Shifting back to physical books...

[BearMountainBooks]

I always check both paperback and ebook prices, and library availability. For speed of access there is nothing better than an ebook at a reasonable price. But the reality is, I've been using all venues, including used paperbacks, goodwill, library, ebooks coupons, you name it all along. I wish ebook were always the cheapest as I prefer the instant delivery and not having to go to the library or sort the book later on (keep, discard, giveaway, etc).

[laughingdragons]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

If it would work for 12 books, I'd get an entire series with it. Anyone know what the limit is?

Not sure what the limit is I've bought 9 books finishing up a couple series myself.

Even if you can't get them all at least you can get a good portion of them for 50% off.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by laughingdragons

Not sure what the limit is I've bought 9 books finishing up a couple series myself.

Even if you can't get them all at least you can get a good portion of them for 50% off.

I've got one series of 5 books, that was quite expensive in other places. Kobo was already cheap at €4.95 to €5.80. At many other stores, these books cost $12.99 (€9.75) and this coupon made them even cheaper.

Good thing I got them at a discount (€2.65 average per book using the coupon), because I had to supplement each and every book with some maps and graphics from my very own paper versions that I was replacing. In addition, I had to put in the table of contents myself, and fix the layout. Just finished, after 3 hours of work. Sigh. Some publishers never seem to learn.

Very cheap in terms of money. Very expensive in terms of time.

Sometimes, I wish I *would* return to reading paper books again. I did in 2008, because of crap like this. I thought it was done with in 2013, but now and again, I stumble about a series that's really bad.

I'll tell you a secret.

I downloaded (torrented) this very same series in 2008 because of regional restrictions on the e-book versions. I owned the paper versions for several years already, even back then, but because of the restrictions I was unable to buy the e-books. Minutes after finishing the download, I discarded it because the quality was crap, so I assumed it was a badly pirated OCR version, with its missing maps and faulty table of contents.

This turn of events, being unable get good quality e-books (either legally or illegally) was one of the major reasons to return to paper books again in 2008, for more than three years, waiting for e-books to mature.

Now that I've actually *bought* the series, I'm shocked to see that these crappy pirated versions I downloaded in 2008 actually *were* the retail ones, and these books haven't been updated in 5 years.

Now that we're 5 years along, we fortunately have the tools to fix crappy versions like that, something which was not the case back then. But really, I shouldn't have to. If I had actually paid full price for these books (>= 5.80 a piece), I would have filed a complaint with Kobo and/or the publisher.

I'm glad e-reading has enough advantages, and saves me so much money, that it can offset crap like this (fortunately, this does not happen too often anymore, compared to 2008), but it still is an annoyance.

[JDK1962]

Since I still have unread pbooks, I tend (like someone else said earlier on) to try to find a pbook after 3-4 ebooks. I still like pbooks just fine, but the main thing I notice when I'm reading one is that I sometimes start searching for the 5-way button to do a dictionary lookup.

For me, that's the gift that just keeps on giving, day in and day out. I adore that built-in OED on my Kindle. If it was the full OED, I'd marry the thing.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Now that I've actually *bought* the series, I'm shocked to see that these crappy pirated versions I downloaded in 2008 actually *were* the retail ones, and these books haven't been updated in 5 years.

And they were probably cheap because they were old conversions.

Newer books that I pay 8-10 Euro for usually are pretty good with respect to these issues.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Nope. I don't like reading paper books. They are heavy, bulky, and uncomfortable. As long as the prices are what I am comfortable paying, I am fine with it.

I have felt this way from day one but I know many people feel differently.

Have not changed, other than more books now are available as ebooks. I have always checked/been sensitive to price though and often buy used via Amazon in place of ebooks. I've also been known to purchase the ebook afterwards if I love the book. Ebook is my preference other than sometimes a technical/science or non-fiction book. I prefer almost everything as ebook. Unfortunately many of the short fiction, non-fiction and best of anthologies are not available as ebooks so I must endure paper tomes....

[cortman]

I can hardly bring myself to pay much money for ebooks. If it's a book I like/want I like to be able to see it on my bookshelves...

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by Prestidigitweeze

Does Ninjalawyer know about the apparently unlimited 50% off coupon, Sept50, which is in full effect on Kobo? It's supposed to be good until 9/30/13 and I've already used it for three books.

I do, but I'm having more and more trouble lately find books on Kobo that accept a discount code. Typically I'll discover a book I want and then check Kobo to see if a code will work; almost invariably it doesn't.

[calvin-c]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Have not changed, other than more books now are available as ebooks. I have always checked/been sensitive to price though and often buy used via Amazon in place of ebooks. I've also been known to purchase the ebook afterwards if I love the book. Ebook is my preference other than sometimes a technical/science or non-fiction book. I prefer almost everything as ebook. Unfortunately many of the short fiction, non-fiction and best of anthologies are not available as ebooks so I must endure paper tomes....

IMO the biggest failing of ebooks is the lack of a secondary market. I buy many books that I decide aren't worth keeping once I've read them. Or I'll buy a short story then, later, buy a collection containing that story so I end up with duplicate books. With pbooks, no problem-I sell them to others or donate them and get a tax deduction. With ebooks? I either throw them out so nobody benefits from them or I keep them in case I change my mind. Fortunately storage costs for ebooks are nothing.

Since I strip the DRM I suppose I could sell them and, provided I sold no more copies than I bought (usually 1) I believe I could prevail in court should I be sued over it-but I don't think it's worth the trouble. Maybe if ebooks cost more, like hundreds of dollars each, then I'd think it was worth the trouble-but if they cost that much I don't think I'd own so many. Paradox.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by calvin-c

IMO the biggest failing of ebooks is the lack of a secondary market. ....

True, but I don't think there's much of a secondary market for MP3s either...

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

I do, but I'm having more and more trouble lately find books on Kobo that accept a discount code. Typically I'll discover a book I want and then check Kobo to see if a code will work; almost invariably it doesn't.

I've had that trouble in the past but didn't with this particular code. I rarely buy genre books or last year's bestsellers, which means that advertised deals are often useless for me. This one wasn't.

The books I bought were The Emergence of Memory: Conversations with W. G. Sebald; The Stories and Essays of Myrna Loy; The Return, by Robert Bolano; and Yellow Back Radio Broke Down, by Ishmael Reed. Those books wouldn't have been eligible using certain of the Kobo-advertised codes I tried a few months back.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

I do, but I'm having more and more trouble lately find books on Kobo that accept a discount code. Typically I'll discover a book I want and then check Kobo to see if a code will work; almost invariably it doesn't.

What do you like to read? Maybe I can rec some indie books you'd like (and they are usually cheap). I have a pretty decent list going. Of course, I don't like all genres. And you said you were having trouble finding cheap ebooks, NOT that you needed something to read...

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by calvin-c

IMO the biggest failing of ebooks is the lack of a secondary market. I buy many books that I decide aren't worth keeping once I've read them. Or I'll buy a short story then, later, buy a collection containing that story so I end up with duplicate books. With pbooks, no problem-I sell them to others or donate them and get a tax deduction. With ebooks? I either throw them out so nobody benefits from them or I keep them in case I change my mind. Fortunately storage costs for ebooks are nothing.

Since I strip the DRM I suppose I could sell them and, provided I sold no more copies than I bought (usually 1) I believe I could prevail in court should I be sued over it-but I don't think it's worth the trouble. Maybe if ebooks cost more, like hundreds of dollars each, then I'd think it was worth the trouble-but if they cost that much I don't think I'd own so many. Paradox.

Not to mention you might have trouble finding buyers. Unless you run a very popular site, selling any book (visibility) is not all that easy...

I'll not argue the moral, ethical or legal issues as there is no point and we don't need another thread on that topic.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

Just like the title of the thread says, I've slowly been shifting my reading back to physical books lately. Has this been the case for anyone else?

No way in Hades! I recently took a paper book on a solo camping trip due to not wanting to risk my Kindle and AS SOON as I got home I got the ebook and finished it on my Kindle. Hated the paper book experience! Hated holding the book open (especially while eating), hated reading with the flashlight (did learn that a sheet of paper over the lens does a GREAT job of diffusing the light), hated the bulk of multiple books, hated the cheap trade paperback paper...

I won't be going back.

[pagansoul]

I have never stopped buying Cookbooks and Art books because the pictures are so important to me but I would be lucky if I get one a month. I just have no space for a paperback collection anymore. I tend to read 2 ebooks a week, over 40 years they tend to build up. If I like a book I tended to keep it till they just took over, I guess I'm easy to please. It took a lot of will power to stop and get rid of my old collection. I don't want to give myself the chance to start up again. I'm also trying to get rid my old clothing, it's like pulling teeth but I have to do it.