At Delhi Book Fair, discounted books attract visitors

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.