Choosing NOT to download Freebies Just Because They're Free

Dr. Drib · 05-03-2010, 06:12 AM

I think most of us addicted to reading and to reading with ebook Readers (ebookieuses to you!), now realize that we can pick-and-choose when it comes to the freebies.

Only about one year ago, I downloaded practically everything, because it was FREE!

Now, with so many publishers offering freebies on a regular basis, I find myself grunting noncommittally and moving on, choosing rather to ignore the fat historical fiction or the [yet!] seemingly endless stream of free Christian fiction titles that inundate my consciousness with their tasteless covers and horrid prose and sledge-hammer message -

(not that there's anything wrong with poorly written books! Even [GASP!] horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery, et al can be horribly written.)

There's been an explosion of ebook Readers and a wider acceptance of their marketability as a viable alternative to paper books. I believe they've finally hit the mainstream.

What think YOU, "Oh Wise MobileRead Articulator of Inestimable Opinion"?

Don

kennyc · 05-03-2010, 06:30 AM

Too many books, too little time. In particular with freebies I think it important to put in an extra evaluation step, not just download willy-nilly....

PKFFW · 05-03-2010, 06:44 AM

I've always read whatever interests me and don't worry much about price beyond at least trying to pick up what I want while it is on sale. Being free has never been a reason in and of itself for me to get a book. If I'm interested in reading it I get it, if I'm not I don't. Simple.

Cheers,
PKFFW

Sweetpea · 05-03-2010, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Too many books, too little time.

I agree! I only download a freebie when it really sounds interresting. Not that I've come across a lot of freebies, but still.

tech_au · 05-03-2010, 07:08 AM

I've had my Sony 505 for almost 2 years now and I used to get every freebie and just delete them if they were boring but I am more restrained now and with the recent plethora of Romance and Christian fiction it makes the decision pretty easy

Still I also buy some of the $1.99 books of the month at Sony if they sound particularly interesting.

kennyc · 05-03-2010, 07:38 AM

Christian Fiction......wait.....

Now I'm confused.......

GhostHawk · 05-03-2010, 07:39 AM

Call me an ebook hoarder. More free books = more choices. I don't have a lot of abundance in my life, I really like having an abundance of ebooks to choose from.

Kevin2960 · 05-03-2010, 08:20 AM

My problem with Freebies, is the question "is the author selling themself short? ", and also, I like in some small way to put food in thier belly and money in thier bank account!

rhadin · 05-03-2010, 08:22 AM

My policy always was to download only what I expected to read, even if when I expected to get around to reading it was sometime in the future. I've never been a person who simply accepted something because it was free. As far as ebooks go, all free means to me is that I am willing to try a new author whose book synopsis looks interesting, whereas I would be hesitant to spend even a few dollars on the unknown ebook author. However, if I read the book and find that I like the writing style, I tend to search out what else the author has written and buy it.

kennyc · 05-03-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin2960

My problem with Freebies, is the question "is the author selling themself short? ", and also, I like in some small way to put food in thier belly ...!

Feeding Tube?

HarryT · 05-03-2010, 08:33 AM

It occurred to me, not so long ago, that, being what might be called "middle-aged", I can realistically expect to read fewer than 1000 more books in the remainder of my life. I am therefore trying now to be selective, and read books which are WORTH reading.

FlorenceArt · 05-03-2010, 08:37 AM

I don't think I ever downloaded everything that was free, even at first, but after a short while I realized that I was just wasting time with those: reading about them, downloading them, trying to read them. Now I just ignore them, and I use the same methods for selecting the books I download, regardless of their price.

Of course, I will be more likely to download a book I'm not sure about if it's free or very cheap. But I don't go bargain-hunting. That has never been my nature anyway.

Kevin2960 · 05-03-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Feeding Tube?

Most of our ESTEEMED Authors NEED looking after

PS I used to be a Psychiatric Nurse

Rich_D · 05-03-2010, 09:05 AM

I only download a free book if I like the summary. Then I'll give it 1 chapter to impress me. If I don't like it at that point, it's deleted.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 05-03-2010, 09:51 AM

I've already read enough freebie material that turned out to be drek, to be cautiously selective about what I bother to download these days.

05-03-2010, 06:12 AM	#1
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 21,550 Karma: 6945377 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Borja (Lima), Peru Device: Pcktbk 360; Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi)/ Fire HD; nook STR & Col; KoboGlo	Choosing NOT to download Freebies Just Because They're Free I think most of us addicted to reading and to reading with ebook Readers (ebookieuses to you!), now realize that we can pick-and-choose when it comes to the freebies. Only about one year ago, I downloaded practically everything, because it was FREE! Now, with so many publishers offering freebies on a regular basis, I find myself grunting noncommittally and moving on, choosing rather to ignore the fat historical fiction or the [yet!] seemingly endless stream of free Christian fiction titles that inundate my consciousness with their tasteless covers and horrid prose and sledge-hammer message - (not that there's anything wrong with poorly written books! Even [GASP!] horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery, et al can be horribly written.) There's been an explosion of ebook Readers and a wider acceptance of their marketability as a viable alternative to paper books. I believe they've finally hit the mainstream. What think YOU, "Oh Wise MobileRead Articulator of Inestimable Opinion"? Don __________________ “How to Write the First 3 Paragraphs of YOUR Indie Novel” - by Max Waxwelp 1) Always write 3 sentences of exposition; 2) now create some dialogue, preferably no more than 2 sentences; and 3) make certain the dialogue is either inane or humorous. Example: “Bob, I did not know you wore yellow suspenders,” Sally remarked. “Gee, Sally, those are not suspenders. I am wearing yellow underwear today,” Bob revealed. The dialogue above will help produce at least 100 more pages of dialogue.

05-03-2010, 06:30 AM	#2
kennyc Priorities! Priorties! Posts: 29,923 Karma: 36859010 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Galaxy SIII; Xoom; Kindle Fire	Too many books, too little time. In particular with freebies I think it important to put in an extra evaluation step, not just download willy-nilly.... __________________ Kenny A. Chaffin Art Gallery - Print Gallery - Writing&Poetry "Strive on with Awareness" - Siddhartha Gautama

05-03-2010, 07:38 AM	#6
kennyc Priorities! Priorties! Posts: 29,923 Karma: 36859010 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Galaxy SIII; Xoom; Kindle Fire	Christian Fiction......wait..... Now I'm confused....... __________________ Kenny A. Chaffin Art Gallery - Print Gallery - Writing&Poetry "Strive on with Awareness" - Siddhartha Gautama

05-03-2010, 07:39 AM	#7
GhostHawk Data Privateer! Posts: 586 Karma: 62887 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fargo ND Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite	Call me an ebook hoarder. More free books = more choices. I don't have a lot of abundance in my life, I really like having an abundance of ebooks to choose from. __________________ Free the Backlist books, they are being held captive by giant publishing houses. Release them as ebooks for pennys each and let them run F R E E!

05-03-2010, 08:20 AM	#8
Kevin2960 YODA's Uglier Twin Posts: 968 Karma: 6295251 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK Device: PRS-600 and 2 Kindle 3's - and now a K4 + HTC Desire HD	My problem with Freebies, is the question "is the author selling themself short? ", and also, I like in some small way to put food in thier belly and money in thier bank account! __________________ Kevin

05-03-2010, 06:44 AM	#3
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 1,578 Karma: 2630556 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1	I've always read whatever interests me and don't worry much about price beyond at least trying to pick up what I want while it is on sale. Being free has never been a reason in and of itself for me to get a book. If I'm interested in reading it I get it, if I'm not I don't. Simple. Cheers, PKFFW

05-03-2010, 07:08 AM	#5
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 515 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	I've had my Sony 505 for almost 2 years now and I used to get every freebie and just delete them if they were boring but I am more restrained now and with the recent plethora of Romance and Christian fiction it makes the decision pretty easy Still I also buy some of the $1.99 books of the month at Sony if they sound particularly interesting.

05-03-2010, 08:22 AM	#9
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 2,968 Karma: 11090339 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Sony PRS-950, Nook Tablet	My policy always was to download only what I expected to read, even if when I expected to get around to reading it was sometime in the future. I've never been a person who simply accepted something because it was free. As far as ebooks go, all free means to me is that I am willing to try a new author whose book synopsis looks interesting, whereas I would be hesitant to spend even a few dollars on the unknown ebook author. However, if I read the book and find that I like the writing style, I tend to search out what else the author has written and buy it. __________________ Richard H. Adin www.freelance-editorial-services.com when only the best will do www.americaneditor.wordpress.com musings about books and editing

05-03-2010, 08:33 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 54,660 Karma: 26165759 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, PW, Fire HD, iPad 3, iPhone 4, Samsung Tab 2 7 + More	It occurred to me, not so long ago, that, being what might be called "middle-aged", I can realistically expect to read fewer than 1000 more books in the remainder of my life. I am therefore trying now to be selective, and read books which are WORTH reading. __________________ Harry Currently proofreading The Poison Belt, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

05-03-2010, 08:37 AM	#12
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,384 Karma: 1792163 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad 3, iPhone 4S	I don't think I ever downloaded everything that was free, even at first, but after a short while I realized that I was just wasting time with those: reading about them, downloading them, trying to read them. Now I just ignore them, and I use the same methods for selecting the books I download, regardless of their price. Of course, I will be more likely to download a book I'm not sure about if it's free or very cheap. But I don't go bargain-hunting. That has never been my nature anyway. __________________ "The thing about witchcraft," said Mistress Weatherwax, "is that it's not like school at all. First you get the test, and then afterward you spend years findin' out how you passed it. It's a bit like life in that respect." Terry Pratchett (The Wee Free Men) MR Philosophy discussion :::: My LibraryThing :::: My Abstract Art :::: Current avatar: Anatole

05-03-2010, 09:05 AM	#14
Rich_D Evangelist Posts: 492 Karma: 975614 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone & nook Glow	I only download a free book if I like the summary. Then I'll give it 1 chapter to impress me. If I don't like it at that point, it's deleted. __________________ Life's too short to drink cheap scotch, smoke a bad cigar or read a poorly written book. Free Online Back-up For Your eBooks. Sign up via my link and we BOTH get FREE Space! My Dropbox Referral http://db.tt/ODEBtge

05-03-2010, 09:51 AM	#15
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,482 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I've already read enough freebie material that turned out to be drek, to be cautiously selective about what I bother to download these days.

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