Friends of Books – The Library that delivers!

By Benjy | Posted, December 28th, 2009 and modified on December 30th, 2009.

I’ve become a bit skeptical about online shopping in India. It started out on Bazee (now ebay.in)…. a few more shopping experiences with others and I finally gave up, refusing to be cheated anymore and switched from swadeshi to videshi. I do regret paying all those steep overseas shipping charges and currency conversion fees (and sometimes ridiculous customs duties) but the products have usually been of superior quality and built to last. My experiences with online service providers were no better either (unless they were Banking/Internet or Mobile phone service providers) and you can read my review on seventy mm video rental services here. I’ve even had issues with Geo/Outlook money (Magazines from the Outlook group). I actually had to remind them that I had made an online payment for a subscription to Geo and later remind them of the free Outlook money guides they were supposed to send me on a 3 year subscription to Outlook Money. (Both of which were promptly attended to) I expected something similar with Friends of Books, but was in for a pleasant surprise!

As a techie, I was very pleased with their site design. Mainly I had no hiccups using Ubuntu Linux as I have had on some other websites (even on a few International ones). The site was also easy on the eyes and let you browse the titles and experience how things worked without becoming a paying member. In fact even after I have closed my account I am still able to log in and look at my list of books which I had added for delivery. The books are categorised quite well and its a pleasure to browse through the library and select the books you like to add to your library. The pickup/delivery is also very prompt and so is any customer service request by email. In fact they have been gracious to overlook the fact when at times I have forgotten my books at home and collected the books during the next delivery cycle. This happened once even when I wasn’t in office to pay them. they collected the payment for both months during the next billing cycle.

You can find the rates for Delhi/NCR here and for the rest of the country here. The locations covered for the rest of India can be found here. The books seem to be delivered and collected by courier.

Currently, in their lowest plan, the rates are Rs. 200 per month (250 for rest of India) with a security deposit of Rs. 750/-. You can have two books per month for this plan. You can even request for books that are not on their online catalogue. this goes for their Book store too!

The Library

More info on selected title

The FOB Bookstore

I had to close my account with them because my job became more demanding on my time and I am travelling more often than before. In the last few months I literally had to struggle to finish the books I ordered. One book would probably have been easier to finish. Reading with such a deadline was very stressful and I could no longer enjoy the books any more. However I am pretty impressed with their service and will surely check out their newly opened book store. As of now, I have been buying either from A1 books, Flipkart, Barnes & Noble or directly from the publishers and sometimes from the writers. (I’ve started reading a lot less fiction nowadays)

Another issue was the price rise from 150 to 200 for Delhi NCR region. Both my colleague & me felt that it was no longer as good a bargain as it was before [our point of view] as in Nehru Place and even in other parts of Delhi you can buy a lot of books off the pavement and own them even after you finish reading them. There is something magical about owning a book and I have often bought two books for Rs. 100 in Nehru Place.

However I am slowly making the shift to e-books. They are a lot of fun to read on a tablet PC. You don’t need the lights on when you read in bed and you can doze off to sleep. With a book you have to get out of the mosquito net, turn off the light and stumble back in letting a few of those nasties in. The biggest problem about owning books is packing and shifting them when you move house, so for me e-books are in. Buying them online also saves you shipping -you just download them! Hopefully Friends of Books will start to sell them soon! DK (Dorling Kindersley) is already at it. No more painful experiences of watching the kabadiwala tear up your beloved books before your eyes -something like shooting an old horse that has done you good service in its youth

E-books unfortunately cannot replicate the smell, feel and the sheer joy of cuddling up with a book in bed with a cup of steaming hot coffee on winter weekends. However it is a decent compromise. Once a consensus is reached on an appropriate open e-book standard and e-ink based colour e-book readers which support text and graphics become cheaper, you would be able to carry all your beloved sweeties with you as you travel.

Some of the above mentioned book sellers (including FOB) do offer free shipping on some or all books -do check before ordering though.

In a nutshell,

If you are comfortable with the rates, go for it! The service/selection of books is very good.
Excellent choice for people spending a lot of time at home and also elderly people who don’t need to leave home to receive their library books. (You can subscribe for as many as 12 books a month!)
Prompt repayment of security deposit (by cheque) on closing account
Friendly, helpful & understanding customer care
Excellent value for money for book lovers residing in a city where the local library does not have a good choice of books.