Free ebooks - Page 2

NickyWithNook · 05-01-2013, 10:27 AM

I don't think it has any relationship to whether the book was free. If I liked a book, I'd look for others. The first book being free might prompt me to start reading books from that author, but that's the end of it.

Yapyap · 05-01-2013, 10:38 AM

As said by others, a free first book may make it more likely for me to pick it up in the first place (e.g. for a new author or something that sounds like a "maybe but not generally my thing"), but a book being free has very little relevance to whether I'll buy more from that author or not - if I enjoyed it a lot, I'm likely to buy more from the author.

There is a slight chance, especially if it's a self-published author or an author whose work tends to be free on a regular basis, that I might opt to stick their others books in my wishlist and get them when it's their turn to be free - but (a) this only happens if I found the first free book enjoyable but average (i.e. "wouldn't buy more; might get more if free"), and (b) I'm more likely to do that with authors who are no longer with us but still under copyright, because I don't feel entirely comfortable to try and get every book by a still-living author for free (I'm not at all judging anyone who does so, not the least because this is something authors and publishers who do regular free books need to consider and hopefully word of mouth and reader recs pay off eventually.).

In general, though, I have so many unread books already that unless it's a "wow, I want to read more right now" sort of experience, I'm likely to just stick some other books in the wishlist anyway, as a sort of reminder to myself, and probably not actually buy them any time soon.

basschick · 05-03-2013, 03:12 AM

the poll doesn't seem to cover my answer. i've discovered authors because one of their ebooks was free, and if i really enjoyed the free ebook, i'm fairly likely to buy other books by the author. i've done that time after time. it's a lot easier to get to know an author's voice by reading more of a book than just a short sample, and there are several authors i've found via giveaways that i've paid for more than 6 books from each.

that also applies to really cheap ebooks. i just finished a bargain book, went to amazon and immediately ordered (and paid for) the next 2 books in the series.

btw, why would one be less likely to read more from an author based on whether one of his/her books was free?

jersysman · 05-03-2013, 04:43 PM

As others have said, it all depends on if I liked the book. I have bought other books in a series if I liked the series. So freebies I haven't gotten very far before I quit for one reason or the other and those I wouldn't buy from the author again. But, it is just like any other purchase, if I like the brand I'd repurchase, if not, there are too many other choices.

JSWolf · 05-03-2013, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

What, "The Blue one next to the Fish"?

The fish has long since died and the blue one has rusted.

theducks · 05-06-2013, 08:23 PM

The free one (or sample ChapterS) replace the ability to thumb through a book that was lost with the loss of many Local book stores.

I would say: the Authors CHANCES of me buying a book increase with a sample.

Namekuseijin · 05-07-2013, 04:52 PM

stupid question. I'll try more from the author if I liked it.

carpetmojo · 05-07-2013, 06:27 PM

I get the sneaking feeling that jbc might now have a very rough idea of what he should have asked .........

mediax · 05-10-2013, 07:51 AM

I don't think the fact that an author gives away one book free directly affects my decision whether or not to purchase subsequent books.

What it does do is make me more likely to try the free book, and if I like it add their subsequent books to my list of prospective purchases. I then track these books on Luzme until the price hits a level I'm happy to pay - and an initial free book wouldn't affect that decision.

View Poll Results: When you read a free book from an author are you
More likely to buy from that author	54	100.00%
Less likely to buy from that author	0	0%
Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

05-03-2013, 03:12 AM	#18
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	the poll doesn't seem to cover my answer. i've discovered authors because one of their ebooks was free, and if i really enjoyed the free ebook, i'm fairly likely to buy other books by the author. i've done that time after time. it's a lot easier to get to know an author's voice by reading more of a book than just a short sample, and there are several authors i've found via giveaways that i've paid for more than 6 books from each. that also applies to really cheap ebooks. i just finished a bargain book, went to amazon and immediately ordered (and paid for) the next 2 books in the series. btw, why would one be less likely to read more from an author based on whether one of his/her books was free? Last edited by basschick; 05-03-2013 at 03:15 AM.

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05-01-2013, 10:27 AM	#16
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 748 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Michigan, USA Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	I don't think it has any relationship to whether the book was free. If I liked a book, I'd look for others. The first book being free might prompt me to start reading books from that author, but that's the end of it.

05-01-2013, 10:38 AM	#17
Yapyap Guru Posts: 861 Karma: 3543721 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Estonia Device: Kindle Paperwhite, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	As said by others, a free first book may make it more likely for me to pick it up in the first place (e.g. for a new author or something that sounds like a "maybe but not generally my thing"), but a book being free has very little relevance to whether I'll buy more from that author or not - if I enjoyed it a lot, I'm likely to buy more from the author. There is a slight chance, especially if it's a self-published author or an author whose work tends to be free on a regular basis, that I might opt to stick their others books in my wishlist and get them when it's their turn to be free - but (a) this only happens if I found the first free book enjoyable but average (i.e. "wouldn't buy more; might get more if free"), and (b) I'm more likely to do that with authors who are no longer with us but still under copyright, because I don't feel entirely comfortable to try and get every book by a still-living author for free (I'm not at all judging anyone who does so, not the least because this is something authors and publishers who do regular free books need to consider and hopefully word of mouth and reader recs pay off eventually.). In general, though, I have so many unread books already that unless it's a "wow, I want to read more right now" sort of experience, I'm likely to just stick some other books in the wishlist anyway, as a sort of reminder to myself, and probably not actually buy them any time soon.

05-03-2013, 04:43 PM	#19
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	As others have said, it all depends on if I liked the book. I have bought other books in a series if I liked the series. So freebies I haven't gotten very far before I quit for one reason or the other and those I wouldn't buy from the author again. But, it is just like any other purchase, if I like the brand I'd repurchase, if not, there are too many other choices.

05-06-2013, 08:23 PM	#21
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,803 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The free one (or sample ChapterS) replace the ability to thumb through a book that was lost with the loss of many Local book stores. I would say: the Authors CHANCES of me buying a book increase with a sample.

05-07-2013, 04:52 PM	#22
Namekuseijin affordable chipmunk Posts: 1,290 Karma: 9863855 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Brazil Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite	stupid question. I'll try more from the author if I liked it.

05-07-2013, 06:27 PM	#23
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	I get the sneaking feeling that jbc might now have a very rough idea of what he should have asked .........

05-10-2013, 07:51 AM	#24
mediax Readaholic Posts: 255 Karma: 1058454 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Swindon, UK Device: Sony PRS-T2 (previously 505 and 650)	I don't think the fact that an author gives away one book free directly affects my decision whether or not to purchase subsequent books. What it does do is make me more likely to try the free book, and if I like it add their subsequent books to my list of prospective purchases. I then track these books on Luzme until the price hits a level I'm happy to pay - and an initial free book wouldn't affect that decision.

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