Waterstones into the fray, Windle-ing.....

[carpetmojo]

Should be interesting to watch - good luck to him....

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/pe...y-6272351.html

His appointment was promising anyway, but could this be more than that ?

Talks a good fight, anyway - bcked up by a proven track-record, and a pile of dosh !

[SeaKing]

I wish him well. I have always enjoyed physical bookstores and especially the stand alone "News Stands."

Read a lot of comic books at the drugstore's small book stand when I was a kid and was working my paper route. Now you have to go into a Walmart to get a lesser experience and not near as friendly.

Used to get a milkshake, and a pack of nabs and sit at a table and read the comics. Now that was the life. A pocket full of change from collecting, a meal fit for a King, and a fine intellectual pursuit as well.

[afa]

I'm always wary of people who indulge in melodramatic sentiments as "ruthless, money-making devil" when referring to a competitor.

And am I the only one who finds it amusing that "money-making" is now being used as a derogatory comment? As if Waterstone's ultimate goal is not to make money.

[LouisaDang]

I like his comment about "if you can't beat them, join them," incorporating an ereader section, etc... into physical stores. Adapting to the new and keeping the old ways that readers enjoy...

[soulfuldog]

Amazon: "They never struck me as being a sort of business in the consumer's interest. They're a ruthless, money-making devil."

Yes, because Waterstone's or WH Smith, Borders, Barnes and Noble (insert just about any shop here) and are in business to serve the consumer and not to make money.... right? Seems a bizarre statement to make. Though I suppose those who don't like Amazon will lap it up....

Good luck to him though!

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by afa

.......... am I the only one who finds it amusing that "money-making" is now being used as a derogatory comment? ..........

Well, my banker seems to find it exceedingly unamusing that I'm not very good at money-making.......


( And I don't think he'd avoid a coronary if he called me a ruthless money-making devil.
His nose would prob'ly start growing ...... )

[SeaKing]

Book Stores aren't holy or precious but they are nice. I am an old guy, and I have spent a lot of time in Book Stores, in News Stands, in book fairs, and book-marts and of course Book Clubs. Nowadays it seems I am trying to cull a few hundred pounds of book each year. I don't know any older people that aren't trying to do the same. I don't want my kids having to go through a lot of junk when I am gone like I had do to when my father and mother passed.

I don't do eBay. Too much trouble. I don't bother trying to sell something less than a few hundred dollars. I just take books and other stuff to the Salvation Army or Good Will, or a local charity, a church or neighbor or a relative. I have a decal to get me into the local county dump. I have done a pretty good job at this point, and and way down in what I am storing.

One day in the not too distant future, I am going to size down into a converted fishing trawler, a storage unit/garage and probably a space or two in a hanger at the airport.

I still buy paper books occasionally at book fairs or even online, and of course I get eBooks where ever and whenever I can.

[wizwor]

I would fire this guy. The idea that a marginal bookstore would enter the e-reader business which has been abandoned by deep-pocketed companies like Dell and HP speaks volumes about the lack of leadership and vision at the top.

The rest of the artivle is silly. I think these quotes of Jeff Bezos characterize Amazon's relationship with its customers...

Originally Posted by bezos

We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.

There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to charge more and those that work to charge less. We will be the second.

and I wish him well on his quest!