Australian bookshop kicks out pick-up artists sent by date coaching company

An Australian bookstore has urged a “dating coaching” company to stop sending clients to their store to practice “pickup” tactics.

Kinokuniya Sydney issued an open letter on Friday, saying it had become aware that a dating coaching company, which it did not name, had encouraged clients to visit the store and test their techniques.

The bookstore tweeted: “We apologise to any of our customers who have been approached in the store or had the negative experience of someone trying “pick-up” techniques with them… And to anyone who has felt harassed we offer our deepest apologies.

We have contacted the company we know is involved and requested they not enter the store again.”

Commercial courses and books coaching men to be “pickup artists” have been condemned for encouraging men to use psychological manipulation, intimidation and even coercion to attract - and keep - partners.

The industry has been criticised for teaching tactics such as “negging” - deliberately undermining women’s confidence - and other manipulative techniques intended to wear down resistance.

Readers praised Kinokuniya’s stand.

Writer Chloe Sargeant wrote on social media that an aspiring “pickup artist” had approached her in a bookstore and tried “some classic The Game pickup artist lines”, referring to the Neil Strauss’ 2005 book which sold 2.5million copies.

“(He) started out with ‘can you help me with a recommendation, what was your fave book of 2019?’ So I said Clementine Ford’s Fight Like a Girl. He looked a bit flustered but persevered and was like ‘oh no, I meant fiction!’… I’d seen him try the same thing to two different women before me. Pickup artist stuff is so grim,” she wrote.

In their statement, Kinokuniya Sydney said their staff and security have been made aware that this has been happening and “are on the lookout for anyone who is receiving unsolicited and unwanted attention”.

The store said anyone being harassed should speak with staff.

“That said, the bookstore should be a place for discussion and we don’t want to discourage organic communications from taking place… Please come in, enjoy the books and the ideas, and enjoy sharing the space with other booklovers.”