Survey says: Publishers may sell eBooks direct

[GA Russell]

I take internet surveys from time to time, and I took one today about eBooks!

I told them that I use an Ectaco jetBook Lite, and that I spent no money on eBooks in 2010 and 2011, and a fair amount on print books in 2010. Then we moved on to what was apparently on their mind.

The questions asked how I would feel about buying eBooks from the publishers themselves. I said: no DRM, no geographical restrictions, lower prices, multiple formats.

They asked a couple of times about how important I felt the ability to share the eBook is.

They asked what I would do if the release of the eBook of my favorite author was delayed - buy the hardback or wait for the eBook. I said, buy the hardback.

They asked (multiple choice) about advantages of eBooks and advantages of print books. I added one, that many eBooks are of out of print books.

Unfortunately, I forgot to state somewhere my primary desire, that they get off their duff and make eBooks of out of print backlist titles.

That was the first survey I've taken about something I'm really interested in!

PS - They also asked if I would be interested in a flat fee subscription - such as ten books for a set price. I said no.

[jessicalynn]

It's interesting you were able to share this with us! I take internet surveys also and the site I take the survey through makes you sign a confidentiality agreement not to share the contents of the surveys.

[GA Russell]

Yes, that is often the case with me too, but not this time for some reason.

[Giggleton]

Interesting, I think a subscription model could work though although not for some ludicrous thing such as 9.95 for ten books. What we need is access to the publisher's back catalog, these out of print books you mention.

[wyndslash]

i'm one of those people who breeze through the first reading out of excitement and reread it again in the future, so a subscription model wouldn't work for me :P

[GA Russell]

They also asked if I would be interested in renting a book for a short time.

I said no. I imagine that there are many here who would say yes, but I answered the questions speaking only for myself, not as a representative of the general mobileread membership.

[Ron.]

I have never read a book twice so I would love to see a netflix type subscription service.

[GA Russell]

Perhaps I misunderstood their meaning of the word "subscription". I took it to mean not something like Netflix, but rather pay a fairly large price up front and then routinely receive books over an extended period of time.

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

They also asked if I would be interested in renting a book for a short time.

I said no.

Hmm.

Renting seems to have a built-in implication of DRM, otherwise it wouldn't be much different than a sale. No interest here either.

[grumpy3b]

great about 12 new DRM schemes, it's not as if these publishers can play nice-nice with each other for long.

[neilmarr]

News to you that many print publishers used direct selling way before ebooks hit the scene? This effective marketing technique is well tried and tested. Just a shift of focus these days to its even greater potential in the internet age. Sales hit rates remain the same on a per-approach basis, but there's now massive scope for the approach so actual direct-sale figures are higher. Power to their elbows. Cheers. Neil

[cfrizz]

I wish you had posted the link to the survey for the rest of us to chime in.

[RockdaMan]

Would this be in addition to Amazon, et al, or instead of?

[tponzo]

I wish you had posted the link to the survey for the rest of us to chime in.

ditto. Could you post the link? I'd like a chance to weigh in if possible.

[TheJohnNewton]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Perhaps I misunderstood their meaning of the word "subscription". I took it to mean not something like Netflix, but rather pay a fairly large price up front and then routinely receive books over an extended period of time.

There are different ways to do subscriptions. I like "all you can eat" models where as long as you maintain your subscription you can access all the providers content. I have that kind of a subscription with a technical ebook site as well as a music site. Netflix works that way as well for their streaming content. That kind of model would cover the people who like to re-read things.