Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[corroonb]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But do be cautious of buying lots of unknown authors, just because they're cheap. (Free is a different matter, of course.)

This is what previews are for. And reviews in journals and magazines. I also use previews to check the formatting of the ebook before I buy.

[pdurrant]

25 days without buying an ebook. Three days to go to meet my goal.

And then Amazon offers The Princess Bride as a Kindle Daily Deal in the UK for £0.99. I couldn't resist that. I've read it in paper long ago, but I'll enjoy re-reading it.

Well, one reason for resisting most ebooks is to take advantage of good offers when they come along.

0 days without buying an ebook.

[Synamon]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

0 days without buying an ebook.

I've done very well this year, my TBR was insane so other than a few Whispersync matching ebooks bought to acquire cheap audiobooks I've resisted buying and used the public library primarily, even passing on 80% off Kobo codes. I did cave this week for the 95comic code, that was too good to pass on.

[birdbrainbb]

Originally Posted by corroonb

This is what previews are for. And reviews in journals and magazines. I also use previews to check the formatting of the ebook before I buy.

Exactly! I always check out reviews for books by unknown authors before I buy them, just so I have an idea of what to expect. But even if I end up hating it, if it cost less than $1 it doesn't hurt too badly. I think sales and deep discount coupons are the perfect opportunity to try new authors for just that reason.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

25 days without buying an ebook. Three days to go to meet my goal.

And then Amazon offers The Princess Bride as a Kindle Daily Deal in the UK for £0.99. I couldn't resist that. I've read it in paper long ago, but I'll enjoy re-reading it.

Well, one reason for resisting most ebooks is to take advantage of good offers when they come along.

0 days without buying an ebook.

You got close, Paul. Very close. You must really like that book. Okay this time, when you are coming within a week of the goal, no more reading Kindle Daily Deal emails!

[Waylander]

I am an ebook addict, and am worried about my recent consumption levels. I followed the advice on this thread, and added books to my wishlist rather than buying them, but then went and bought loads off my wishlist. I really need help, and am ashamed of the amount I have spent this past week and a half on ebooks. Please help!!!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Waylander

I am an ebook addict, and am worried about my recent consumption levels. I followed the advice on this thread, and added books to my wishlist rather than buying them, but then went and bought loads off my wishlist. I really need help, and am ashamed of the amount I have spent this past week and a half on ebooks. Please help!!!

Did you buy them at full price from your wishlist? This is a common error.

You (presumably) already have lots of previously bought ebooks that are still unread (your TBR pile). You SHOULD NOT buy from your wishlist unless your TBR pile is reduced to the size you're happy with, OR the item on the wishlist is on special offer, e.g. Kindle Daily Deal, or a better than 60% discount.

The one big advantage of having a large TBR is that one can afford to wait for books on one's wishlist to become available through a special offer or discount.

Exceptions can be made for the ocassional book from a favourite author/series that you are going to read immediately.

Good luck! I know how hard it is to resist buying lovely ebooks.

[Waylander]

I read all my TBR books, thats the problem.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Waylander

I read all my TBR books, thats the problem.

Ah - so you don't have a TBR at all? Wow.

In that case, may I recommend

(1) A library
(2) The MobileRead Library, many splendid, well-formatted ebooks in there that are well-worth reading.
(3) Keeping an eye open in the bargain threads, e.g. the Kobo discount thread.

My ebook spending comes out to a little under £8/$12 per week. Not too bad, really, for over 200 books so far this year.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

My ebook spending comes out to a little under £8/$12 per week. Not too bad, really, for over 200 books so far this year.

Sometimes I'm glad I don't read that much. I don't even have the time to FIND 200 books a year I'd like to read, let alone read them.

At my current pace, 200 books is about 6 years of reading.

[Tarana]

Waylander, how can you not have a TBR list and be here on the Addicts list? Are you one of the rare who stopped buying until you caught up and did!?

Whispersync is my downfall. All these 'buy the book for $1.99 and get the audio for 99 cents. Less than the price of a Coke 12 pack. I am more of an audiobook listener than a reader just now (vision issues) and it's hard to resist since audiobooks are typically costlier than ebooks. The deals won't last either - I'll bet a lot of those disappear with the new year.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Sometimes I'm glad I don't read that much. I don't even have the time to FIND 200 books a year I'd like to read, let alone read them.

At my current pace, 200 books is about 6 years of reading.

At my current pace, I have about 3.5 years of reading in my TBR. (Yes, I know in my listing it only says 320 or so, but that's because I mis-counted. I'll update to the correct count for next year!)

So far this year I've spent $576.02 on 202 ebooks, but I've only read 169 paid-for ebooks which cost a total of $509.66. (I also read some freebies.)

[Waylander]

That is basically what happened Tarana. I read all the books I had, and then bought some more, but not many. Then I went on a binge and now have loads again. My fault.
Waylander

[Fbone]

My TBR list will take me 14 years to finish. In reality I abandon 30% of the books I start so I expect it will take me less time.

So far this year I purchased 42 books totaling $71.74 for an average of $1.71. I read 41 and abandoned 6 more.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Fbone

MSo far this year I purchased 42 books totaling $71.74 for an average of $1.71. I read 41 and abandoned 6 more.

So you've made some progress with your TBR pile. I now have 21 more books to read than I did at the start of the year…


Oh - an an example of why it's not wise to have a large TBR and also buy books that aren't on special offer.

I'm currently reading a book I bought back in November 2008, over five years ago, for $5.64. I could buy it now from Amazon for $4.01 or from Kobo (with 50% coupon) for $3.24!