Thread: The used pbook conundrum
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Old 05-09-2012, 06:59 AM   #18
petrucci
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenJackson View Post
After I bought my Sony Reader, I made the decision to attempt to buy all books as ebooks. It's just more convenient to read my Reader.

If I want a specific book (meaning it's not available at Smashwords) I typically find it on one or more ebook sites and then take a look at Amazon to see how much they're selling used pbooks for. Often, the book I want is available for less than a dollar + $3.99 shipping. So I have a choice: buy my preferred format for $9 to $20 or buy a like-new used paper book for $4 to $5.

It seems like about half the time anymore I end up with the paper.

I don't care that someone has already read it and it's a little banged up. And I do appreciate the lower price. But the irony Irritates me a little.
Interesting thread. There was a study in 2005 on the effect of used books on the new book market. Here is a link

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...ract_id=584401

It concludes that only 16 percent of used book sales at Amazon cannibalize new book purchases.

With regards to the study you seem to be an outlier. I wonder if its results are still valid?

Obviously price can be a factor when you (the OP) are purchasing a particular book. Thus, in many instances you favor the paperback. Is it a factor when considering which one of several titles to purchase?
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