Does an unavailable ebook represent, to you, a lost book sale?

[Boston]

I voted the last one. Not on principle but the fact that unless its a book that I am anxious to read, I know I will keep putting it aside to read because I prefer the convenience of carrying my ebook reader.

I still buy reference type books in paper. Also, an occasional non-fiction book that I don't think my mom would be interested in reading (we share Kindle books) but one of my co-workers would. I still love sharing books

[Katosen]

Since I bought my reader, I've been inclined to buy the ebook version than the paper version. Manga is perhaps my only exception, as its hard to read on the 6" screen I have (if I had, say, an iLiad, things would be different lol).

Also, I'm not ashamed to say, I have used pirate-bay, but only on books I never could find in print form (around my city) or in ebook form.

[BookishMom]

I voted for the last option. I would have to really want it, and not be able to find it at a Goodwill or used book store, and not be able to get it through interlibrary loan.

[phenomshel]

The only way I'd buy a paper book now is if it is something that's out of print (like Charlotte MacLeod's books) and not likely to be made available. Then I'll find it used and scan it to MAKE it an ebook. Winning one, however, is different. I've gotten autographed copies of books from Susan Conant, Kimberly Frost, and Kim Lenox this month, plus I have an ARC of The Postmistress on the way from B & N First Look Book club. I'll more than likely end up purchasing the three autographed books in ebook form, so I can read and enjoy them while leaving the autographed pbooks pristine.

[montsnmags]

If a book is unavailable as an ebook, I'd just buy the pbook. Sometimes I just buy the pbook without knowing if there's an ebook available (or even if I do) because I'm in a big bookshop and I feel like going on a pbook-buying binge.

Cheers,
Marc

[ficbot]

If it isn't available as an ebook, I get the print book from the library. Between cookbooks (which I prefer in print), work-related books and some fiction from the pre-ebook days, I am full up with books right now. I don't have the space for any more of them, certainly not for general fiction-type things.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by kaan

It will take a great deal of convincing before I ever decide to buy a paper book again.

Same here.

If a book is not available in ebook format and most likely won't ever be available, I'll first scour the darknet than get a paper book.

[Slite]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Same here.

If a book is not available in ebook format and most likely won't ever be available, I'll first scour the darknet than get a paper book.

About the same here, though I find that the experience of reading a book from the "darknet" is usually the equivalent of what I would imagine having to use a waxstrip on ones scrotum. As in extremely painful.

The reason being that most of the books i have gotten from the shadier side of the Interwebs are usually so pisspoorly formated and just generally badly OCRed with way to many misspellings and such.

[igorsk]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

With the exception of specialty books, I don't buy very many paper books or hardback books. For example, rather than buy the hardback version of David Weber's latest book, I bought the audio book and will wait for the ebook to come out.

Wait? Why wait, all Baen ebooks are available at least half a month (sometimes earlier) before the pbook. And if you want it even earlier, you can buy the E-ARC. Of course, unless you're talking about his books from Tor...

[columbus]

The last option.

I would have to really,really, want the book! But then I would wait & buy it from my local second hand bookshop.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Slite

About the same here, though I find that the experience of reading a book from the "darknet" is usually the equivalent of what I would imagine having to use a waxstrip on ones scrotum. As in extremely painful.

The reason being that most of the books i have gotten from the shadier side of the Interwebs are usually so pisspoorly formated and just generally badly OCRed with way to many misspellings and such.

I know, which is one of the reasons why I prefer buying the book.

[Format C:]

The books I Really Really Want are in the tens of thousands.
So, if only 10% of them are avalaible as ebooks in a format readable by one of my devices, I think it's very unlikely to see me hunt for a paper edition [with the exception of books where the print itself has got some intrinsic value, like my new 1872 edition of "the Bethrothen"].

In my case, lost sales are caused by public libraries...

[M0zza]

3rd Option. It has to be something I really want right now. Otherwise I'll wait (If I can). Last pbook bought was the last Harry Potter. I wanted to read it immediately as I didn't want it spoiled by all the press it would get. Possible next pBook is the new Wheel of Time, I know that it will eventually be an ebook, but I've just reread the previous 11 books and I'll be damned if I'm waiting whilst forgetting what I've read.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by M0zza

3rd Option. It has to be something I really want right now. Otherwise I'll wait (If I can). Last pbook bought was the last Harry Potter. I wanted to read it immediately as I didn't want it spoiled by all the press it would get.

I had exactly the opposite... I downloaded the ebook from the Darknet, as I would have had to wait for at least a week before I could read it otherwise. I did get the pbook later on... Another reason to download the book was because we wanted both to read it, and this way we could read it together.

[tompe]

For me a DRM:ed book is unavailable so I still buy only paper books since find it hard to see if a book is DRM:ed or not in shops. And I really do not like the Baen type of science fiction so much.