Cookery books and encyclopedias, other popular genres are also being offered by exhibitors at generous discount of as much as 95 per cent.
Classics ranging from "Madame Bovary" to bestsellers like "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" are amongst books being offered at throwaway prices at the ongoing New Delhi World Book Fair.
Exhibitors say they are offering heavy discounts to facilitate stock clearance and also attract more footfalls. "This is our stock-clearance sale. The prices have been chopped down to half, and in certain cases even more. We are selling Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci' code for Rs 99. In the market, it is priced at at least Rs 300," says Mahavir Jain, who is managing the sales for Sona Books at the Fair. Jain's stall sports books priced at a mere hundred rupees arranged in neat rows.
The prices are significantly lower than those available online as well. "'The Fifty Shades of Grey' trilogy which is being sold for Rs 1000 online, can be bought here at a paltry Rs 300," adds Jain. On Sunday, the day when the India-Pakistan World Cup match was telecast, Jain says he made an earning of Rs 90,000 by early evening.
Apart from the sale of classics, Jain attributes the enormous business to the children's books that are on offer for as low as Rs 20 per book. "From coloring books to rhymes, people are literally buying these in bundles. These books which are on offer here for Rs 20, are available in the market for nothing less than Rs 150 to Rs 200," says Jain.
Cookery books and encyclopedias, other popular genres are also being offered by exhibitors at generous discount of as much as 95 per cent. "Wonders of Solar System and Universe, a science encyclopedia by BBC, which originally cost Rs 4,500 is being offered at a price as low as Rs 459" says Jain.
Rakesh T, an avid bookworm who makes sure to visit the book fair every year says he purchased a good number of books "for less than 1,000 rupees." The young professional says it required some digging to get books. "Most of the Rs 20 per book were sold early on the first day of the fair itself."
Meanwhile various other book publishers too are offering discounts at the book fair. Sage Publications, which is celebrating "50 years of global academic publishing" is offering a flat 50 per cent off on all purchases.
Rupa Publications stall had a special offer on February 14 where visitors could get 25 per off on Rupa and Aleph books. The OUP stall is offering discounts on their series of "the very short introductions".
"I bought classics from the OUP stall where I got one book free on purchasing three books," says Manish, a student.
"Most of the stalls are offering 10 per cent discounts. Some stalls I saw were offering even 25 per cent discount. I did not buy from them because those books were not up to my liking," says Noopur, a 34 year old woman who visited the fair. "I saw quite a few book stalls selling English books for prices of Rs 100 and Rs 150. There were also stalls with 'Buy 5 books for Rs 100'. If you have got the time and the patience to dig through the piles of books it is indeed a good bargain," she says.
The nine day New Delhi World Book Fair, which is scheduled to continue till February 22 is being hosted by National Book Trust in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) at Pragati Maidan.
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