Telebook, a recently launched international online bookstore, has established a Cape Town branch. Adatabase of more than 1,2-million books can be searched, by title, author, key word, subject, publisher or ISBN number. At present there are four databases: English, German, Spanish, and Dutch titles, with the addition of Afrikaans and French soon to take place.
Telebook receives its books directly from the biggest American book wholesalers , Ingram Books Inc (Tennessee) and Baker & Taylor (New Jersey). Telebook calculates the original American list price, plus 25%, but no shipping charges. In addition, Telebook will soon launch Afrikaans books from its web-site. Telebook also envisages promoting South African publications abroad.
Telebook’s head office is in Miami Beach, United States, and has branches in Cape Town and Swakopmund, Namibia. By the end of the year, Telebook will have 2,5-million books in its online bookstores. The company, inaugurated in Germany in 1991, has already successfully established itself as a compatible global enterprise.
The man behind the Cape Town office is Pascal Zier, who says: “I’m confident people here will be happy with our professional service.”
* You can find Telebook at http:// www.telebook.co.za.