Time to decide: Renew Fictionwise membership or try BoB. Any input?

[Ea]

Like many others, I bought a FW membership last year in September, and I've decided to let it run out. They do have good prices, but I don't use it enough - plus, geographical restrictions has started to be an issue for me, if I can't pay with my credit card, I can't take advantage of the good discounts.

Finally, I am convinced that memberships such as this and other advertising material just makes me buy more, than if I buy what I need at the time I need it, and pay the current price. We don't really save money in the long run on anything but staples, when we try to take advantage of a "good" offer.

Edit: I forgot....
BoB has a very poor user interface and I hate searching for books there - but since I've had less problems with geographical restrictions there, they have gotten my money more often lately.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by wallflower75

Lately, it seems like it's taking Fictionwise longer and longer to get new releases. If it's a big name, they'll have it right away. Otherwise, you might be waiting a week or two before they'll have the book you're looking for.

I've noticed this. It seems to be certain publishers books...

And even then, it probably won't be in the format you want. It seems to me they're leaving MS Lit in the dust in favor of eReader, which I can't stand. The formatting is impossible and the end result (after decryption, etc) is difficult to read on my Sony.

From what I've observed, some of the publishers (for example Harper Collins) have started offering only ePub through OverDrive (which FW doesn't have) and then Mobi, eReader, Kindle & Sony editions. From what I've seen FW usually has the eReader version right away (for obvious reasons) and then gets the Mobi version when it trickles through from Mobipocket which sometimes seems to take awhile.

BoB isn't perfect, but at least they're better at getting new releases out on the release date.

They are indeed. A lot of those releases are only in one or two formats now, ePub being one, but some are still in all flavors.

[vsalvaggio]

My Fictionwise subscription is up in December and I'll probably renew (especially since I usually get it as a Birthday/Christmas gift). I really prefer Fictionwise over Books-on-Board...just like most everyone else I just do not like BOB website. Too confusing.

As for FW sales, I agree with rixte in that they seem to be mixing up the type of sales more. I REALLY like how whatever new book is on 100% rebate the author's backlist is on sale too. I also splurged on a recent "complete the series" sale that was mailed to me.

My only really concern is that I prefer mobipocket and they are now favoring ereader (again, for obvious reasons) which is a format that I just can't stand. Does ereader even work on my jetBook? No idea since I will never buy that format.

[TheLongshot]

I'm probably going to let mine expire, not because I don't enjoy Fictionwise, but because I now have a ton of books to read and I probably don't need to buy any for a while. I'll wait and see if they come back to me with another rebate on their BuyWise club, like I did when I originally signed up.

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

I find BoB almost impossible to navigate and search through. I don't even like to go to the site, let alone purchase from it.

"Bad UI designer! No, No!"

Oh, I guess it's too late... I have to catch him in the act.

You're right. The site is very badly designed. But it's still my favorite ebookstore. Why? I'm not sure. Fictionwise ticked me off with whole "preferred format" and the site "yelling" at me in big red letters about "this isn't your preferred format". I realize they have to program for the lowest common denominator, but I'm not it. Unreasonable of me? Probably.

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I agree their design isn't the greatest. I've found 'list view' to be my friend, much better than their default 'cover view' IMO. I wish they'd make that the default viewing method.

Yep, List View at BoB is defintely my friend, I too wish they'd make that the default view. I think part of it is the ecommerce software they use. I put together a sample site using ZenCart in about 20 minutes - was easy to navigate, easy tor read, and loaded a ton faster than BoB. Maybe I should write them and suggest they look at ZenCart.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

You should see my wish list...

And you should see MINE!! 41 titles strong at BoB alone. I also wish they'd revamp the wishlist options. I'd love to be able to sort by author, by publication date, by price....etc.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Yep, List View at BoB is defintely my friend, I too wish they'd make that the default view. I think part of it is the ecommerce software they use. I put together a sample site using ZenCart in about 20 minutes - was easy to navigate, easy tor read, and loaded a ton faster than BoB. Maybe I should write them and suggest they look at ZenCart.

I didn't even know they had a list view. It works much better, too.

[bbusybookworm]

I Just renewed My Membership a couple of weeks ago, when I saw that it was expiring at the end of the month.

While I did think a bit about whether or not to renew, looking at what I've been buying recently I decided to do so.

For the books I buy, (Which I DeDRM Immidiately for backup) Fictionwise usually has the better prices. BoB only had 2 out of 30 which were significant discounts, so I've pretty much stopped checking there for books which are more the $10-$12.

Its doubly handy as the iPhone eReader and Stanza Apps are great, so I can usually buy and be reading the book in Minutes. As I've not had my Gen3 for a couple of months and am waithing for my Pocket Pro, ease of use on the iphone is really handy as thats been my primary reader for that time period.

One of the advantages for me is that Most of my ebooks are in one library, so I an avoid rebuying the same book again if I forget I've already got it. (Something that has happened all to often in my pBook collection)

The lack of more promotions (2008 had a Bumper Load) is a bit disappointing, but it does meant that I'm less likely to completely blow my Budget (On Books at least)

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

One of the advantages for me is that Most of my ebooks are in one library, so I an avoid rebuying the same book again if I forget I've already got it. (Something that has happened all to often in my pBook collection)

I'll admit this is a motivation for me, too. I might miss a better price elsewhere now and again, but I have managed to buy a few books twice (or even three times!) before.

I do still occasionally buy books at BoB - they have had some I wanted available at least two weeks before Fictionwise, and I didn't want to wait. But most of my shopping is done at FW.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I'll admit this is a motivation for me, too. I might miss a better price elsewhere now and again, but I have managed to buy a few books twice (or even three times!) before.

I do still occasionally buy books at BoB - they have had some I wanted available at least two weeks before Fictionwise, and I didn't want to wait. But most of my shopping is done at FW.

To tell you how bad it can be, I nearly bought the same book again, even though I'ts one of the only two Books I bought on BoB
Luckily, i thought the name was familiar, and checked my Backup folder, and realised that I already had it, and avoided wasting $20.

Yes, FW is often little late in getting the latest books, compared to BoB and others, but as I'm usually not after the latest best seller's anyway, it's not that big of a concern.

Being a bit of a cheapskate also helps as while new book prices have recently improved, in the past they used to be pretty expensive. So Not being willing to pay inflated prices did mean learning a lot of patience

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

To tell you how bad it can be, I nearly bought the same book again, even though I'ts one of the only two Books I bought on BoB

Been there...

[wheresmytea]

Originally Posted by Ea

Like many others, I bought a FW membership last year in September, and I've decided to let it run out. They do have good prices, but I don't use it enough - plus, geographical restrictions has started to be an issue for me, if I can't pay with my credit card, I can't take advantage of the good discounts.

Edit: I forgot....
BoB has a very poor user interface and I hate searching for books there - but since I've had less problems with geographical restrictions there, they have gotten my money more often lately.

I'm becoming more and more disenchanted with FW. The geographical restrictions are just becoming tedious. I changed my address to a US address, and that works when buying with micropay, but I can't buy much with a cc or paypal that has a 100% rebate on it, which to be honest was one of the main things that kept me there. They are really slow to get a lot of new releases out, especially the last 2 Sherrilyn Kenyons, I'm impatient, I want my books now dammit! Also, I don't know if it's just my inner cheapskate, but the rebates feel like they're getting smaller, especially the last two weeks.

I've bought a few books from BoB, but I really hate their website, it takes forever to load a page, but they do seem to get books out a lot quicker. I think they are also going to be getting more of my money in the future.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by wheresmytea

I've bought a few books from BoB, but I really hate their website, it takes forever to load a page, but they do seem to get books out a lot quicker. I think they are also going to be getting more of my money in the future.

They have a list view feature that makes viewing search results a little less bad. Unfortunately 'cover view' is default, but you can choose 'list view' to the top left and have search results displayed as a list. It gives a better overview.

[wheresmytea]

Originally Posted by Ea

They have a list view feature that makes viewing search results a little less bad. Unfortunately 'cover view' is default, but you can choose 'list view' to the top left and have search results displayed as a list. It gives a better overview.

Thanks but um, where is it?

Uh, don't worry I figured it out.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by wheresmytea

Thanks but um, where is it?

Uh, don't worry I figured it out.

Great Took me five min. too, to find

[texasnightowl]

Well, as an update to my original post, I still haven't made up my mind to renew or not. I think I'm leaning towards ... not. Especially with the change they made to the NYT bestseller books. I think I may use my current micropay balance and just back away.