This self-service bookshop in KL aims to build a business based on trust

The newly-opened Buku by PJ Preloved House bookshop at Kedai KL, Mahsa Avenue in KL is implementing a customer self-service strategy, with a cashless payment system. Photo: The Star/Daryl Goh

Buku by PJ Preloved House (Buku), a newly opened pre-loved bookstore, is similar to any other bookstore... except that it is a fully self-service establishment.

Buku, located at the creative marketplace Kedai KL in Mahsa Avenue (Jalan Ilmu, Kuala Lumpur), places trust in the hands of customers by not having any staff present.

The process is straightforward: choose your desired titles and make a cashless payment (e-wallet, DuitNow or online transfer). The prices are affordable to boot: RM5 per book (or RM10 for selected stickered titles).

“With this self-service model, I am able to save on staffing costs, hence directly passing back the savings to my customers by offering our pre-loved books at very affordable prices.

The Buku bookstore adds new titles to its shelves every week. Photo: Buku By PJ Preloved House

“Also, with a store like this, people from all walks of life can treat it as their personal library to browse and read... there’s no pressure from staff watching over them while they browse and read,” says Philip Yong Kee Chung, 32, Buku’s founder.

On the racks, book lovers will find thriller, fantasy and YA novels right to self-help books, biographies, classics and cookbooks. A children's section is also building up. A stash of over 2,500 preloved books will slowly fill up the shelves at this 18.6sq m cosy space.

After a successful soft launch last month, Yong says more books will be added every week.

The books, mainly in English with some Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin books, are mostly sourced from charity organisations like Red Shield Industries Malaysia by The Salvation Army and Parents Without Partners.

"We are a for profit business championing social causes. Even before you make a purchase we are already supporting social causes as 90% of our books are sourced from charity organisations," outlines a statement on Buku's Facebook page.

A selection of classic books found at Buku. Photo: Buku By PJ Preloved House

Yong adds that there is CCTV in place to monitor the store. If any Covid-19 SOPs are breached, Yong can easily speak through the CCTV to advise the customers.

This self-funded bookstore started off as an online bookstore in April last year.

But Yong felt that when it comes to buying preloved books, many prefer to browse, touch and feel the physical books before making a purchase.

“I’ve built a sizeable community online as well who often request me to start a physical store. The other reason is that I’ve always wanted to start a library but the cost to sustain one can be quite hefty as I am funding everything myself hence opening a preloved bookstore selling affordable books is a balance I can live with,” shares the PJ-based book retailer.

All that customers have to do is pick their books and make a cashless payment. Photo: Philip Yong

He admits that Buku is an experiment, especially in Malaysia where such self-service retail concepts are relatively new.

“As a digital product manager, I always believe in the online-to-office concept. Almost everything in the store is controlled digitally from the lights to the air conditioner unit.

“The experiment is more on whether my faith in humanity holds. And I have to say, it’s going well so far since we opened our doors.

“If this experiment is successful, I hope to replicate this same model all across the country. It may be a bold dream but definitely possible,” concludes Yong.

Buku by PJ Preloved House is open daily from 10am to 9pm.