Target to offer ebooks

[supermighty]

The article says it's $8.99 a month, which includes one ebook and 10%-20% discount on other books.

Is it worth it for a subscription? It's about the cost of a single book.

[AnemicOak]

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[HarryT]

Originally Posted by supermighty

The article says it's $8.99 a month, which includes one ebook and 10%-20% discount on other books.

Is it worth it for a subscription? It's about the cost of a single book.

If you were only reading one book a month, it would not seem to be worth it. That - as I've said in another thread about ebook subscription services - seems to me to be the primary problem for such services. Reading a book a month makes you a "heavy reader" in the real world. Those of us who read several books a week are a tiny minority. Perhaps it might be worthwhile for families - especially those with young children - but is that a large enough market?

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by supermighty

Is the subscription service even worth it if you're only getting one book a month?

Depends on the book you're getting and whether the 10% discount is off the normal market price or off list.

In the "good old days" before the multinationals the print book clubs offered hardcovers at slightly above mmpb prices. Often they were bookclub editions instead of the bookstore releases but the savings were substantial. Plus the newsletters were good views of what was available. Over time the prices grew, the special releases grew fewer and the value declined.

I haven't bought anything from the book clubs since the conspiracy kicked in. First, boycotting the BPHs, and since... well, I got out of the habit of checking. I thought I'd miss the SFBC more (I Joined at 14) but...no...

Book clubs can be great for discoverability but I've developed my own approaches that serve me fine.

[tubemonkey]

My book club is the public library. I see no need to pay for another one.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you were only reading one book a month, it would not seem to be worth it. That - as I've said in another thread about ebook subscription services - seems to me to be the primary problem for such services. Reading a book a month makes you a "heavy reader" in the real world. Those of us who read several books a week are a tiny minority. Perhaps it might be worthwhile for families - especially those with young children - but is that a large enough market?

If the prices are right, the discoverability factor might be useful for folks that are new to the genre it haven't developed their own channels.

I do think the $9 a month looks to be on the high end, especially if the tutles arec app-trapped. Could be too high if the recommended titles don't dazzle.

[Fbone]

It sounds like the new service just converts their print "club pick" to a digital one as selected by Target employees. This is similar to every other book club in the country.

[6charlong]

Hum. You don't suppose they are thinking of buying Nook? I mean, if they've been selling old Nooks, and need an internet bookstore front, and if they plan to use a book club approach, and if B&N is really considering selling?

Could happen, but I'm not offering a conspiracy theory. Just thinking "what if".

[HarryT]

I very much doubt it. Much more likely they're targeting tablet users using an app.

[LovesMacs]

Target have also expanded into Canada in the past year or so.

Nine dollars a month might be worth it if the subscription let you read any book you wanted without additional cost but that doesn't sound like what's being sold. Count me out.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by sirmaru

Didn't Target have a problem with their customer list awhile ago?

Yes their POS(Point of Sale) devices were hacked and millions of credit cards compromised and sold on the black market, It was right at Christmas and it caused so much heartache for many and Target was less than helpful and tried to cover alot of it up. I wouldn't trust Target with any sensitive data. I wont shop there unless I use cash.

[rollei]

Not in Canada yet. Be nice if Target offers DRM free ePub books.

[LovesMacs]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Yes their POS(Point of Sale) devices were hacked and millions of credit cards compromised and sold on the black market, It was right at Christmas and it caused so much heartache for many and Target was less than helpful and tried to cover alot of it up. I wouldn't trust Target with any sensitive data. I wont shop there unless I use cash.

Those credit card swipe machines make it so convenient to pay but I gather that they're also convenient vectors for introducing malware. I believe POS devices at Barnes & Noble, Michael's craft stores, Neiman Marcus, and Subway were also hacked the same way.

[silverraven]

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

Those credit card swipe machines make it so convenient to pay but I gather that they're also convenient vectors for introducing malware. I believe POS devices at Barnes & Noble, Michael's craft stores, Neiman Marcus, and Subway were also hacked the same way.

Oh, it was more than that! I don't shop at Target or any of the other stores listed, or didn't during the time my card info got stolen. Now I can understand it can do damage to the retailer when it is revealed they were hacked, I get that. But when I was trying to deal with the whole damn mess (still not sure it is all fixed) I asked if they found out where my info was stolen if they would let me know. Nope, credit cards have an agreement with retailers to keep that information confidential. REALLY!!!???!!?!? Wow, ok, guess I know where I stand. Honestly, after being told that little tidbit, I wonder how many stores machines haven't been hacked.
S

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by silverraven

, I wonder how many stores machines haven't been hacked.
S

It's not just stores.
Any operation that keeps accepts credit cards is a target. Sony got hacked. Ebay got hacked. Yahoo got hacked.
There's two kinds of businesses out there: those that have been hacked and those that will be hacked. And that is just the regular criminals.
By now the industrial spies have hacked everybody.