hardback books are thriving.

mikeayers · 01-12-2011, 08:26 AM

just heard an interesting story on PBS on the drive to work today.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...till-thriving/

I guess competition is good for everyone.

ProfCrash · 01-12-2011, 09:47 AM

Hard back sales can be up overall while the percentage of hardbacks sold compared to e-books could be declining. (shrugs)

I think that we are going to start to see the reemergence of the local bookstore. The large chain stores are much more expensive to run because they are in larger stores, carry more stock, and hire more employees. They have been taking a huge hit as we all know.

The smaller independent bookstores can move into a different type of neighborhood where the rent is less expensive and with a smaller store. They can carry more specialized stock and employ fewer individuals. There are always going to be people who collect books, just like there are people who collect records. The small independent bookstore will end up catering to that crowd. I wouldn't be surprised to see stores pop up that sell new and used books.

Pomtroll · 01-12-2011, 10:07 AM

ProfCrash I would love to see small stores again. I loved going into them before & I still would now even though I have 2 e-readers.

ProfCrash · 01-12-2011, 10:13 AM

I would be thrilled to see small bookstores back. I miss the more personalized feel of the stores and the help that you could get. I don't see myself buying many DTB but I will be buying books for kids when I have them. I would prefer to spend money in smaller store then one of the chains for many reasons.

I just don't see the chains surviving in their current form and I think that there is going to be room for smaller more personalized stores. I could be totally wrong but I hope that I am not.

Anthem · 01-12-2011, 11:53 AM

Thanks for the link to this article!

Hardback (case-bound) books are my holy grail. I go out of my way to find quality hardcovers whenever possible and I am known to pay nearly whatever price it takes to call it mine.

It's a vice that I revel in.

ProfCrash · 01-12-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthem

Thanks for the link to this article!

Hardback (case-bound) books are my holy grail. I go out of my way to find quality hardcovers whenever possible and I am known to pay nearly whatever price it takes to call it mine.

It's a vice that I revel in.

Sounds like a nice vice. When we move I am going to have to decide what to do with my book, books. I have all the ones from graduate school and Academia which I will keep because I have not been able to find them in e-book form. I will keep my YA and kids books. I will probably donate the books that I have bought copies of for my Kindle. That will clear close to an entire bookshelf or two of books.

Daithi · 01-12-2011, 12:22 PM

I'd be surprised to see the reemergence of small book stores. They still can't compete with the price of Walmart, Sam's Club, grocery stores, etc. when it comes to price. Nor can they compete with Amazon and B&N on price or selection.

I have to say that I buy my books through Amazon now a days, but before I had a Kindle, I prefered the Mega stores to the local mom & pop bookstores with their over priced books, paltry selection, no coffee, and nowhere to sit. Don't want to go back to that.

ProfCrash · 01-12-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'd be surprised to see the reemergence of small book stores. They still can't compete with the price of Walmart, Sam's Club, grocery stores, etc. when it comes to price. Nor can they compete with Amazon and B&N on price or selection.

I have to say that I buy my books through Amazon now a days, but before I had a Kindle, I prefered the Mega stores to the local mom & pop bookstores with their over priced books, paltry selection, no coffee, and nowhere to sit. Don't want to go back to that.

Not for mass sales but for specialty sales they can. Nicer bound hardback books are collectors items. Truthfully, Target and Walmart don't have that great of a selection. They have the current popular titles but not much else. A smaller bookstore is likely to have a section devoted to Science Fiction that is more comprehensive then Walmarts or Targets or Cosco.

I think people who like to read and want to read more then the current popular titles will find themselves at the smaller Mom and Pop store for that reason.

Ravensknight · 01-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Not for mass sales but for specialty sales they can. Nicer bound hardback books are collectors items. Truthfully, Target and Walmart don't have that great of a selection. They have the current popular titles but not much else. A smaller bookstore is likely to have a section devoted to Science Fiction that is more comprehensive then Walmarts or Targets or Cosco.

I think people who like to read and want to read more then the current popular titles will find themselves at the smaller Mom and Pop store for that reason.

actually, I think they will browse those stores for ideas, then go to Amazon and order 2 books to get the free shipping.

and the little store dies [again]

elcreative · 01-12-2011, 02:08 PM

Yes, that happened within the first 2 or 3 years of Amazon's existence... killed a whole raft of specialist stores and the "customers" seemed most surprised if you got upset... they expected to come in, browse the shelves of a specialist outlet, tie up an assistant with queries and help requests (for anything between half an hour and an hour plus) then leave without making a purchase or placing an order, to go and order from Amazon et al. These same people then expressed their disappointment at the store closure and loss of expertise... and are probably the same ones saying they'd love to go into such shops again... if you want specialist outlets then you have to PAY for them... retailers would actually like to make a living as well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

actually, I think they will browse those stores for ideas, then go to Amazon and order 2 books to get the free shipping.

and the little store dies [again]

Salgueiros · 01-12-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elcreative

Yes, that happened within the first 2 or 3 years of Amazon's existence... killed a whole raft of specialist stores and the "customers" seemed most surprised if you got upset... they expected to come in, browse the shelves of a specialist outlet, tie up an assistant with queries and help requests (for anything between half an hour and an hour plus) then leave without making a purchase or placing an order, to go and order from Amazon et al. These same people then expressed their disappointment at the store closure and loss of expertise... and are probably the same ones saying they'd love to go into such shops again... if you want specialist outlets then you have to PAY for them... retailers would actually like to make a living as well...

Curiously i have been doing the opposite... i tend to browse some books on amazon or other online bookstores, but if i really want to buy it i go to the very good bookstore i have close to my home and browse the books before i buy them at the bookstore. Amazon works as a huge catalog for me, but i buy books after i have them in my hand in the store

screwballl · 01-12-2011, 02:23 PM

Book stores are still thriving, mostly because the technology-limited older generation sticks to what they know works well, in this case paper books.
As they start moving on in age and less paper books are being sold, then I think we will see a much larger shift towards ebooks, just as music sales have slowed from physical media and expanded with mp3 sales.

Poppaea · 01-12-2011, 02:24 PM

There is a charming little bookstore in my neighborhood. As a lot of older people live in this area there is less Amazon buyers amongst those who live here. Also when asked for something they don't store they will have it ready for you the very next day. My little bookstore has a little couch and no coffee which I prefer over chocolate greasy books. I absolutly never buy books in a big store where they sell food because I find it disgusting, when I see the books on the tables between crumbs and spills of beverages.

My little bookstore does homedelivery, so when I am in bed with a cold for example they provide the books for me to read while I am ill, right to my doorstep (4th floor!). I do it the other way around: I browse Amazon and then I place my order with my little bookstore. Also in Germany bookstores are organized with Libri. You can browse their site and buy through your favorite bookstore, picking your books up there.

No one else knows as well what I've read and enjoyed over the last decade as my favorite seller in my little bookstore. It is a kind of booklovers marriage that a chain or Amazon won't break.

Belfaborac · 01-12-2011, 05:43 PM

Sh*t, I'd love to have a bookstore like that..... You're a lucky guy.

CazMar · 01-12-2011, 06:10 PM

I find myself buying hardback or at least high quality soft cover books now and buying novels and textbooks only as ebooks. Perhaps the small book seller can stay afloat as a niche business, selling better quality stuff, but I think with online sales they are still competing with economies of scale. And how long before publishers really cut out the middleman and start selling direct to the public?

01-12-2011, 08:26 AM	#1
mikeayers Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 432377 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW 10thGen, Kobo Clara HD	hardback books are thriving. just heard an interesting story on PBS on the drive to work today. http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...till-thriving/ I guess competition is good for everyone.

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01-12-2011, 09:47 AM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	Hard back sales can be up overall while the percentage of hardbacks sold compared to e-books could be declining. (shrugs) I think that we are going to start to see the reemergence of the local bookstore. The large chain stores are much more expensive to run because they are in larger stores, carry more stock, and hire more employees. They have been taking a huge hit as we all know. The smaller independent bookstores can move into a different type of neighborhood where the rent is less expensive and with a smaller store. They can carry more specialized stock and employ fewer individuals. There are always going to be people who collect books, just like there are people who collect records. The small independent bookstore will end up catering to that crowd. I wouldn't be surprised to see stores pop up that sell new and used books.

01-12-2011, 10:07 AM	#3
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	ProfCrash I would love to see small stores again. I loved going into them before & I still would now even though I have 2 e-readers.

01-12-2011, 10:13 AM	#4
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I would be thrilled to see small bookstores back. I miss the more personalized feel of the stores and the help that you could get. I don't see myself buying many DTB but I will be buying books for kids when I have them. I would prefer to spend money in smaller store then one of the chains for many reasons. I just don't see the chains surviving in their current form and I think that there is going to be room for smaller more personalized stores. I could be totally wrong but I hope that I am not.

01-12-2011, 11:53 AM	#5
Anthem Guru Posts: 704 Karma: 1622328 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle Oasis, OnePlus Nord	Thanks for the link to this article! Hardback (case-bound) books are my holy grail. I go out of my way to find quality hardcovers whenever possible and I am known to pay nearly whatever price it takes to call it mine. It's a vice that I revel in.

01-12-2011, 12:22 PM	#7
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	I'd be surprised to see the reemergence of small book stores. They still can't compete with the price of Walmart, Sam's Club, grocery stores, etc. when it comes to price. Nor can they compete with Amazon and B&N on price or selection. I have to say that I buy my books through Amazon now a days, but before I had a Kindle, I prefered the Mega stores to the local mom & pop bookstores with their over priced books, paltry selection, no coffee, and nowhere to sit. Don't want to go back to that.

01-12-2011, 02:23 PM	#12
screwballl NewKindler Posts: 504 Karma: 1865773 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NWFL Device: Kindle3 Wifi	Book stores are still thriving, mostly because the technology-limited older generation sticks to what they know works well, in this case paper books. As they start moving on in age and less paper books are being sold, then I think we will see a much larger shift towards ebooks, just as music sales have slowed from physical media and expanded with mp3 sales.

01-12-2011, 02:24 PM	#13
Poppaea Lucifer's Bat Posts: 2,577 Karma: 20638583 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Earth/Berlin Device: Kobo Libra Colour	There is a charming little bookstore in my neighborhood. As a lot of older people live in this area there is less Amazon buyers amongst those who live here. Also when asked for something they don't store they will have it ready for you the very next day. My little bookstore has a little couch and no coffee which I prefer over chocolate greasy books. I absolutly never buy books in a big store where they sell food because I find it disgusting, when I see the books on the tables between crumbs and spills of beverages. My little bookstore does homedelivery, so when I am in bed with a cold for example they provide the books for me to read while I am ill, right to my doorstep (4th floor!). I do it the other way around: I browse Amazon and then I place my order with my little bookstore. Also in Germany bookstores are organized with Libri. You can browse their site and buy through your favorite bookstore, picking your books up there. No one else knows as well what I've read and enjoyed over the last decade as my favorite seller in my little bookstore. It is a kind of booklovers marriage that a chain or Amazon won't break.

01-12-2011, 05:43 PM	#14
Belfaborac Wizard Posts: 1,498 Karma: 5199835 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Norway Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-950	Sh*t, I'd love to have a bookstore like that..... You're a lucky guy.

01-12-2011, 06:10 PM	#15
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	I find myself buying hardback or at least high quality soft cover books now and buying novels and textbooks only as ebooks. Perhaps the small book seller can stay afloat as a niche business, selling better quality stuff, but I think with online sales they are still competing with economies of scale. And how long before publishers really cut out the middleman and start selling direct to the public?