Have ebooks killed the second-hand paper book market?

[DiapDealer]

I'm not sure I've ever been to a proper used book store. Not even before ebooks were a reality. Flea market stalls and garage/yard sales, sure. But I can't recall the existence of a business dedicated solely to the sale of used books in my immediate locality. Ever.

[Tarana]

Sales of second hand books were dropping before ereaders came on the market. I'd say this started about 1997 or so. There are far fewer people reading books - they have other entertainments. A lot of people who used to read a novel a week, now read far less. I did sell some of my late sister's paperbacks, but the only ones really taking them were senior housing libraries as many seniors prefer paper to electronics unless their vision is bad. Even Half Price Bookstore only gives money for books published in the last 2 years. After that, their chances of selling it is small unless there is someone looking for specific authors.

On the plus side, I constantly hear about people who now read more because of ebooks. Good thing there.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Sales of second hand books were dropping before ereaders came on the market. I'd say this started about 1997 or so. There are far fewer people reading books - they have other entertainments. A lot of people who used to read a novel a week, now read far less. I did sell some of my late sister's paperbacks, but the only ones really taking them were senior housing libraries as many seniors prefer paper to electronics unless their vision is bad. Even Half Price Bookstore only gives money for books published in the last 2 years. After that, their chances of selling it is small unless there is someone looking for specific authors.

On the plus side, I constantly hear about people who now read more because of ebooks. Good thing there.

there's a flaw in your argument - you assume that buying books is connected to reading books, when in fact they have only a vague connection

When I went to the used bookstore, I bought stacks and stacks of books. I did not read them all, but that didn't stop me from buying all I could afford.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm not sure I've ever been to a proper used book store. Not even before ebooks were a reality. Flea market stalls and garage/yard sales, sure. But I can't recall the existence of a business dedicated solely to the sale of used books in my immediate locality. Ever.

When I lived in Ventura, California (in the 80s) I used to haunt the 2nd hand book stores there. There was one on Main Street — huge — can't remember its name now. Also (I think) the one called Calico Cat Bookshop (which is still there according to Google maps). Then I would drive up to Ojai (probably once a week) to Bart's Books (which is also still there).

I just took a quick tour of Main Street in Ventura — looks like it's been heavily "gentrified" — which is probably partly why the one bookstore is gone. I think (at the time) the space was probably pretty cheap. I didn't know you could now "walk into stores" with Google Maps. Weird. Some of them, anyhow, not all of them.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

When I went to the used bookstore, I bought stacks and stacks of books. I did not read them all, but that didn't stop me from buying all I could afford.

Same here. I've gotten rid of a lot of them, but I've still got books stored in boxes (in the garage) that I never read. I do the same with eBooks. But I also read a lot of books during the time.

[theducks]

'Retail' (zoned) Rents, killed the used book stores in this area. @ $10-12 per foot plus wages ($10-15 per hour).
It is pretty hard to move the kind of used book volume needed without something else that is high grossing to carry the store.

[PurpleStar]

There's still some used book stores here but definitely not as many as there used to be. The one around my neighborhood closed a couple years ago. I don't frequent them as often as I used to since I prefer ebooks.

[rem736]

all this got me to thinking about another type of book store. it would go like this:
they sell ebooks and physical books. but there isn't any actual physical book until you request it. when you order the ebook, you get it delivered to your e-reader right away.

if you want the physical copy, there is a printer in-house that will print it out...while you watch. you have options as far as the physical book being paperback or hard cover, page size, and font choice as well. cost for the physical book would be the price of the ebook plus printing and materials, binding, etc.

is there such a book store?

[Dazrin]

I think the Espresso Book Machine is the closest to that right now.

I don't think you get many options for covers (paper only?) and I don't think you can change font/print sizes (uses a PDF not a reflowable format) and can only use the default layout but it does print the book right in front of you and bind it for you.

Website: http://www.ondemandbooks.com/
Brochure: http://ondemandbooks.com/images/D95_...ure_020112.pdf

There isn't one close enough for me to go exploring, not that I really care since I use ebooks exclusively for my "for fun" reading.

[Deskisamess]

I've seen a Print on Demand Service offered on Amazon, but know nothing about it.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by rem736

all this got me to thinking about another type of book store. it would go like this:
they sell ebooks and physical books. but there isn't any actual physical book until you request it. when you order the ebook, you get it delivered to your e-reader right away.

if you want the physical copy, there is a printer in-house that will print it out...while you watch. you have options as far as the physical book being paperback or hard cover, page size, and font choice as well. cost for the physical book would be the price of the ebook plus printing and materials, binding, etc.

is there such a book store?

based on the paperback prices for Amazon published books, I suspect that you aren't going to get any $1 paperback books. The ebook that I looked at cost $7, but the paperback cost $21. No idea what the actual cost for printing and binding a book with an in house printer, but I suspect it's not nearly as cheap as the individual cost for a 10,000 book run at one of the big print companies.

As much as I would love something like the old Barnes and Noble experience where I could browse the shelves and then buy the ebook, I question how popular it would be with most people.

[rem736]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I think the Espresso Book Machine is the closest to that right now.

I don't think you get many options for covers (paper only?) and I don't think you can change font/print sizes (uses a PDF not a reflowable format) and can only use the default layout but it does print the book right in front of you and bind it for you.

Website: http://www.ondemandbooks.com/
Brochure: http://ondemandbooks.com/images/D95_...ure_020112.pdf

There isn't one close enough for me to go exploring, not that I really care since I use ebooks exclusively for my "for fun" reading.

thanks. but wow, is it expensive. i looked up Catcher In the Rye just to see how much it would cost (32.95) and compared it with what i could get on amazon (paperbacks range from about $6 to $11).
that's at least 3 times as much.

[danskmacabre]

Here in Brisbane, Queensland , Australia the 2nd hand book market seems pretty healthy and bookstores seem to be doing ok.

I don't really buy NEW paperbacks in the biog bookstore chains, but I DO buy those collector hard back editions of classic works or special editions of newer books.

As for 2nd hand stores, I still visit them to pick up paperbacks and whatever for stuff that takes my fancy.

I like reading ebooks, but I read them more "On the go" when I'm out and about.
But when I'm home, I prefer to hide under a duvet on my sofa and read a physical book.

[Alohamora]

There's still a used bookstore near me, but where most of their space used to be books with a few racks of CDs, now CDs, DVDs and Vinyl take up more of the space.

What I find amazing is that books at the local Goodwill (charity/thrift) sell for only 50 cents to a buck. And they're not just junk, there's lots of big name authors and recent titles on the shelves.

[pdurrant]

Thanks for all the comments. Summarising the various opinions, it seems that the decline in used paper book stores is real, but that ebooks are not the sole cause of the decline.