David Nicholls: Browsing bookshops then buying online is a 'genteel form of shoplifti

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by shalym

... I'm sure you find it just as immoral to look at reviews on Amazon before buying something in a brick and mortar store, right?

Just as? No. It is a matter of degree.

Suppose you were to go to a bookstore that has chairs, where you never purchase anything, and read the first thirty pages of a book you will, if you do buy it, only buy on-line. That would be on the less desirable side.

But suppose you were to look through the window of a used book store you never patronize, with no intent to buy, and then see an interesting-looking-to-me book that I then borrow from the Brooklyn Public Library, as I just did:

https://www.overdrive.com/media/2139...vention-of-air

Someone could say that by possibly blocking the window from a more serious shopper, I was infinitesimally harming brick and mortar sales potential. And that someone would be right. But just like checking a review at Amazon, the vendor's cost is negligible.

Now, if I was to walk in, and soil the brick and mortar store's carpets a bit, then cost to the store is a bit higher. Start handling the book, and it is higher yet.

But, I fully agree, it's nowhere near shoplifting, and within the ballpark of the immoral things even the most moral people do.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Nah. Mostly you'll just discover currently popular books.

Yes, and updating myself about new popular books was one reason to visit a bookstore. But you are wrong also. I looked at all books at certain sections so I definitely saw more than the popular books.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I think it's a stupid premise.

Who will ever go to a book shop to browse through books, then come back home, and buy the e-book at Amazon or Kobo? I think nobody ever will; no-one will even browse books and then buy the p-book at Amazon... why would you? Just read the Kindle preview, or use the Look Inside function before buying. Nobody needs to see or feel a book before buying it.

The other way around would be much more logical, for people who like p-books and want to support local book shops: browse books online, read preview chapters online, and then go buy the book in a local store.

I wish you were wrong.
I can't remember how many how many times I heard "I can get that for less at Amazon" while running the POS station.
The good news: those were maybe 1% of the people browsing

[murg]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I think it's a stupid premise.

Who will ever go to a book shop to browse through books, then come back home, and buy the e-book at Amazon or Kobo? I think nobody ever will;

I've done this. Especially when travelling to the US. Bop into B&N, check out any interesting books, buy them online so I don't have to lug them in my luggage.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by theducks

I wish you were wrong.
I can't remember how many how many times I heard "I can get that for less at Amazon" while running the POS station.
The good news: those were maybe 1% of the people browsing

I can imagine this happening if someone is in a book store (which, in the Netherlands, are often office supply stores as well), impulsively picks up a book he or she likes, then sees the price, and complains that it would be cheaper at Amazon and buys it there afterward.

What I can't imagine is this:

"I'd like to buy a new book."

*drive to store*
*find a nice book*
*drive back home*

"Very nice, now I'll buy the e-book / p-book at Amazon."

Originally Posted by murg

I've done this. Especially when travelling to the US. Bop into B&N, check out any interesting books, buy them online so I don't have to lug them in my luggage.

So that would be the first option I mention Have you ever deliberately done what I described second? I really doubt it.

[tompe]

You have the goal wrong. It starts with "I want to visit a book store".

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by tompe

You have the goal wrong. It starts with "I want to visit a book store".

In that case, if visiting a book store is the thing you want to do most, you better buy from it instead of buying online, or eventually you'll have no stores left to visit.

[danskmacabre]

I would return to bookstores (somewhat) if I could buy a physical book and it came with a voucher or something to download the ebook as part of the price of the pbook.
I doubt this will ever happen though.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

J

Someone could say that by possibly blocking the window from a more serious shopper, I was infinitesimally harming brick and mortar sales potential. And that someone would be right. But just like checking a review at Amazon, the vendor's cost is negligible.

Occupying space, 'blocking' windows... one could just as easily say that people being present in a book shop stops it from looking deserted and dead, and creates more interest in passersby in taking a look inside. All is handwaving. I refuse to believe in any way that window-shopping (including browsing inside a shop) is "unethical". It's just complete rubbish.

[voodoo.mutt]

read the article posted by the OP...i just feel irritated by another opinion piece bemoaning the loss of something sentimental (at least in the writer's personal recollection) while casting the new technology / trend as criminal.

i like books, i read a reasonable amount. almost all of it recently in ebooks. and i agree not all technology is good, but physical books aren't going to disappear nor a those bookstores that can adapt. just last weekend i bought 4 pbooks for the kids.

not a perfect response to original article but an interesting counter-point

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_6762674.html

[murg]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

So that would be the first option I mention Have you ever deliberately done what I described second? I really doubt it.

In the US, no.

However, I can see doing that here in Australia, and have. The same books as available in the US and UK (maybe different publishers) are at least twice the US price (especially before the exchange rates got out of whack).