Also, we should carve out that you can buy a tote as a gift, but not one for yourself. It’s not the money for tote problem in my mind, it’s the acquisition method that’s in question.
Interesting! I never think about this one but I also have likely paid somewhere in the 10-20 thousand dollar range for last-second umbrellas that cost five bucks from some guy on a Manhattan sidewalk when it starts raining.
Having worked adjacent to publishing, I will join you on this kvetch and die on the hill of never buying totes. The irony is of course that the last tote I bought was from a local artist and features a woodblock print that reads “LGBTQ BOOKS SAVE LIVES” so, yeah, I had to have it 🤷🏻♀️
When I was last in London, I popped into Daunt Books on a whim. Had never even heard of it, just walked by and thought it seemed cool. Ever since then, I’ve been noticing all these Daunt Books totes in Boston, mostly carried by young women. Did they all go there, and buy merch? Did a TikTok influencer post about her Daunt tote, inspiring the masses to buy them online? I’m totally lost here.
I don't know about TikTok, but I do think bookstores in big cities sell a lot of totes. The Strand in NYC is the obvious one I see all over the world, but there are so many others. And I do think if you end up buying a bunch of books from a place that I could see an amendment to this kvetch that you need a bag for all those books, so 15 or 20 for a tote bag is fine in that case since you're also supporting an indie bookstore.
I can’t wait for more kvetching! I’m brainstorming now
Also, we should carve out that you can buy a tote as a gift, but not one for yourself. It’s not the money for tote problem in my mind, it’s the acquisition method that’s in question.
I have a similar philosophy about umbrellas!! One must not buy! Ever! One must receive from the universe what the universe deems fit.
Interesting! I never think about this one but I also have likely paid somewhere in the 10-20 thousand dollar range for last-second umbrellas that cost five bucks from some guy on a Manhattan sidewalk when it starts raining.
Having worked adjacent to publishing, I will join you on this kvetch and die on the hill of never buying totes. The irony is of course that the last tote I bought was from a local artist and features a woodblock print that reads “LGBTQ BOOKS SAVE LIVES” so, yeah, I had to have it 🤷🏻♀️
When I was last in London, I popped into Daunt Books on a whim. Had never even heard of it, just walked by and thought it seemed cool. Ever since then, I’ve been noticing all these Daunt Books totes in Boston, mostly carried by young women. Did they all go there, and buy merch? Did a TikTok influencer post about her Daunt tote, inspiring the masses to buy them online? I’m totally lost here.
I don't know about TikTok, but I do think bookstores in big cities sell a lot of totes. The Strand in NYC is the obvious one I see all over the world, but there are so many others. And I do think if you end up buying a bunch of books from a place that I could see an amendment to this kvetch that you need a bag for all those books, so 15 or 20 for a tote bag is fine in that case since you're also supporting an indie bookstore.