Build a better eBook store!

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 09:19 AM

Hi everyone!.

12 months ago, I couldn't find a decent choice of ebooks for my shiny new PRS-505, especially over here in Ireland & the UK. Initially depressed, I decided to do something about it.

In recent months I have launched www.directebooks.com as a solution. Ireland's first eBook store, we have over 190,000 titles available worldwide, no geographic restrictions. We have pdf, eReader, MSreader and ePub(over 7k) available. We are partnering with goodreads.com for reader's book reviews and inkmesh for price comparison.

But this is not a sales pitch! I am looking for some help from everyone here. I want to make the site the frendliest, easiest to use eBook store on the net. Already, some Mobileread-ers (I'm thinking of JSWolf, Ea, Wenn and Bookrat, Pwarren to name a few) have given me some great suggestions, some of which I have already put in place.

So help me, help you! Any and all suggestions are welcome. In return, I'll organise a special offer for all mobileread-ers at the end of the month!

P.S. I will let you know in advance that because I use a wholesaler, I currently have no control over the information I receive about the books - number in series, synopsis etc. This prevents us making major changes in this regard. his will hopefully change in the coming months as we implement new technology. Also, DRM is currently a neccessary evil

bookfanmd · 10-21-2009, 09:29 AM

I didn't notice a search by publisher. This can be useful at times.

MetaEbooks · 10-21-2009, 09:30 AM

Direct Ebooks,

Would you like to be included in our price comparison site?
http://ebooks.addall.com/

weedfreak · 10-21-2009, 09:45 AM

I could not find a search by price, I always search by price as anyone that charges more than about 3 $/€/flavian poble beads per book is basically ripping of readers.

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 09:47 AM

Hi Metatags.
I'm always interested in talking to anyone we can work with! Feel free to pm me to get your details. thanks!

kenmark · 10-21-2009, 10:06 AM

Covers seem to be loading faster than before. One can usually click on the cover go get "More details".

On your "Special Offers on DirectEbooks.com" page the "Reader" column, I believe, should be labeled "Format". It would be nice to be able to click on the column titles "Title", "Author" "Reader" and sort in that order.

I like ePubs, but prices seem extremely high for us North American users and the 10% just doesn't make a sale for me.

The Sony line should also mention the PRS-300/600 if you intend to be an international site.

Still looking....

Ken

Sweetpea · 10-21-2009, 10:08 AM

A few remarks

1. Series.
I'd love to know if a book is part of a series and which volume it is. I know, you said you have no control over the information you have, but still, I find that such an important feature, I'll just mention it anyway. Besides, if enough people mention it, you've got a better reason to make sure you get that information!

2. Browsing.
I like the current setup of browsing, except that I keep clicking on the cover to see the book details.
Also, you show 50 titles. Considering the size of those pictures, I'd make the amount configurable by the user. Somebody with a slower connection (or computer) might have problems loading all 50 books. The amount of books in a colum should change too so that with a full page, all rows are completely filled.
A last thing, do you use the full-sized images for the thumbnails? Some make my browser very slowly!
It would be nice if I could see at first glance what format the book has.

3. Searching. You have the categories on the left, perfect! But, it would be nice if the sub-categories could also be chosen without having to go the search page. Plenty of options in the search screen.
I like how you can chose completely different categories at the same time!
Some books are appearing twice in my search result. (Dayspring Destiny by Berry, Jeanine is one)

One last point: in the book list, I'd expect to be able to click the author to get a list from that author. Now I need to click the book, go to the last tab and only there can I click the author.

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenmark

I like ePubs, but prices seem extremely high for us North American users and the 10% just doesn't make a sale for me.

Thanks Ken.
Another handicap us europeans have is that eBooks attract state tax @21.5%! This is crazy when you think regular books have no tax on them, but that is the way it is!
Bearing all this in mind, we try to be as competetive as we can, but if you see a particular eBook you are interested in, we ware more than happy to have a look at matching the price. Just email us or use the livehelp on the site.

Sweetpea · 10-21-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direct Ebooks

Thanks Ken.
Another handicap us europeans have is that eBooks attract state tax @21.5%! This is crazy when you think regular books have no tax on them, but that is the way it is!
Bearing all this in mind, we try to be as competetive as we can, but if you see a particular eBook you are interested in, we ware more than happy to have a look at matching the price. Just email us or use the livehelp on the site.

Ohh, the difference is even larger with you! We pay 6% on pbooks and 19% on ebooks...

mikaelalind · 10-21-2009, 10:22 AM

I have a couple of questions. Have you considered adding a Paypal option? I have a card that you can't use over internet, so I use Paypal instead.
One more thing, can you pick the currency you want to pay in?

=X= · 10-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Search feature is very important. Make it real easy to use.
* For the simple/default search don't make the user click on Author or title to do a search. The engine should be smart enough to search both fields.
* For advance search it is okay, even expected that these fields should be split up.
* For advance/basic add a key word search. Sometimes we're looking for a type of book not a specific book.
* Add a "Book Format" filter for the advance search.
* Not crazy about the way books are disaplayed the Icon template is just too big. It wastes a lot of space
* Make a FireFox search for your web site.

* Reviews are important,
* Price can you make it local, I don't think in Pounds.

* Are all your books DRM? If not add a icon or text to indicate the book has DRM and what flavor of DRM.

Well that's all for now

=X=

JSWolf · 10-21-2009, 10:38 AM

Instead of listing books as PDF encrypted, you have them listed as Adobe Digital Editions. ADE is NOT a format. It's the software from Adobe to view these PDF. Fixing this will save a lot o user confusion as to ePub or PDF.

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikaelalind

I have a couple of questions. Have you considered adding a Paypal option? I have a card that you can't use over internet, so I use Paypal instead.
One more thing, can you pick the currency you want to pay in?

Hi. I am looking into paypal at the moment, but there may be problems as our checkout ties in with the downloads. For example, for ereader downloads, you need the encrypted credit card number of the customer to download the ebooks after the purchase, but we are looking into it.
The final price charged is the euro amount displayed. This is converted by your card into the equivalent US amount, so often you will get the ebook cheaper than advertised!

MetaEbooks · 10-21-2009, 11:02 AM

Your front page cover images are too heavy for me, the total file size of that 8 cover images is >3MB! That's too heavy for most users.

Direct Ebooks · 10-21-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Instead of listing books as PDF encrypted, you have them listed as Adobe Digital Editions. ADE is NOT a format. It's the software from Adobe to view these PDF. Fixing this will save a lot o user confusion as to ePub or PDF.

Hi again.
I did actually change this on your recommendation yesterday! Its showing up my end - maybe you're looking at an older cache?

thanks for the suggestion!

10-21-2009, 09:19 AM	#1
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Thank you enclosed - Build a better eBook store! Hi everyone!. 12 months ago, I couldn't find a decent choice of ebooks for my shiny new PRS-505, especially over here in Ireland & the UK. Initially depressed, I decided to do something about it. In recent months I have launched www.directebooks.com as a solution. Ireland's first eBook store, we have over 190,000 titles available worldwide, no geographic restrictions. We have pdf, eReader, MSreader and ePub(over 7k) available. We are partnering with goodreads.com for reader's book reviews and inkmesh for price comparison. But this is not a sales pitch! I am looking for some help from everyone here. I want to make the site the frendliest, easiest to use eBook store on the net. Already, some Mobileread-ers (I'm thinking of JSWolf, Ea, Wenn and Bookrat, Pwarren to name a few) have given me some great suggestions, some of which I have already put in place. So help me, help you! Any and all suggestions are welcome. In return, I'll organise a special offer for all mobileread-ers at the end of the month! P.S. I will let you know in advance that because I use a wholesaler, I currently have no control over the information I receive about the books - number in series, synopsis etc. This prevents us making major changes in this regard. his will hopefully change in the coming months as we implement new technology. Also, DRM is currently a neccessary evil Last edited by Direct Ebooks; 10-23-2009 at 01:00 PM.

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10-21-2009, 09:29 AM	#2
bookfanmd Addict Posts: 246 Karma: 4476 Join Date: May 2009 Location: US - Maryland Device: Sony 300/505/T1 Nook STWG Kobo Glo Kobo Aura HD KDX iPad1 K3 KT PW2	I didn't notice a search by publisher. This can be useful at times.

10-21-2009, 09:30 AM	#3
MetaEbooks Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 408 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: none	Direct Ebooks, Would you like to be included in our price comparison site? http://ebooks.addall.com/

10-21-2009, 09:45 AM	#4
weedfreak Addict Posts: 302 Karma: 185297 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ankh Morpork Device: calibre	I could not find a search by price, I always search by price as anyone that charges more than about 3 $/€/flavian poble beads per book is basically ripping of readers.

10-21-2009, 09:47 AM	#5
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Hi Metatags. I'm always interested in talking to anyone we can work with! Feel free to pm me to get your details. thanks!

10-21-2009, 10:06 AM	#6
kenmark Addict Posts: 204 Karma: 250000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Great White North Device: PRS-505	Covers seem to be loading faster than before. One can usually click on the cover go get "More details". On your "Special Offers on DirectEbooks.com" page the "Reader" column, I believe, should be labeled "Format". It would be nice to be able to click on the column titles "Title", "Author" "Reader" and sort in that order. I like ePubs, but prices seem extremely high for us North American users and the 10% just doesn't make a sale for me. The Sony line should also mention the PRS-300/600 if you intend to be an international site. Still looking.... Ken

10-21-2009, 10:08 AM	#7
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	A few remarks 1. Series. I'd love to know if a book is part of a series and which volume it is. I know, you said you have no control over the information you have, but still, I find that such an important feature, I'll just mention it anyway. Besides, if enough people mention it, you've got a better reason to make sure you get that information! 2. Browsing. I like the current setup of browsing, except that I keep clicking on the cover to see the book details. Also, you show 50 titles. Considering the size of those pictures, I'd make the amount configurable by the user. Somebody with a slower connection (or computer) might have problems loading all 50 books. The amount of books in a colum should change too so that with a full page, all rows are completely filled. A last thing, do you use the full-sized images for the thumbnails? Some make my browser very slowly! It would be nice if I could see at first glance what format the book has. 3. Searching. You have the categories on the left, perfect! But, it would be nice if the sub-categories could also be chosen without having to go the search page. Plenty of options in the search screen. I like how you can chose completely different categories at the same time! Some books are appearing twice in my search result. (Dayspring Destiny by Berry, Jeanine is one) One last point: in the book list, I'd expect to be able to click the author to get a list from that author. Now I need to click the book, go to the last tab and only there can I click the author.

10-21-2009, 10:22 AM	#10
mikaelalind Fanatic Posts: 590 Karma: 788068 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Sony PRS 505, Cybook Odessey	I have a couple of questions. Have you considered adding a Paypal option? I have a card that you can't use over internet, so I use Paypal instead. One more thing, can you pick the currency you want to pay in?

10-21-2009, 10:33 AM	#11
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Search feature is very important. Make it real easy to use. * For the simple/default search don't make the user click on Author or title to do a search. The engine should be smart enough to search both fields. * For advance search it is okay, even expected that these fields should be split up. * For advance/basic add a key word search. Sometimes we're looking for a type of book not a specific book. * Add a "Book Format" filter for the advance search. * Not crazy about the way books are disaplayed the Icon template is just too big. It wastes a lot of space * Make a FireFox search for your web site. * Reviews are important, * Price can you make it local, I don't think in Pounds. * Are all your books DRM? If not add a icon or text to indicate the book has DRM and what flavor of DRM. Well that's all for now =X=

10-21-2009, 10:38 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,983 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Instead of listing books as PDF encrypted, you have them listed as Adobe Digital Editions. ADE is NOT a format. It's the software from Adobe to view these PDF. Fixing this will save a lot o user confusion as to ePub or PDF.

10-21-2009, 11:02 AM	#14
MetaEbooks Connoisseur Posts: 64 Karma: 408 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: none	Your front page cover images are too heavy for me, the total file size of that 8 cover images is >3MB! That's too heavy for most users.

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