Did anyone actually defect to ebooks from hardcovers?

[Latinandgreek]

I bought full priced hard-backs novels occasionally, but I'm talking VERY occasionally. So I don't think too much money was lost on me. Most of my hardbacks were purchased either from the bargain bin at chapters (a Canadian bookstore chain), where you could find great hadbacks of quite recent books or from some sort of bulk, Costcoish store where hardbacks came really cheap (like 40% off), so again, not much money lost on my account.

[Donnageddon]

I used to buy hardbacks, but now exclusively buy ebooks. But I had to pick <other> because I object to this wording

I did use to buy full-price hardbacks and now buy ebooks (cannibalizing the sales)

I am not cannibalizing anything, I am simply buying the book in a different format.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by ficbot

I keep hearing about how worried the publishers are about the ebooks because they think the people who bought ebook readers are the people who used to buy the hardbacks, but I have yet to encounter a single reader for whom this is true. Most ebook readers seem to be one of two types:

1) They did used to buy books, but never/seldom new hardbacks. They used to buy paperbacks, remaindered hardbacks or used book store books

2) They never bought any books and did all their reading from the library or from books they borrowed off other people

Well, the most common reason to buy a hardback book among people I know is that it is available before the paperback. And a lot of people buying that hardback is annoyed because a hardback book takes to much space and would pay the same amount for a paperback book if it was avavilable. And for the people that just like to read the book as fast as possible ebooks do reduce hardback sales.

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Note that Baen does not do that with all hardcovers, and has done the "bound in only to first printing" hardcover edition.

That's true. I have noticed I'm more likely to buy the one with a CD in it. Heck, I'd buy a hardback if the CD contained only an MP3 audio book or something, as audio book prices can be high for some authors (even for downloads).

I once bought a David Weber hardback because I wanted to reward myself with a nice new hardcover and because it had flipart on the pages that showed an exploding spaceship when you flipped through the book. This was before they thought of the CDs, so they had to try something different.

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Results are occasionally quirky. For instance, I bought the Baen hardcover of the David Weber/Eric Flint collaboration _Torch of Freedom_. The bound in CD normally includes the ebook version of the hardcover as well. Not this time: apparently, the finalized ebook version was not available when the CD had to go to manufacture. It's the first time I've had that experience, though one of the John Ringo ebooks on another CD was the Advanced Reading Copy version for similar reasons. That was actually fun, as the ARC included things like John's notes to himself and to his editor scattered throughout the manuscript.
______
Dennis

I've noticed that more of the CDs lately don't have the finalized versions of the book for the same reason. (One of the recent 1632/Ring of Fire series books didn't have the current book on it.) Usually it will show up on the next edition. Or it'll show up on a promotional CD that can eventually be accessed through the Fifth Imperium site.

The notes would be fun to read. Sort of like director's commentary on a DVD.

[ardeegee]

I read lots of non-fiction science books (often filled with charts, photos, tables, etc.) and always strongly prefer those in hardbacks-- and almost always get them used through Amazon or Ebay and thus often end up with cheap (often less than $1.00 plus shipping) hardbacks with library binding and mylar slipcovers that are in very good condition (with scientific books seeing very little library traffic.)

(As an aside, many of them from Amazon and Ebay come through http://www.betterworldbooks.com/. I've never had anything other than quick shipping of good quality books from them-- give them a try.)

For books that I conciser to be reference works that I might want to pull down at any time, I strongly prefer to have real hardbacks (but am never unhappy to find a free pirated ebook of something I already have in hardback.) For collections and anthologies of fiction, I prefer hardbacks. But for novels, I hate having to waste finite shelf space on them and strongly prefer ebook only versions and am disappointed when I have to settle for paper.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by tompe

Well, the most common reason to buy a hardback book among people I know is that it is available before the paperback. And a lot of people buying that hardback is annoyed because a hardback book takes to much space and would pay the same amount for a paperback book if it was avavilable. And for the people that just like to read the book as fast as possible ebooks do reduce hardback sales.

yes, but...

Originally Posted by ardeegee

I read lots of non-fiction science books (often filled with charts, photos, tables, etc.) and always strongly prefer those in hardbacks-- and almost always get them used through Amazon or Ebay and thus often end up with cheap (often less than $1.00 plus shipping) hardbacks with library binding and mylar slipcovers that are in very good condition (with scientific books seeing very little library traffic.)

(As an aside, many of them from Amazon and Ebay come through http://www.betterworldbooks.com/. I've never had anything other than quick shipping of good quality books from them-- give them a try.)

For books that I conciser to be reference works that I might want to pull down at any time, I strongly prefer to have real hardbacks (but am never unhappy to find a free pirated ebook of something I already have in hardback.) For collections and anthologies of fiction, I prefer hardbacks. But for novels, I hate having to waste finite shelf space on them and strongly prefer ebook only versions and am disappointed when I have to settle for paper.

this pretty much fits my reading profile. reference books, history, anthropology, religion, philosophy, how-tos (like how to survive the end of the world when your ebook no longer works) are all hardbacks, or the best iteration I could find at the time. I would buy hardbacks of the stuff I couldn't wait for; Weber, Ringo, Jordan, King. no more on the fiction end. I have enough of the other stuff on my shelves and am running out of space. I don't need to keep so much of the fiction

[sahmad88]

I mostly read ebooks now because it is so convenient. But if it is a book I like, especially in a series, and one that I will read again, I buy the hardcover. I don't buy it full price, but either with a coupon or used. But I like to look of hardcovers. There are times when it is just nice to pull a book off the shelf and thumb through it. Or sometimes my stepson or other kids like to rummage through my books. I rarely buy paperbacks.

Bottom line, I would say the publishers are getting more money from me because I am often buying the hardcover and the ebook.

[Lilly]

I mostly only read romance and fiction paranormal. I religiously bought books each months that totaled around $65. They were all paperbacks. I still buy the same books in ebook version but now they total around $36 monthly. They are losing $29 from me each month and I have not changed my reading habit.

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by Lilly

They are losing $29 from me each month and I have not changed my reading habit.

Their costs of production. materials, and distribution are lower, so I don't think they have lost anything.

[lene1949]

I voted 'other', because I bought books in hardback/paperback and read book from the library...

Now I get books on my e-reader... They are the ones I read... I still buy books for my shelves from The Folio Society... They have great quality books on great paper, but rather than reading these books, I prefer to read on an e-book device.

The Folio books make my shelves look good...

[laurai]

I am on of those people who want the book *now* and so I buy the version that will get it to me soonest. Often this is the ebook as I don't have to wait for postage. If the ebook is not available I will order the hardcover if it is a favourite author. Less favourite I get it from the library and buy the paperback or the ebook when available. I like pbooks, and I enjoy reading hardcovers but they are hard to carry, and I am running out of places to put bookshelves. For convenience you can't beat the ebook!

[Sweetpea]

I chose other.

I never really liked hardcovers, but I do like the softcovers. Hardcovers I only buy for special books (which just need to have a hardcover because they are books that just ask for it..., if you know what I mean) I will still buy those books, even though I also have them (or would like to have them) in ebook format. It's mostly the paperbacks which I won't buy anymore.

[PhishStyx]

I very rarely have bought hardback books even before I bought my e-book readers. Most of my collection is paperbacks. I had grown to like trade paperback editions the best because in that I get the size of a hardback (which means slightly larger text) without the extra weight of the actual hardback cover.

Of course, the simple fact of the matter is that if I stopped buying new books now, I would have enough hardcopy reading material to last me the next 15 years without pausing between books. Not that that is going to happen.

[Solicitous]

I have only bought a few hardbacks in my time, and when I did they were heavily discounted usually around the time the paperback was released. I'm not a fan of hardbacks, I don't feel comfortable with the size. Before ebooks I bought mainly paperbacks, and in the last couple of years I have never paid full price. Bit silly when I can go to the local k-mart or target and all books are 20% off RRP.

I will now only buy the paperback copy of a book that I want to keep on the shelf, like a series I really enjoy, or autobiographies. Since buying my reader I have actually bought more ebooks than I would have if I was just buying paperbacks, so with me as a customer paperback sales have dropped, but overall I have spent more money. So it is a win for the publishers, and I don't see this trend changing in the near future. Buying ebooks is just so damn easy, log on to a site, click buy and have it downloaded in minutes - with paperback if it isn't in stock I need to wait for it to be sent to the shop then sent to me...argh too much effort and time wasted.

[the_callant]

I bought some hardbacks these are books I want to keep. I used to buy a lot of paperbacks. My reason for the move to ebooks, was it was either that, or a bigger house. The ebook was cheaper. What has happened since my purchase of an ebook reader, is that I still buy the hardbacks I would have bought before, but my paperback purchasing has been slashed. Two reasons for that, the main one is the space, but I can also get ebooks which I could only buy online, local bookshops didn't carry them and with an ebook I didn't have to wait. Though I still buy the occasional paperback, mainly because airlines will not let you use an ebook during take-off and landing.