A small Tallahassee book store is taking on the nation's largest online book seller. To that end, Midtown Reader has produced a video that went out on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 19 to every independent book store in the country.
The video opens with a young man who grows frustrated as he converses with his Amazon Dot's virtual assistant.
"Alexa, can you recommend any books on traveling?" he inquires with the device providing an irrelevant response. "That's not what I'm asking!" he snaps with obvious irritation. The dysfunctional conversation goes on with him finally yelling, "Alexa! Do you know anything?!?!?"
In desperation, the young man seeks advice from a real life seller at his small hometown bookstore.
"I have no idea what it's called. Please help me!" he begs the young woman who immediately replies, "Yeah, I've actually read that one before. It's right over there." Smiling with relief, her customer thanks her and asks her name. "Alexis," she grins.
That video scene was shot in Tallahassee's Midtown Reader and was owner Sally Bradshaw's idea.
"We are fortunate to have a book seller named Alexis," she said in anticipation of the video's release. "She is going to prove why visiting your neighborhood book store and shopping local is so important in advance of Small Business Saturday at the end of November."
She hoped stores like hers will use the video clip to promote their own businesses. So far, no comment from the Amazon folks. Or Alexa.
(In full disclosure, Sally Bradshaw also sits on WFSU Public Media's volunteer Community Council and her store is a frequent program underwriter.)
