Waterstone's UK to sell Sony Reader this autumn - Page 2

Argel · 07-15-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

The long and painful wait is almost over (at least for UK residents): As previous rumors have already hinted, and the Independent is reaffirming in their Business section today, the UK's leading bookseller, Waterstone's, is gearing up to launch the Sony Reader device.

I should rejoice at this, at least short-term, because I have a few shares in HMV, who own Waterstones.

But at the same time, though it's good for us ebook enthusiasts, I can't help but feel that it's like turkeys voting for Christmas.

It's a fact that I don't buy from book-stores much any more. Paper books come by mail, ebooks over the net. Presumably the people who buy an ereader from Waterstones won't be buying their ebooks from Waterstones. In effect, they are selling their own customers - or at least part of their book-spend.

I suppose they have no choice but book-selling in the UK is becoming more and more threatened. I'll be sad - and slightly guilty - to see specialized book-stores wither away.

astra · 07-15-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argel

Presumably the people who buy an ereader from Waterstones won't be buying their ebooks from Waterstones. In effect, they are selling their own customers - or at least part of their book-spend

Well, we don't know. Maybe they will introduce some sort of nice service that will compete with fictionwise or similar. Who knows? I don't think they are going to only sell ebook readers. Moreover, I believe it is a wise decision. The same strategy as Amazon.com. Waterstone and Amazon realised that ebooks are going to be our future and they start to sell ebook readers to keep their customers.

I must admit I never buy books in book shops. I buy 90% from Amazon, 9% from Amazon marketplace and 1% from ebay. Just yesterday I got the first 2 books Harry Potter from Amazon - special edition in clothbound hardback cover

cstross · 07-16-2008, 03:19 PM

I've been sitting on this for months. The date I'd been told was April 14th, but it came and went ...

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07-16-2008, 03:19 PM	#3
cstross Cynic Posts: 79 Karma: 514 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone, Macbook, HP mini 1000	I've been sitting on this for months. The date I'd been told was April 14th, but it came and went ...