a small bookshop on Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, saw a sudden drop in sales and walk-in customers when the lockdown started.
“We are still doing okay and we’re able to pay our bills on time. We invested a decent amount of money to have our own website [which has been] under construction since March so we can reach out to more customers,” Abaya said. “To sell more books, we are uploading new titles twice a week for online [customers].”No rent! This was the advantage of operating online during the pandemic, according to Wise Guys’ Bookshop, another independent bookstore in Metro Manila.
“‘Yung mga items sa kabilang bagsakan namin sa kapatagan ng Central Luzon, hindi maibenta dahil sa antala sa mga courier. Kaya ‘yung mga items lang muna sa Metro ‘yung nadi-distribute sa mga gume-gets. Ayon din sa mga kumukuha, nahihirapan din silang magpadala ng bayad sa mga remittance center dahil sa mga checkpoint kasi nga lockdown,” said the owners.
“I am still keeping some books for customers I am unable to serve due to the COVID situation at their locations. Some also do not mind delaying shipment because safety is their priority. It doesn’t matter if they have paid or not. If they expressed their continuing interest to acquire the book, I keep it for them,” the seller said.
The reduced mobility in cities due to the pandemic has made physical stores inaccessible for most of the general public, but this in turn benefitted the industry of e-commerce in southeast Asian countries. The lockdowns have increased online consumer activity, according to Lee Ju Ye and Chua Hak Bin, analysts of Malaysian financial giant Maybank, last April 20.
Wise Guys’ Bookshop also said it was clear that taxing online sellers during the health crisis would be an added burden for Filipinos just trying to get by.