Paper books still have an advantage

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Hardboiled

Part of the problem with eBooks, is there is no viable legal 2nd hand market in them. It's connected with the fact that we don't really own them (the individual copy that is, obviously not the copyright) in the first place. IMV, this has to change. The DRM technology could provide for this, in a similar way to how Overdrive works, i.e, if you sold your book, your device/s serial number access is removed.

Most people are casual readers, if they read at all, and perhaps might buy 2 or 3 physical books a year. For such people an eReader would not be very viable, nor would it really occur to them, as even a pc doesn't when they have a mobile smartphone and tablet, for most all their needs. But even they can see that a physical book may be an investment of a modest type. Whereas an eBook has no such value.

If digital copies had such a value and it was explicit in law, that we owned such a copy, for the right of individual and personal resale, then eBook sales (Or music and films too) would grow even faster. Notwithstanding we may still have to buy both an ePub and Amazon version, as we might buy a hardback and softback one.

The cost of printing adds considerably, to the publisher, especially POD, or small runs. This is why often the closeness in pricing between the eBook and physical ones, means the publishers get a much bigger mark up from eBooks but then the facility to pirate the former is infinitely higher too, so whilst it may seem unfair, the publisher knows they have the one crack at it really, if you'll excuse the pun. I believe, whilst not removing this occupational hazard a change in the law, for consumer ownership of digital copies, would in some way help.

Interestingly enough, it looks like Amazon has something kind of like this built in. On all of my books, I have the option to gift the book to another person. It doesn't seem to matter when I bought the book, whether or not I've read it, or who the publisher is...the option to gift the book is there.

In theory, this could be a way to sell the book to somebody else. They would have to pay you privately, and then you just gift the book to them.

Shari

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Hardboiled

If I buy a new car, I pay them a lot but they never will be entitled to anymore again when I sell it and it in turn it gets sold on - it's my car not their's any longer.

Wear and tear for physical goods makes a huge difference. It would be as if your ten year old used car was in exactly the same condition as the day you bought it no matter how much you used it with no need for maintenance.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by shalym

Interestingly enough, it looks like Amazon has something kind of like this built in. On all of my books, I have the option to gift the book to another person. It doesn't seem to matter when I bought the book, whether or not I've read it, or who the publisher is...the option to gift the book is there.

That isn't what you think. It just takes you to a page where you can purchase additional copies for others. It does not do anything with your copy of the book. You will even see that option for books that you do not own. It is just marketing.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

This is only a problem for those who are interested in selling their books (e or p) on a second-hand market. I, personally, cannot remember ever selling a used book. So it's certainly not a universal "problem."

I know I've said it before here...the last couple of times we ran garage sales, we couldn't give books away. Thrift stores are overrun with discarded books.

Unless you have something old, or something sought after that is OOP, trying to sell your used books is a losing proposition.

[neil_swann80]

I miss the aroma of vintage paperbacks, but the sheer convenience of an ereader device is undeniable. The ability to simply click on a unfamiliar word and get an instant definition is a wonderful thing.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Hardboiled

Also I should say, it already happens in a form digitally, with Non-Fungible Tokens.

Please, no. Those things and cryptocurrency are destroying the planet.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Hardboiled

Also I should say, it already happens in a form digitally, with Non-Fungible Tokens.

They are scam invented because people are realising crypocurrency is a scam (not scaleable).
Enviromentally very damaging.
An NFT does nothing that notarized archival paper or parchment doesn't do better.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Hardboiled

IAnd there is most certainly a thriving 2nd hand book market and people do sell and buy them

There isn't unless you purely consider collectible items that are bought for ego, appearance, investment. Old rare editions. It's a rich person's niche market and not to do with people actually buying books to read, but Collectors. I suppose some collectors read their books.

People do buy second-hand from online specialists, but mostly out of print titles. These are often not bought from individuals by the reseller, but cheap from estates or free from libraries and schools.

Most volume of second-hand books in print UK & Ireland are got free by charities and sold cheap, except in Oxfam where they are more expensive as Oxfam is only raising money not selling stuff cheap to poor people (USA Thrift shops unlike Oxfam are for poor customers?)

[Sirtel]

I bought a lot of used paper books 15-20 years ago, but always only the ones not available new. If a book was available as a new trade or mass market paperback, I bought a new edition. I've always hated paper smell, but especially old paper smell. Ugh.

As it's not possible to distinguish between a 2nd hand and a new ebook edition, why should people prefer 2nd hand? One reason would be a considerable difference in price, but most ebooks are already pretty cheap in a year or two since release. Well, some ebooks do go "out of print"; that would be about the only reason I'd buy a 2nd hand ebook - when it's no longer available elsewhere. And of course, only if the DRM was removable. I will never, ever buy a single book with unremovable DRM, no matter how cheap.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by jhowell

That isn't what you think. It just takes you to a page where you can purchase additional copies for others. It does not do anything with your copy of the book. You will even see that option for books that you do not own. It is just marketing.

Ahhhh...I see that now. Sorry--I should have paid more attention.

Shari

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by shalym

Ahhhh...I see that now. Sorry--I should have paid more attention.

It is designed to fool smart people. Dark Marketing.

[Hardboiled]

Originally Posted by Quoth

There isn't unless you purely consider collectible items that are bought for ego, appearance, investment. Old rare editions. It's a rich person's niche market and not to do with people actually buying books to read, but Collectors. I suppose some collectors read their books.

You might know people like that, I sure as hell don't and I wasn't talking about rare 1st editions, either, just something you might not find on Amazon. I gently ask you to wind in yer kneck, it's no big deal . As I said, it's an idle personal wish, that's never ever likely to happen, though I see nothing wrong in it, when it happens elsewhere and would be of benefit to the reader not the platforms.

[ZodWallop]

Today on Bing the daily poll question was: Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? It wasn't even close.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Today on Bing the daily poll question was: Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? It wasn't even close.

If ebooks had been the top choice, the answer would have been very different. The top choice generally runs at 80% or more. People don't bother to answer seriously; they're just collecting their points. All this shows is maybe a 10% swing in favor of paper.

[neil_swann80]

Wow.. 88% prefer physical books. I wasn't sure what exactly I was expecting, but perhaps at least closer to 50:50.

Happy to be part of the 12% though. The Dirty Dozen.