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Originally Posted by tubemonkey
No such book exists. I move down the list until I get to one that's free. Life is simple.  |
KKR knows you very well:
http://kriswrites.com/2014/01/29/the....veCz4i1W.dpbs
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So, the following categories are of people with cash in hand, people who buy books.
True Fans
Yep, they show up here again, because as Kelly says, they’ll fork out tons of cash for whatever project their favorite writer does. These people might not be rich, but they spend a disproportionate amount of what money they do have on their favorite writers.
Always Buys New
These brand-loyal readers will buy a book from their favorite author when they see that book. Not when the book is released, but the moment the fan discovers it exists. They’ll pay for the hardcover if the hardcover is out, the mass market if they missed the initial release. But they want a new copy for their shelves or their digital library.
Sometimes Buys New
The category title says it all. They’ll buy new when they see the book, but they might consider the purchase before doing so. Or they’ll buy the book at a used store as readily as they will from a new bookstore. Often, the readers buy these books to read and trade back in or give to friends.
My experience with Nora Roberts’ J.D. Robb pen name fits in here. I buy those books new or used, I don’t care. Usually I buy used. Why? because I’m not a huge fan of them. I like them, and I know they’ll provide a few hours of entertainment. I tend to read them on airplanes and then leave them behind when I’m finished.
I’m not sure if my J.D. Robb purchases will end now that I can read my e-reader throughout the flight. I didn’t read a J.D. Robb on this month’s trip to Vegas, and I would have last year.
I’m sure you have books/authors that you read the same way.
Always Buys Discounted Books
These readers never pay full price for anything, whether it’s because of their own financial situation or their own financial preference. They’ll find their books in the discount bin at bookstores or they’ll watch Amazon for sales. They’ll buy a lot of titles from used bookstore.
The key to these readers? They’re usually voracious readers, but they’re loyal to price.
In other words, they’ll buy Skippy or Jif, depending on which peanut butter is cheapest or on sale that week. They like peanut butter, but they don’t care what type they actually get.
They are probably more adventurous readers than the readers listed above, but they will rarely pay full price for anything. They will also bitch the loudest if prices that were traditionally low get raised.
Always Gets Free Books
These folks are the same as the discount buyers above. But for whatever reason, they don’t buy books at all, choosing only to get things available for free.
Again, these readers are loyal to price—or lack thereof, actually—rather than writer, subgenre, etc.
That sounds harsh, I know, and honestly, the 100% free folks are rare.
But again, when we’re talking purchasing strategies as reader/consumers, we each fit in all of the categories.
For example, I always buy Stephen King, Elizabeth George, Mary Balogh and several of my other very favorite authors new. Always, always, always. I already told you about J.D. Robb, whom I occasionally buy new. There are many authors that I occasionally buy new—and a lot of them are new authors, if the books sound interesting enough and they fit into my genre/subgenre preferences.
I am a discount book shopper of nonfiction in particular, when I need research material. I will occasionally try something for free if—oddly—I’d already heard of the author or book. But I will rarely get to those books first.
Those are my reader preferences on price. I’m sure yours are different, according to your circumstance.
When I was a very poor newly divorced woman, I had $10 per week I could squeeze out of my budget for books (and I did this by eating less). I shopped at used stores and rarely bought new. I went to the library weekly. My circumstances were different and so were my buying habits, but not my reading habits.
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Much more at the source. Very educational, the discoverability arc.
This particular chapter of hers explains why Amazon customers by and large are not going to jump ship: Reading habits don't define buying habits.