Quote:
Originally Posted by fbrII
From my point of view I think anything that draws customers in a store is a plus. I don't expect the agreement between Kobo and the independent book store association is going to have a dramatic affect for either independent book stores or Kobo. However, I do feel it's a positive step for both and represents progress.
|
Maybe a lot more progress for Kobo than the indies. For their part, Kobo will be getting a lot out of this deal: a built in demographic of avid readers (as opposed to just avid consumers), for one. Also: people with strong ties to their local bookstore who will maintain that loyalty once moved over into the digital realm; from my conversation with the store owner, he's got regulars who don't bother at all with ebooks. (I discovered several shocking things that day, but this may have been the most surprising.)
For their part, Kobo is bringing to the table a very sub-par store experience, an execrable desktop software experience, and a hardware experience that leaves some pretty smart people stumped and frustrated. No one has ever said of Kobo: "It just works."
OTOH and to their credit, Kobo is very aggressively getting their ducks in a row with respect to their iPad and iPhone apps. As recently as last Thursday, their official blog announced Instant Reader for anything with an "i" in front of it. I assured the store owner that it was going to be a big deal to be able to say that any Kobo store purchases can be seamlessly read on his customers' already-owned i-devices. (To say nothing of bringing book purchasing back to the iPad via the web.)
Quote:
|
What I do know is I will be walking into an independent book store and making a purchase and I am happy that whatever markup/commission/cut involved is going to a local independent merchant.
|
Okay, 5% of MSRP is $4.50 on a mini, $6.50 on a glo. If a customer pays in cash.
On a credit card? The store is "pocketing" probably something closer to $2.50 or $3.25. No one's saying that local indie bookstores are a charity, or anyone's responsibility but their own, or that selling e-readers should put someone on easy street; but really - don't pat yourself on the back for adding $3.25 to their fortunes.