Airports make a whole lot of money (here’s how they do it). And sure, lots of their money come from the fees they get from the airlines, but a bunch comes from you and me, too (here are some of the sneaky ways they get us to buy more at the airport, and other ways they try to affect our behavior, too).
The bottom line is, when you’re at an airport and something of a captive audience for what can be hours on end, you may wind up buying stuff. You really shouldn’t – here’s why. But when you’re there, and bored, you and I both know you’re going to buy it anyway. Just like you may wind buying the foods you really shouldn’t ever buy at an airport.
But enough about how much money airports make off us. Let’s talk about how to get some of that money back!
Many airports still have a bookstore or two. Lots of them are run by a corporation called Paradies Lagardère. Founded in Atlanta in 1960, they operate specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores in airports, hotels, and other locations throughout North America.
The prices at any airport-based Paradies Lagardère retail store tend to be higher than they would if they were outside the airport. Of course they do since they have high rents to pay, and you’re a captive audience. But if you’re an avid reader, here’s how to wind up paying only 50% off books you buy from their book stores.
Since 2003, Paradies Lagardère has had what they call a “Read and Return” program. If you buy a book from them, save your receipt. If you return your book to a Paradies Lagardère location within six months, along with your receipt, they’ll give you back half of what you paid for the original purchase.
They, in turn, will re-sell the book for half price. And if the book isn’t in awesome shape, Paradies Lagardère won’t resell it – they’ll donate it to a library instead.
The only 2 rules for all of this are that the book has to be in decent condition, and you have to have your original receipt (so use it as your bookmark). So if you can stick to those, you’re good.
One Big Caveat
The information about this program was shared many times over the years, by several references (including the company’s own FB page). However, virtually all of them were shared before COVID (the most recent one was in late 2019).
I tried to contact Paradies Lagardère to see if the program was still available or was on pause due to the pandemic. Despite several attempts via email, phone call and direct message via Facebook, they never responded.
So I would say the program sounds like a good one…if it’s actually still happening ;-). And if it is, well, happy reading!
Feature Photo: PxHere
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1 comment
Just saw one of their airport stores offering this sometime in October or November. Can’t remember if it was New Orleans or Miami airport. Of course I los the receipt anyway🤷🏻♀️