Bang on the Drum All Day
We’ve never bought textbooks at the Shaman Drum, being in engineering, so we can’t say much about the debate about their service that’s currently raging in the opinion pages of the Daily. They aren’t happy with Daily columnist Daniel Adams’ characterization of them as “the most confusing-ass bookstore in the entire world.” Last week, the store’s owner wrote in to complain about a similar letter which he describes as “an attempt to Red bait us.”
It wouldn’t be the first attempt. An Onion story entitled “Marxists’ Apartment a Microcosm of Why Marxism Doesn’t Work” contains the following line:
The “dateline” on the story is Amherst, MA, not A2, but the comedy team at The Onion is pretty smart - when they need a name for a bookstore that a fictitious undergrad Marxist works at, it’s got to be something that’s both appropriate-sounding and funny in that context.“A spirit of free-market competition in the house would likely result in better incomes or better grades,” Browning said. “Then, instead of being hated and ostracized by the world at large as socialist countries usually are, they could maintain effective diplomacy with their landlord, their parents, and Kirk’s boss who cut back his hours at Shaman Drum Books.”
“I’m also always available to students or student organizations interested in discussing turning the store into a nonprofit co-op.”
Karl Pohrt (owner of Shaman Drum)
For those of you who didn’t click on the Shaman Drum’s response to the Daily article, this is the tail end of the response. I’ve got $50 that says that no one at the Daily will accept Mr. Pohrt’s unbelieveable offer to change the store into a co-op, and a non-profit co-op at that.
If one of the Student Unions or some Student advocacy group doesn’t take Mr. Pohrt up on his offer, then I have zero respect for students at UMich (of course, what is keeping Washt. or EMU students from using the Drum?). Here’s a chance to eliminate one of the biggest gouges that a student will ever encounter while at school—-and you could also, presumably, make a more user-friendly store.
posted by todd on January 12th, 2004 at 8:18 amWow, how interesting. I never shopped for textbooks (or any other kind, for that matter) at shamman drum, I read the critique first. They sounded pretty lame until I read thier responses, and was rather impressed. I agree, if the students don’t take the challange of creating a non-profit co-op, then thats pathetic, but I also wonder, will a non-profit co-op system work?
When you have no owner or single entity who can say, for example, yes, I’m willing to risk a lot of money and move shaman drum into the old borders/jacobsin location, or other such risky venture. I’m not saying, they couldn’t make it work, but what if, as it sound may already be the case, the location shamman drum is in right now is too small? It’s much harder for a co-op, to say take the big step to the next problem
I so enjoyed the link to the onion story, btw, it was very funny and a good juxtipose for this story
posted by Just A Voice on January 12th, 2004 at 9:44 amWell, the co-op thing worked for a while at the Del, but not forever. Hell, it would certainly be worth a shot.
I always liked Shaman Drum for textbooks. I found it easier to deal with than MBS during rushes. It used to be that you announced which class and they handed you a pile — no pulling them off the shelves yourself (maybe that’s not the case anymore). And the faculty who started ordering textbooks from them while they were still just in their upstairs location made it possible to open their absolutely beautiful store downstairs. Which, BTW, I think is laid-out just right. It’s big enough that there are lots of really great books; there are nooks, so you don’t feel like you’re in Kmart, the atmosphere is warm and inviting.
Even better, the buyers are very knowledgable and although their selection isn’t as big as a Borders or a Barnes and Noble, the signal-to-noise ratio is much higher.
It seems like a lot of people who’ve been raised on big super-stores and amazon.com don’t know the joy of shopping in a small bookstore where the staff actually read the books and can make informed recommendations. I know that Borders and others do try to do this, but it’s hard to actually find someone to talk with about books in those big stores. Borders used to require the dreaded “book test” before it would hire clerks, but those days ended when they were bought by Kmart.
If anything, students in town should be happy that there is another viable bookstore around. The Union Bookstore, Ulrichs, and MBS are all owned by the same company, I ‘m pretty sure. If not, they certainly engage in price-fixing. Maybe the faculty would do everyone a service if they put in an order with the Union/MBS/Ulrichs AND Shaman Drum. At least there would be some competition.
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 10:17 amJust as one of those factual notes, Anna, Borders bought back their stock from Kmart in 1995, roughly the same time that they bought Waldenbooks.
posted by js on January 12th, 2004 at 10:50 amAs far as Karl Porht being Red-baited, Pohrt himself is fairly conservative for a self-proclaimed progressive. When he ran against Kim Groome for 1st ward city council, his backers were almost all large development companies (and very little money from the 1st ward residents comparitively), and he was far to the right of Groome on nearly every issue.
I can also say, from going to school with his kid for about ten years and knowing him through that, that Karl Porht is a bit of an asshole. I do think he’s bluffing on the non-profit co-op, but maybe someone will take him up on it.
js
Hah! I just read the Onion piece.
I think they meant to lampoon the “mods” at Hampshire College. There you easily can find 7th-year students (so few graduate in 4 years, that they define classes by year and semester of entry rather than exit — e.g., F’93). And many of their living quarters look pretty much like photos.
Though it could easily have been written about some of the co-ops in AA’s ICC (sorry comrades).
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 10:57 amJS — Yes, you are correct. After the abysmal failure of their association with Kmart (second only to Sears in mismanagement), Borders spun back out. They sadly never went back to their pre-Kmart ethos. Part of that is because the management post-Kmart was a largely different group than the management pre-Kmart. A.
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 11:01 amGod, folks. Get a life, would ya? I just happened to this link by accident. Don’t like it? Move. Better yet, get a girlfriend. At least go outside and get some fresh air. I’ve never seen something so pathetic as starting a web page on how much you hate the place you live. The world is apparently full of people who hate their lives but do nothing to change them. congratulations — you really are losers in the truest sense of the word. Bye.
posted by eric on January 12th, 2004 at 12:00 pmEric, piss off. And I say that as one of the Ann Arbor apologists here. Honest criticism promotes improvement.
I have to say, having bought texts at Shaman Drum for the very first time this semester, that I would far rather buy my texts there than at *any* of the other bookstores. I’ve used all of the Union, MBS, Ulrichs, and Pierpont bookstores before, and Shaman Drum was far less painful than any of those.
Of course, it could be because their website has only recently made things better than they have been historically. Hop online, enter your course numbers, check off the books you want, tap in a credit card, pick up a sack of books 24 hours later at the store. Fastest book buying I’ve ever done.
Meanwhile, I don’t really understand some of the author’s specific complaints. Books out of stock? All of the bookstores have that problem. Hell, the book I need at Pierpont isn’t even *in* stock yet, a week into the semester, let alone sold out. Most bookstores have a layout “conducive to browsing”? I thought we were talking about textbooks. I’ve never browsed for a textbook, and I bet nobody else has either. Grab-and-run is the strategy in every single textbook store in town. Out-of-stock books available at other stores? Again, not in the textbook game. I’ve had plenty a professor who only ordered texts through one store, making Amazon the only available back-up plan.
To end this screed, I really think that the author needs to argue in the fashion he demands of his opponents. If he wants Those Damn Pinkos to rate Shaman Drum against real bookstores, rather than strawmen, then he needs to himself be honest and accurate in his assessment.
posted by Murph on January 12th, 2004 at 12:18 pmYep, we’re a bunch of angry men here, who just need girlfriends. Or maybe a primal scream, or a group hug, Promise Keeper-style .
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 12:32 pmShaman Drum is just another of those old bohemian things that gen x’ers want to excise from Ann Arbor in their quest for homogeniety.
Let all the strike breakers and scabs continue to support Borders. Us lefty Marxists will stil go to the Drum
posted by mucho gusto on January 12th, 2004 at 12:54 pmMucho, We’ve had our differences, but that was pretty good. You should write that first line as a letter to the editor at the Daily.
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 1:02 pmOK, wow, I have some questions from all this activity
1- Anna, you said that the co-op thing worked at the del, but not for ever. What do we collectively know about the del?? I have 4 friends who were, untill recently long time employees, and I know for a while it was a co-op, but do we have any detials? When did the co-op start? end? Did it work? The profits still went to the owner right?
I know when it was a co-op you had to go to big staff meetings to get hired or something like that. That can lead to a ‘in’ crowd where only a select group of friends are really up for the job. Also I think they stopped the co-op thing before the ’strike’ and new managment. Please inform me if you can.
2- mucho, I thought the strike was over at borders? What are you talking about? I drove downtown a few days ago and didn’t see any protesters, today I called a friend who works downtown and he said it was over and borders gave the workers some of the stuff they wanted so it wouldn’t be an issue anymore since their last quarters earnings was down. Is that wrong?
3- on co-ops in general. I remember when the food co-oop was only on packard and as a member you were suppose to volunteer a certain number of hours per month. Or you got a bigger discount if you did or something, I know I put a few hours in there myself. Anyhow, now they have all hired employees, no volunteers, and membership is just a one time due, basically, they need to un-co-op and just be a regular store.
4- Does anyone know any real working co-ops around, the ICC doesn’t really count, since its a rather solid system built to serve the needs of revolving members, but I would be interested to know more. Have had a few friends live in various co-ops over the years, spent some time in them but not too much, neat places, but most people i’ve know that lived there didn’t feel like there was a great community, thought a few did live in communities they thought were great.
Also, I had been involved with the old Ann Arbor Artist Co-Op, and while that ship sank due to its captain, it was fun while it lasted.
posted by Just a Voice on January 12th, 2004 at 2:08 pmHi, JAV,
I don’t know really how the Del worked. I just ate and drank there; never worked there. My understanding was that they had profit-sharing (incidentally, Borders had profit-sharing before they went to hell in a handbasket), but I’m not positive about that. One of the reasons cited for their closing (in the newspaper article I read) was that the owner was never around and that the place evolved into a “defacto hang-out for Del employees and their friends,” (quote approximate) and also that they were giving food away for free and maybe even taking some themselves (”leakage”). If there was an “owner” I’m not sure what made it a “co-op” unless it was a co-op in the sense that it was managed cooperatively.
About the ICC: I was a member of the ICC and a house officer for a time, and I actually think they are an excellent example of a co-op system that works. The people who live in the co-ops actually do own them, they are run by the membership and, although I kid about them being filthy (they are; but more I think as a function of the demographic), they are pretty well-maintained. Hell, some better than my own house at this point — at least the roofs are usually in good repair. It’s pretty amazing that a bunch of late-teen and early 20-somethings can run a system as well as they do. We were making multi-million dollar decisions when I was around — for instance, we voted on whether to buy the abandoned hotel that was subsequently turned into senior housing (voted it down, probably wisely).
Weiskoff, who’s on the faculty at UM (and now head of the Residential College, of which I am a graduate) taught a really good political economy course in the RC in which he discussed cooperative systems on a big scale. The concensus at the time was that the Mondrogon cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain are a good example of how things can be. Of course my info is about ten years out of date; for all I know the Mondrogon cooperatives don’t exist anymore.
Sorry I couldn’t give you more information, but that’s pretty much all I know.
Anna
posted by JAV on January 12th, 2004 at 2:26 pmHi, JAV,
(hope this isn’t a double-post, I tried to stop in mid-stream)
I don’t know really how the Del worked. I just ate and drank there; never worked there. My understanding was that they had profit-sharing (incidentally, Borders had profit-sharing before they went to hell in a handbasket), but I’m not positive about that. One of the reasons cited for their closing (in the newspaper article I read) was that the owner was never around and that the place evolved into a “defacto hang-out for Del employees and their friends,” (quote approximate) and also that they were giving food away for free and maybe even taking some themselves (”leakage”). If there was an “owner” I’m not sure what made it a “co-op” unless it was a co-op in the sense that it was managed cooperatively.
About the ICC: I was a member of the ICC and a house officer for a time, and I actually think they are an excellent example of a co-op system that works. The people who live in the co-ops actually do own them, they are run by the membership and, although I kid about them being filthy (they are; but more I think as a function of the demographic), they are pretty well-maintained. Hell, some better than my own house at this point — at least the roofs are usually in good repair. It’s pretty amazing that a bunch of late-teen and early 20-somethings can run a system as well as they do. We were making multi-million dollar decisions when I was around — for instance, we voted on whether to buy the abandoned hotel that was subsequently turned into senior housing (voted it down, probably wisely).
Weiskoff, who’s on the faculty at UM (and now head of the Residential College, of which I am a graduate) taught a really good political economy course in the RC in which he discussed cooperative systems on a big scale. The concensus at the time was that the Mondrogon cooperatives in the Basque region of Spain are a good example of how things can be. Of course my info is about ten years out of date; for all I know the Mondrogon cooperatives don’t exist anymore.
Sorry I couldn’t give you more information, but that’s pretty much all I know.
Anna
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 2:26 pmI just googled and it’s actually Mondragon (not Mondrogon). They seem to still exist. Whether or not they are successful appears to be a matter of some controversy. Of course, so is the success of capitalism.
AAIO, if you get a chance, could you delete my first post? It’s identical to the second one.
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 2:33 pm“at least the roofs are usually in good repair”
Anna, it’s funny you mentioned this. My sister lived in Joint house about 5 years ago and the roof did in fact collapse on her room. In spite of that, she actually did like the whole co-op experience and stayed at a couple different places.
I stayed in Debs house for one summer a while back and had a pretty good time. Overall the co-op system does a pretty good job, but there are those occasional “trouble” houses (I’ve heard Debs went downhill pretty bad a couple years ago).
posted by James on January 12th, 2004 at 2:57 pmHeh. You will note that I did say “usually”
posted by Anna on January 12th, 2004 at 3:08 pmJust a Voice;
I’m glad the strike is over, but that doesn’t suddenly make Borders a worker friendly corporation. They’re just as money grubbing as they have been since Joe Borders sold his company to the highest bidder. I refuse to shop at Wal-Mart and Borders
posted by mucho gusto on January 12th, 2004 at 3:55 pmMondragon is still going strong, has been for decades, and ranks as something like the fourth-largest corporation in Spain. Plus they run a community college-type institution, job training, daycare, etc, etc. They are *the* classic success story for workers’ coops.
The ICC are actually a pretty impressive case too; a corporation owned and run by 650 college students would be expected to implode in much less than 70 years. There’s also Hei Wa House and several other non-ICC cooperative houses in town. These aren’t really examples of workers’ cooperatives, though. Housing coops are a completely separate beastie.
I somehow doubt the owner of Shaman Drum really means “cooperative”; I’m betting it’s something more like “collective”. In both cases, the workers are the management; the salient difference is that the workers are also the ownership in a cooperative. As I understand the situation at the Del Rio, it would have more appropriately been called a collective.
posted by Murph on January 13th, 2004 at 12:32 amI happen to live in a functioning co-op, just one that’s a bit larger than the examples previously given. Up here in Arrowwood, the co-op started in the mid-70s, and now encompasses 350 houses or so, and well over 1000 people live out here. We have both an elected branch and an appointed professional branch, and provide a lot of low-income housing for the area. While it may be a little larger than the ICC (in terms of properties), it’s (in my opinion) one of the nicest places to live in Ann Arbor.
posted by js on January 13th, 2004 at 10:08 amjs