I want to see eBook leasing

[asjogren]

I primarily want to rent or lease eBooks instead of "own" them. The majority of our eBook reading is from the public library. Since we really have very few rights with an eBook compared to a paper book, renting or leasing makes more sense to me.

Many on MobileRead DO want to "own" eBooks. So, I am not advocating doing away with purchase.

Why is there no eBook business like Netflix, BlockBuster, or the local video store?

Obviously, Overdrive.com was able to implement a system where eBooks automatically expire and are tied to only one or a small number of devices. So some other business could too.

I don't care about DRM of being tied to a small number of devices if I am only renting for a week or two. I DO CARE if I am purchasing the eBook!

I want to see "eBook rentals - 5 days for $US1.00, 14 days for $US2.00". This would result in more total revenue from me.

[happy_terd]

Originally Posted by asjogren

Why is there no eBook business like Netflix, BlockBuster, or the local video store?

Because a lot less people like to read than watch TV shows or movies.

[Katti's Cat]

Good idea - we might just have to wait another 5 - 10 years for it

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by asjogren

Why is there no eBook business like Netflix, BlockBuster, or the local video store?

Why is there no paper book rental business?

Not to mention that a movie can be fully experienced in a few hours; that's rather rare with books.

By the way, your pricing model is absurdly low. It's a fraction of a typical pay-per-rental costs for DVD's, for example. Nor do I see how at such low rates, anyone would make "more revenue" out of that scheme.

[TallMomof2]

I'd love it, too but I would be surprised if it happens any time soon. For periodicals, yes, but not books.

[K-Thom]

Commercial book leasing ... that was very popular in Germany until the late 1960s. Would be funny if that would be resurrected for eBooks.

But it was pulp literature, mostly written for that market. No "self-respecting" publisher ever considered leasing or lending back then.

[asjogren]

Right now, besides the library, the cheapest way is to:
- buy a used paperback
- pass on to as many friends and family
- sell back

NONE of these is really permitted with DRM'd eBooks. We have almost no rights. And many are complaining.

Rental might be an answer for the industry. I don't care about DRM or being tied to 1 device if I am renting for only 2 weeks.

And my statement about revenue was they would get more total revenue FROM ME. I do not know if they would get more revenue in total. But, unless we talk about it - how would the industry know? Perhaps I am an extreme minority. Perhaps NOT.

If there were eBook rentals:
1) If I wanted to read a specific book, I would check with my public library. Done if available or a short wait.
2) If the library did not have it, or, if the queue was long - I would then rent it.
3) I will not be buying many eBooks, some just not many. If I can't rent it I would probably look for a used paperback

[Dulin's Books]

Terchnically isn't that what kindle owners do now? I believe they actually pay to be able to read the book - not own it.

[charleski]

Originally Posted by asjogren

And my statement about revenue was they would get more total revenue FROM ME.

So, would you be prepared to commit to pay, say $10 a month on a continuing basis using the same model as Netflix? (1 book rented at a time, and you can change it for any other that's available.)

Rental might work as a subscription scheme, depending on public library coverage, but no-one's going to be hopping up and down to get your $1 .

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by happy_terd

Because a lot less people like to read than watch TV shows or movies.

Also competition-I know that if I were interested in renting an ebook I'd 'rent' it for free from a public library. I suppose if I were *really* interested in renting a particular book & couldn't find it elsewhere... but if I were that interested in the book I'd probably buy it anyway. If not then I'd simply read a different book that was available from the library.

[Pardoz]

Originally Posted by charleski

So, would you be prepared to commit to pay, say $10 a month on a continuing basis using the same model as Netflix?

In a second. 10 bucks a month for 20-30 books? Hook me up.

[kennyc]

Huh? What's the library for?

[Kali Yuga]

Originally Posted by asjogren

Right now, besides the library, the cheapest way is to:
- buy a used paperback
- pass on to as many friends and family
- sell back

NONE of these is really permitted with DRM'd eBooks. We have almost no rights. And many are complaining.

So, you're complaining because you can't be a total cheapskate with your ebooks? Sweet. As calvin points out, I'm sure Amazon and B&N et al will be falling all over themselves competing for your business.

As to the "no rights," while I concur that some rights are curtailed, ebooks are a very different medium. Expecting that electronic will be exactly like paper is a bit silly, especially since ebooks gives you certain rights and abilities that are simply not available with paper -- e.g. the ability to back up books multiple times and for free; 100% free public domain books; 100% free and instant delivery, to name a few.

Originally Posted by asjogren

Unless we talk about it - how would the industry know?

Oh, I dunno. Applying basic mathematics, perhaps?

Let's say your book budget is $15/month. If you're buying, let's say this averages 2 titles per month. If you're renting, that's 15 books. So they need to give you 7.5 times more content, and process 7.5 times more transactions, to generate the exact same revenue from you.

How, exactly, does anyone make a profit from this? And how can anyone profit from this, without utterly gutting revenues from people who are actually willing to pay for the books they read?

Sorry, but I really do not see why anyone, even a truly desperate retailer, would benefit from courting you as a customer.

[LS650]

When I buy paper books, I always donate them to the local library. I've done this with hundreds of books over the years. It would be great if I could also donate ebooks to an electronic library... Is there any such library out there now that makes this possible?

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

By the way, your pricing model is absurdly low. It's a fraction of a typical pay-per-rental costs for DVD's, for example. Nor do I see how at such low rates, anyone would make "more revenue" out of that scheme.

I pay $18/mo for Netflix, and I typically get 6 movies per week. This works out to about $0.83 per movie. Netflix and the movie studios are making good profits from this.

I would love a subscription for ebooks. There's no way I can read and return a book in a few hours like Netflix. Bring it on!