Have ebooks killed the second-hand paper book market?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

...it seems that the decline in used paper book stores is real, but that ebooks are not the sole cause of the decline.

Yeah, I know more people that just don't read at all for pleasure than I do people who switched from paper to ebooks.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Yeah, I know more people that just don't read at all for pleasure than I do people who switched from paper to ebooks.

Ah, but did they stop, or had just never read for pleasure?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Same here. I've gotten rid of a lot of them, but I've still got books stored in boxes (in the garage) that I never read. I do the same with eBooks. But I also read a lot of books during the time.

exactly - and I buy more ebooks in bundles than I can have time to read

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Ah, but did they stop, or had just never read for pleasure?

The ones that I am thinking of just stopped. Though I do also have friends that never read for pleasure.

[azayn]

Interesting question. Book reading has declined across the board affecting both physical books and e-books so e-books aren't the culprit. I would say Amazon has probably impacted the 2nd hand book market the most.

There are quite a few second hand bookstores near me but none can compete with Amazon on selection or price. On the rare occasion when I do buy a physical book, it's usually a specific title that's not available as an e-book and can be located more easily on Amazon than the random collection at the used bookstore.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by azayn

I would say Amazon has probably impacted the 2nd hand book market the most.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Why traipse around physical stores, when you can find what you want online with a few clicks?

[patrickt]

I was asked by a reporter for my thoughts on sex education in junior high. My response was, "I think it should be in grammar school. If they taught sex the same way they teach reading by the time kids reached puberty they wouldn't want to do it."

I was involved in a reading improvement program for adults, all were high school graduates, who were functionally illiterate. After the program, some of the students could read faster and, more importantly, easier and they started reading for both work and pleasure.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by azayn

I would say Amazon has probably impacted the 2nd hand book market the most.

I agree with Paul.

I used to roam the used book stores in nearby cities to find my next 'good' (used) read. First, the selection began to dwindle. Then the Stores closed (mainly due to high rent).
With the easy availability, of low cost INDY books, in a single location(the big A) ... Why bother driving (our public transit is lousy)?

[Apache]

I went into the local Books A Million and had to look twice before I saw any books. As I browsed I saw that they are now selling used books mixed in with the new stock. They have a tag on them saying used. They have both hard and paper back used books. They are also selling used music CDs, used movie DVDs and used comics. I wonder if they are going to start selling used greeting cards next? I guess ths will be another hit to the mom and pop used bookstores and music stores.
Apache

[rkomar]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Why traipse around physical stores, when you can find what you want online with a few clicks?

I guess it depends on how close the used book stores are. If they are within walking distance, then shopping at them can be part of getting out of the house for a break/exercise. Finding something you weren't looking for is just as much fun as finding something you were looking for. There is a social aspect to the visit if you've gone often enough. You keep the money you spent local to your area. You also don't have to pay shipping fees, which I've noticed are often being used to lower the price of books bought online (i.e. raise the shipping cost by the amount you lower the book price). There are lots of good reasons to shop in a physical used book store.

I'm not trying to convince anyone that they should go back to used book stores, I'm just saying that they are not without advantages.

[Deskisamess]

The used book stores in Louisville KY are in a great area of other shops and restaurants. It's very much a social thing as well as part of what makes the city so much fun. If you can stand the high summer temps and humidity levels.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I'm not trying to convince anyone that they should go back to used book stores, I'm just saying that they are not without advantages.

I've got a daughter who absolutely will not use an eReader. She buys a quite a few used paperbacks online. Every now and then she'll pick one up at the local Half Price Book Store.

[Katsunami]

I think it's strange. It seems everything went bust somewhere in the 80's.

Since the 80's...
- People have gotten heavier, even though there's more healthy food available than ever.
- Reading has been dropping, but the number of writers and published books per year is staggering.
- Playing a musical instrument for fun has dropped a great deal, even though, for most instruments, there are more manufacturers and more options than ever.
- Sports has dropped, even though more people than ever are a member of a sports club and/or fitness center.

I don't understand. How can the usage / activity of basically everything be dropping and dropping in the stats for 30 hears, while there are _MORE_ options to pursue these activities than ever before?

And, every time, I hate being in a bookstore. My vision is poor. I can't read the spines without taking down the books. I never browse for something to read; I always know exactly what I want. Therefore I bought over a thousand e-books with the huge Kobo discount coupons between 2011 and 2014. Also, I've downloaded the entire collection of public domain books that are free at Feedbooks (and I have a huge amount of Delphi Classics).

I hardly buy anything since then. The only books I buy in paper are either illustrated favorites, and/or reference/study/encyclopedic books. Recently, I bought one discussing something like 70 inventions that changed the world. Illustrated, full color, of course.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I think it's strange. It seems everything went bust somewhere in the 80's.

Since the 80's...
- People have gotten heavier, even though there's more healthy food available than ever.
- Reading has been dropping, but the number of writers and published books per year is staggering.
- Playing a musical instrument for fun has dropped a great deal, even though, for most instruments, there are more manufacturers and more options than ever.
- Sports has dropped, even though more people than ever are a member of a sports club and/or fitness center.

I don't understand. How can the usage / activity of basically everything be dropping and dropping in the stats for 30 hears, while there are _MORE_ options to pursue these activities than ever before?

The tragedy of too much choice? People can't decide on any one thing, so they choose not to decide.

Shari

[DiapDealer]

Or polling/statistics have become products themselves and are near useless to anyone but those who paid for the results.