I want to see eBook leasing - Page 2

asjogren · 01-23-2010, 09:54 PM

"So, you're complaining because you can't be a total cheapskate with your ebooks?"

Yes, in a manner. The eBook industry is NOT going to get a lot of money from me with the current model. The alternatives are too attractive: public library, sharing of paper books, used paperbacks.

To get MORE money from ME from eBooks, something has to change like one of the following:
- Price - it needs to be more like a used paperback
- Rights - to support pricing like new paperbacks, I need rights like paperbacks
- Rental

The industry could address MY issues with any of the 3 approaches.

Complaining? Not specifically. I am just saying what would let them get MORE money from ME. The industry CAN make money on a $US1 or $US2 rental. Heck on SmashWords.com, the author makes money on on $US0.99 eBook PURCHASES. The business model can work quite profitably.

If there are enough "cheapskates" like me, someone could make a successful business.

SCION · 01-23-2010, 11:06 PM

If something like PressDisplay.com works for newspaper subscriptions, why can't subscriptions for ebooks be offered? I would pay a $25/month fee for access to ebooks.

hike_gc · 01-23-2010, 11:57 PM

Many of us have been looking into paying for a library card at distant libraries in order to gain access to their ebook collections because our local library don't have ebook collections or it they do, are small and unappealing.

Libraries are basically leasing services since they are usually funded with tax dollars directly or indirectly collected from all of us (at least here in the states). I am willing to pay to belong to a digital library as long as the selection is more than a couple hundred books no one wants to read which is exactly what many of the small local libraries have. (Who reads some of that stuff anyway?

)

asjogren · 01-24-2010, 12:24 AM

"Support your local library"

Yes, the public library is my primary source of eBooks. And my Seattle library is excellent.
- 4919 book titles in MobiPocket
- 4165 book titles in ePub
- 8779 in Adobe PDF

There is overlap between formats, so there are NOT 17,000 unique titles in the Seattle public library eBook collection. But, with declining tax revenues, the library will have limited resources. The public library is my FIRST and most frequent source.

I will buy very, very few eBooks with the current price-point and "ownership" rights. I think an Overdrive.com "like" service for a fee with dramatically expanded inventory could be successful. Or, organizations that rent specialized genres.

lene1949 · 01-24-2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asjogren

"Support your local library"

Yes, the public library is my primary source of eBooks. And my Seattle library is excellent.
- 4919 book titles in MobiPocket
- 4165 book titles in ePub
- 8779 in Adobe PDF

There is overlap between formats, so there are NOT 17,000 unique titles in the Seattle public library eBook collection. But, with declining tax revenues, the library will have limited resources. The public library is my FIRST and most frequent source.

I will buy very, very few eBooks with the current price-point and "ownership" rights. I think an Overdrive.com "like" service for a fee with dramatically expanded inventory could be successful. Or, organizations that rent specialized genres.

You certainly don't need to spend a lot of money reading books on your devices... Have you checked out all the free books here on MR?

Smashwords have a lot of free or cheap books by self published authors.

I don't understand, why you have a Kindle and possibly a Nook if you're not interested in getting e-books...

Maybe you're just checking to see if there's a market for the 'ebook rental' business? If so... that's fair... I don't think it's a good model... When I see a book I want, I download it, but might not read it for many months... A lot of my books I like to re-read on a yearly or 2 yearly basis.

kennyc · 01-24-2010, 07:41 AM

Well, I don't re-read a lot of books, but I do certain ones. I'm a perfect candidate for checking out the book from the library (I don't much difference in the leasing concept). The only issue is that the Libraries don't always have every book I want, but there's no guarantee a private "book leasing company" would have it either.

On the other hand I've bought hundreds or thousands of paper books that I've only read once as well. So I don't see much difference there.

tompe · 01-24-2010, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Why is there no paper book rental business?

They kind of exist. Second hand bookshops can be seen as rental if you use them that way. Especially the shops that give you more new books than money when you sell books to them.

queentess · 01-24-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asjogren

I primarily want to rent or lease eBooks instead of "own" them. The majority of our eBook reading is from the public library.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't renting ebooks from the library exactly the type of 'leasing' service you're looking for? I don't understand the distinction.

queentess · 01-24-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asjogren

"Support your local library"

Yes, the public library is my primary source of eBooks. And my Seattle library is excellent.
- 4919 book titles in MobiPocket
- 4165 book titles in ePub
- 8779 in Adobe PDF

There's a thread here where people were talking about which libraries offer non-resident cards. This could expand the places from which you can rent ebooks.

kennyc · 01-24-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't renting ebooks from the library exactly the type of 'leasing' service you're looking for? I don't understand the distinction.

There's not. That's why my comment above about Libraries.

asjogren · 01-24-2010, 10:59 AM

Public libraries would be the BEST. However, funding issues limit their utility.

I don't see it as much different from videos:
- The public library has videos for "free" rental
- The local video store has videos for rent
- Nextflix and Blockbuster have subscription services for videos
- Netflix and Blockbuster have eDelivery for video rentals
- And you can BUY videos at both retail and internet based stores

The fact that the public library has videos for "free" did not kill the other video businesses.

Why must this be different from eBooks? The eBook business seems quite primitive in comparison.

LDBoblo · 01-24-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asjogren

Public libraries would be the BEST. However, funding issues limit their utility.

I don't see it as much different from videos:
- The public library has videos for "free" rental
- The local video store has videos for rent
- Nextflix and Blockbuster have subscription services for videos
- Netflix and Blockbuster have eDelivery for video rentals
- And you can BUY videos at both retail and internet based stores

The fact that the public library has videos for "free" did not kill the other video businesses.

Why must this be different from eBooks? The eBook business seems quite primitive in comparison.

Everything about ebooks is quite primitive. Perhaps in a few more years, if the market doesn't flop again, some progress will be made.

fugazied · 01-24-2010, 04:04 PM

I think it's unlikely simply because we have libraries for people who want to 'borrow' books and people who wish to spend money on them usually pay the full amount and keep them forever. People also buy the book and lend it to friend/relatives so you get the ebook leasing scenario in an informal way without cash involved already.

daffy4u · 01-24-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Why is there no paper book rental business?

Actually, there is.

kennyc · 01-24-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Actually, there is.

Looks pretty much like the Netflix model...

Thanks for that link!

01-23-2010, 11:57 PM	#18
hike_gc Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 556 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Erie, Colorado Device: Kindle Voyage, Nook	Support your local library Many of us have been looking into paying for a library card at distant libraries in order to gain access to their ebook collections because our local library don't have ebook collections or it they do, are small and unappealing. Libraries are basically leasing services since they are usually funded with tax dollars directly or indirectly collected from all of us (at least here in the states). I am willing to pay to belong to a digital library as long as the selection is more than a couple hundred books no one wants to read which is exactly what many of the small local libraries have. (Who reads some of that stuff anyway? )

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01-23-2010, 09:54 PM	#16
asjogren Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 1378 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle / San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Device: Kindle & WiFi Nook & PocketBook IQ	"So, you're complaining because you can't be a total cheapskate with your ebooks?" Yes, in a manner. The eBook industry is NOT going to get a lot of money from me with the current model. The alternatives are too attractive: public library, sharing of paper books, used paperbacks. To get MORE money from ME from eBooks, something has to change like one of the following: - Price - it needs to be more like a used paperback - Rights - to support pricing like new paperbacks, I need rights like paperbacks - Rental The industry could address MY issues with any of the 3 approaches. Complaining? Not specifically. I am just saying what would let them get MORE money from ME. The industry CAN make money on a $US1 or $US2 rental. Heck on SmashWords.com, the author makes money on on $US0.99 eBook PURCHASES. The business model can work quite profitably. If there are enough "cheapskates" like me, someone could make a successful business.

01-23-2010, 11:06 PM	#17
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	If something like PressDisplay.com works for newspaper subscriptions, why can't subscriptions for ebooks be offered? I would pay a $25/month fee for access to ebooks.

01-24-2010, 12:24 AM	#19
asjogren Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 1378 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle / San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Device: Kindle & WiFi Nook & PocketBook IQ	"Support your local library" Yes, the public library is my primary source of eBooks. And my Seattle library is excellent. - 4919 book titles in MobiPocket - 4165 book titles in ePub - 8779 in Adobe PDF There is overlap between formats, so there are NOT 17,000 unique titles in the Seattle public library eBook collection. But, with declining tax revenues, the library will have limited resources. The public library is my FIRST and most frequent source. I will buy very, very few eBooks with the current price-point and "ownership" rights. I think an Overdrive.com "like" service for a fee with dramatically expanded inventory could be successful. Or, organizations that rent specialized genres.

01-24-2010, 07:41 AM	#21
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,898 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Well, I don't re-read a lot of books, but I do certain ones. I'm a perfect candidate for checking out the book from the library (I don't much difference in the leasing concept). The only issue is that the Libraries don't always have every book I want, but there's no guarantee a private "book leasing company" would have it either. On the other hand I've bought hundreds or thousands of paper books that I've only read once as well. So I don't see much difference there.

01-24-2010, 10:59 AM	#26
asjogren Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 1378 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle / San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Device: Kindle & WiFi Nook & PocketBook IQ	Public libraries would be the BEST. However, funding issues limit their utility. I don't see it as much different from videos: - The public library has videos for "free" rental - The local video store has videos for rent - Nextflix and Blockbuster have subscription services for videos - Netflix and Blockbuster have eDelivery for video rentals - And you can BUY videos at both retail and internet based stores The fact that the public library has videos for "free" did not kill the other video businesses. Why must this be different from eBooks? The eBook business seems quite primitive in comparison.

01-24-2010, 04:04 PM	#28
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	I think it's unlikely simply because we have libraries for people who want to 'borrow' books and people who wish to spend money on them usually pay the full amount and keep them forever. People also buy the book and lend it to friend/relatives so you get the ebook leasing scenario in an informal way without cash involved already.

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