Ebooks and the Giving Season

RWood · 12-29-2008, 05:32 PM

Wallcraft's post about Apex Books having a 75% drop in sales reminded me that you can't give an ebook like you can a pbook for Christmas. There are no coffee table ebooks.

When I was growing up there were the mandatory underwear and socks under the Christmas tree along with a good assortment of books. Most of the gifts would be books (along with a grocery bag of just read once paperbacks from my uncle.) For me this was great. After my parents died my wife picked up the tradition for many years.

This is the second year in a row that there have been no books at Christmas. (OK, in the interest of full disclosure, she got books this year, I did not. Her books were such things as quilting and sewing that do not easily lend themselves to the small 6" b+w e+ink screens.)

What was she to do? Send money to Fictionwise? Other than a gift card or a credit voucher, there is no way to give an ebook. "Here, I bought this ebook for you but it will not work on your reader so I guess I'll have to read it for you."

For ebooks to go mainstream the publishers need to find a way that ebooks can become gifts.

pdurrant · 12-30-2008, 04:11 AM

At fictionwise it's possible to buy any eBook as a gift for someone. There's a big "buy this eBook for a friend" button on every book's page.

You can either send it by email, or print out a gift certificate, or do both - get a printed gift certificate, and an email version to send later.

Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWood

Wallcraft's post about Apex Books having a 75% drop in sales reminded me that you can't give an ebook like you can a pbook for Christmas. There are no coffee table ebooks.

When I was growing up there were the mandatory underwear and socks under the Christmas tree along with a good assortment of books. Most of the gifts would be books (along with a grocery bag of just read once paperbacks from my uncle.) For me this was great. After my parents died my wife picked up the tradition for many years.

This is the second year in a row that there have been no books at Christmas. (OK, in the interest of full disclosure, she got books this year, I did not. Her books were such things as quilting and sewing that do not easily lend themselves to the small 6" b+w e+ink screens.)

What was she to do? Send money to Fictionwise? Other than a gift card or a credit voucher, there is no way to give an ebook. "Here, I bought this ebook for you but it will not work on your reader so I guess I'll have to read it for you."

For ebooks to go mainstream the publishers need to find a way that ebooks can become gifts.

GeoffC · 12-30-2008, 06:50 AM

My kids don't like my reader, means they have to think harder about my pressies !! (ignoring possibilities with gifts via Fictionwise)

HarryT · 12-30-2008, 07:13 AM

Baen also allow one to give a "Webscription" as a gift.

DixieGal · 12-30-2008, 07:19 AM

I gave my EB-1150 to my best friend, since I couldn't see to read on it anymore. She was thrilled with her gift!

HarryT · 12-30-2008, 07:41 AM

What a nice thing to do!

12-29-2008, 05:32 PM	#1
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Ebooks and the Giving Season Wallcraft's post about Apex Books having a 75% drop in sales reminded me that you can't give an ebook like you can a pbook for Christmas. There are no coffee table ebooks. When I was growing up there were the mandatory underwear and socks under the Christmas tree along with a good assortment of books. Most of the gifts would be books (along with a grocery bag of just read once paperbacks from my uncle.) For me this was great. After my parents died my wife picked up the tradition for many years. This is the second year in a row that there have been no books at Christmas. (OK, in the interest of full disclosure, she got books this year, I did not. Her books were such things as quilting and sewing that do not easily lend themselves to the small 6" b+w e+ink screens.) What was she to do? Send money to Fictionwise? Other than a gift card or a credit voucher, there is no way to give an ebook. "Here, I bought this ebook for you but it will not work on your reader so I guess I'll have to read it for you." For ebooks to go mainstream the publishers need to find a way that ebooks can become gifts.

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12-30-2008, 06:50 AM	#3
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	My kids don't like my reader, means they have to think harder about my pressies !! (ignoring possibilities with gifts via Fictionwise)

12-30-2008, 07:13 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Baen also allow one to give a "Webscription" as a gift.

12-30-2008, 07:19 AM	#5
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I gave my EB-1150 to my best friend, since I couldn't see to read on it anymore. She was thrilled with her gift!

12-30-2008, 07:41 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What a nice thing to do!

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