Why Barnes & Noble is Selling Rugs

[taming]

I wonder what changes we are not seeing that are also taking place. In Canada, Chapters-Indigo (which includes Cole stores) pretty much has the non-Indie store market all to themselves. They are changing how publishers ship to them. Instead of shipping to a centralized warehouse, after which the distribution costs were passed on to Indigo, they recently proposed (not sure if it is happening, yet) having books shipped directly to the stores. Once there, the time the books have to stay on the shelves has been decreased, so books can be remaindered, returned earlier.

[Fbone]

I thought the rugs and other household items are being sold by 3rd party merchants?

If so, then B&N isn't stocking them and just collecting fees from the listings.

[kennyc]

Oh, RUGS.....I thought it said BUGS!

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I thought the rugs and other household items are being sold by 3rd party merchants?

If so, then B&N isn't stocking them and just collecting fees from the listings.

Correct, reportedly 13-15%.
Of course, 13% of very little is hardly anything to be excited about, but last week was slow, news-wise.

At least this week we get to speculate on NookColor2 and possible siblings.
Me, I'm pinning my hopes on a sub-$100 eink Nook.

[kennyc]

http://www.slashgear.com/bn-nook-eve...cted-31192027/

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

At least this week we get to speculate on NookColor2 and possible siblings.
Me, I'm pinning my hopes on a sub-$100 eink Nook.

B&N only has a few more weeks to sell the Color and N Touch at their current prices. After that, the Fire and K Touch will hit the shelves, forcing B&N to lower prices if they wish to stay competitive.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

B&N only has a few more weeks to sell the Color and N Touch at their current prices. After that, the Fire and K Touch will hit the shelves, forcing B&N to lower prices if they wish to stay competitive.

The new nook will be here then.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

B&N only has a few more weeks to sell the Color and N Touch at their current prices. After that, the Fire and K Touch will hit the shelves, forcing B&N to lower prices if they wish to stay competitive.

It's worse than that: the base K4 is already out in volume--BTW, it is one sweet reader; the build, balance, screen, and paging buttons are a joy--and most B&M retail sites I've seen are highlighting the SO version. The cheapest new Kindle runs $79; the cheapest new Nook almost double. There are *five* Kindle variants cheaper than Nook's entry-level.
B&N cannot head into the holiday season like that.
By late 2011 standards the Nook Touch is priced at premium reader prices.
Sony's 2010 sales show what selling premium ereaders achieves: very little.

Now, B&N doesn't have to match amazon pricing but they *do* have to keep them in sight. A touch-less nook at $110-120 would help but $89-99 would be better. At least that way they would stay in the race.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It's worse than that: the base K4 is already out in volume--BTW, it is one sweet reader; the build, balance, screen, and paging buttons are a joy--and most B&M retail sites I've seen are highlighting the SO version. The cheapest new Kindle runs $79; the cheapest new Nook almost double. There are *five* Kindle variants cheaper than Nook's entry-level.

A joy? For you, perhaps, but not for everyone.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Fbone

A joy? For you, perhaps, but not for everyone.

Implied.
But consider that not everybody has touch screen on the brain.
And we *are* talking a $79 reader. New and SOTA. Not refurb. Not three year old tech.

The thing may be inexpensive but it is not by any means cheap; it has no flex, it has a Pearl screen as good or better than anything out there the buttons are responsive with tactile feedback, and the weight distribution puts the paging buttons right under your thumb.

My benchmark for ergonomics is still the Pocketbook 360 but the K4 is close enough as makes no difference. It is just about the perfect "First ebook reader" for impulse buyers at B&M retail. Hobbyists and enthusiasts might prove immune to its charms but the masses will love it. And there are a heck of a lot more of them than there are of us.

I really want B&N to answer the K4 because ignoring it will lead to bad things for market competitiveness. If it goes unchallenged...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Implied.
But consider that not everybody has touch screen on the brain.
And we *are* talking a $79 reader. New and SOTA. Not refurb. Not three year old tech.

I'd get this one; but with only 1.25GB of storage and no audio player, this model is immediately ruled out for my needs (ie; audiobooks). So, I'll get the Touch instead.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The thing may be inexpensive but it is not by any means cheap; it has no flex, it has a Pearl screen as good or better than anything out there the buttons are responsive with tactile feedback, and the weight distribution puts the paging buttons right under your thumb.

For me, the paging buttons were too small and awkwardly placed to be used. The device required two hands to use thus making its light weight unnecessary.

Perhaps, those with small hands can use it comfortably.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Fbone

For me, the paging buttons were too small and awkwardly placed to be used. The device required two hands to use thus making its light weight unnecessary.

Perhaps, those with small hands can use it comfortably.

I really don't care one way or the other about page buttons.

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oh, RUGS.....I thought it said BUGS!

TUGS would a be higher value item......

But storage and postage could cause a few problems...

As would Returns of course.................

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'd get this one; but with only 1.25GB of storage and no audio player, this model is immediately ruled out for my needs (ie; audiobooks). So, I'll get the Touch instead.

The lack of audio is what's holding me back, too.
(I'm waiting to see if they fix the touch or upscale the touchless.)
Cause Audible has its uses.
Odd that B&N isn't doing much to challenge it yet. Maybe epub3 will help? Definitely more money there than in rugs, bugs, and tugs.