Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
Perhaps in the next few years. I suspect the Nook business may survive in some form.
However, the article places far too much emphasis on ebooks. The chain's big problems are also due to Internet sales, Walmart and other big box store sales, and the recession.
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I'd like to agree with Kali's point about the big box stores impact on the chain bookstores. Most publishers make their money on just a few massive selling titles each year and now that Walmart, et. al. are selling these for $10 or so the chains can't make the money they used to make.
On the other end of the scale is the huge number of smaller titles not carried by Walmart, et. al., but that's carried by Amazon. Once again the chain bookstores can't compete on price (or selection), and thus can't make the money they used to make.
I remember when Amazon first started selling on the web, and B&N and Borders both made the decision to downplay web sales, because they didn't want to cannibalize their in store sales. When they did start selling on the web their stores complained about it too (Borders has franchises).
Where I would disagree with Kali is that I do find the ebook phenomenon very significant. It is my understanding that many of the individuals who bought ebook readers in the last few years are the heavy readers in society. These are the very people that kept the chains in business. I was one of their big customers, and I used to visit my local Borders store (it was the closest chain) about once every week or two. Once I bought a Kindle this visit became maybe two or three times a year. If other ebook readers are like me, this is a significant blow to their bottom lines.