Your ideal eBook store?

Direct Ebooks · 10-13-2009, 05:19 AM

Hi Guys.
I'm just curious about what you're ideal eBookstore would be. Don't post names of sites you like, but tell us the main parts that woudl make up your ebook store in an ideal world.
Is price the most important issue? Selection? Formats? and so on.

It will be very interesting to see if there is a common thread amongst us in what we want from an ebook store.

Personally, I want the store to be laid out very simply. I want to be able to find what I want when I want. Pricing needs to be competetive, but isnt the number one factor. I dont want any gimmicks, rebates etc, just clear pricing. I'd like to talk to fellow shoppers or read their reviews on books to help me decide what to buy. I also want excellent customer service to help me resolve any issues.
Forums like this one would be great for helping to organise bookclubs and general chat. Being able to post a detailed profile would also be great.

What do you think?

weateallthepies · 10-13-2009, 06:19 AM

No DRM, No geographical restrictions, same prices for all customers, clean layout, well tagged library.

I'm not fussy or anything.

Format C: · 10-13-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

No DRM, No geographical restrictions, same prices for all customers, clean layout, well tagged library.

I'm not fussy or anything.

Add a good internal search engine and a 1-click chek-out, and you've got it.

Unluckily, prices, DRM e and geographical restriction (the three main piracy promoters) won't never be put aside.

Sweetpea · 10-13-2009, 06:31 AM

Hmm, good question!

I like a simple site. No flash or other newfangled things.
I should be able to search for an author, first name, last name, combination, title of the book or keywords (as a minimum)
I also need to be able to narrow my search by format and if I don't, all available formats should be visible.

The details of a book should at least have a cover, price, available formats, author, title (etc) and either a short excerpt, or even better, a preview download (one for each format).

PayPal should be available as means of payment.

The bookshelf should have a tree-structure, with at least 4 levels. You decide how that tree is built up. It should show you the date you bought the book and the format(s). Covers should be available but you should be given a choice whether you want to see them or not. And you should be able to filter your bookshelf by format, independent on how your tree is built up.

Format, pricing, geographic restrictions are generally things not dictated by the shop, I won't comment on those, though I prefer a multi-format, low pricing and no geographic restrictions, but that is logical and doesn't need repeating.

Crowl · 10-13-2009, 07:06 AM

Selection and ease of navigating/searching that selection are the most important for me, there's plenty of other factors that are also very important, but if a store doesn't have what I want or I can't find it in the store then everything else is irrelevant.

Sweetpea · 10-13-2009, 07:09 AM

I forgot to mention one thing: you should be able to filter on series...

Ea · 10-13-2009, 07:16 AM

A good, fast internal search engine, that can also handle misspellings. I almost always do a search when I'm looking for a book online. It's crucial that it works well.

Results should be displayed in a manner that gives a good overview and crucial details such as avalable formats and price.

I should be able to customise my bookshelf, to display in a certain order - perhaps also have several views or bookshelves - then I could choose to share some of these bookshelves publicly and keep other private. Wishlists could be organised in the same manner.

Preview/excerpt download for each format is a great idea - and then ability to access the bookstore online and buy the book at the end of the sample so I can continue reading. This requires ability of online access from the device of course.

And obviously no DRM or geographic restrictions, and resonable prices.

pwarren · 10-13-2009, 07:16 AM

I'm probably not being very original with this, but in rough order of importance.

No Geographical Restrictions
~USD $10 per book (maybe $15 for a new book, $5 for a cheap one)
epub format available
Good search engine
large selection
No digital restrictions management
clean layout
little advertising
No silly 'clubs', micropay etc.

Crowl · 10-13-2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I forgot to mention one thing: you should be able to filter on series...

If they were smart you wouldn't even need to do any filtering, if somebody has shown an interest in a particular author and/or series then it only makes sense for them also try and sell you the others too.

Ea · 10-13-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowl

If they were smart you wouldn't even need to do any filtering, if somebody has shown an interest in a particular author and/or series then it only makes sense for them also try and sell you the others too.

And it would be really nice to have the books in the series numbered. I've had to resort to author web site or Wikipedia to find out such things. What if I came across number two, but would like to try and start with the first instead? I can't actually think of a books store that have had this information readily available - not even for p-books.

Sweetpea · 10-13-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crowl

If they were smart you wouldn't even need to do any filtering, if somebody has shown an interest in a particular author and/or series then it only makes sense for them also try and sell you the others too.

ok, let's give an example then:

Raymond E. Feist;

3 series, all about the same area.

Legends of the Riftwar
* Honored Enemy
* Murder in LaMut
* Jimmy the Hand

Serpentwar Saga
* Shadow of a Dark Queen
* Rise of a Merchant Prince
* Rage of a Demon King
* Shards of a Broken Crown

Darkwar Saga
* Flight of the Nighthawks
* Into a Dark Realm
* Wrath of a Mad God

All available as ebooks. So, I search for Feist and get those 10 books. How do I know which belongs at which series and where? I must go to another page (wikipedia for example) to find that, while I should be able to find that easily at the selection process at the store.

Let's say the store gives related books, how can I tell which belongs where?

Idoine · 10-13-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

And it would be really nice to have the books in the series numbered. I've had to resort to author web site or Wikipedia to find out such things. What if I came across number two, but would like to try and start with the first instead? I can't actually think of a books store that have had this information readily available - not even for p-books.

Fictionwise has it (not for all series, unfortunately).

Panda Rose · 10-13-2009, 08:08 AM

To be very easy for newbies!
No geographical shennanigins. We are starved of choice in the UK.

Format C: · 10-13-2009, 08:08 AM

A cross link with wikipedia and fantasticfiction will do, for me.

JoeD · 10-13-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weateallthepies

No DRM, No geographical restrictions, same prices for all customers, clean layout, well tagged library.

I'm not fussy or anything.

The above, plus clicking on a novel that is part of a series also brings up links to all the other books available in that series or warns you if a book isn't available in eBook.

I hate finding a book I fancy reading then having to check that every other book in the series is available in ebook and that the prices are roughly the same.

Plus numbering as Ea mentioned

Plus an option to add all books in the series to your cart (then you can remove any you may already own).

10-13-2009, 05:19 AM	#1
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	Your ideal eBook store? Hi Guys. I'm just curious about what you're ideal eBookstore would be. Don't post names of sites you like, but tell us the main parts that woudl make up your ebook store in an ideal world. Is price the most important issue? Selection? Formats? and so on. It will be very interesting to see if there is a common thread amongst us in what we want from an ebook store. Personally, I want the store to be laid out very simply. I want to be able to find what I want when I want. Pricing needs to be competetive, but isnt the number one factor. I dont want any gimmicks, rebates etc, just clear pricing. I'd like to talk to fellow shoppers or read their reviews on books to help me decide what to buy. I also want excellent customer service to help me resolve any issues. Forums like this one would be great for helping to organise bookclubs and general chat. Being able to post a detailed profile would also be great. What do you think?

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10-13-2009, 06:19 AM	#2
weateallthepies Lord of the Pies Posts: 252 Karma: 103458 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle Scribe, Kindle Oasis 3, Kobo Sage, Onyx Boox Leaf 2, iPad Pro	No DRM, No geographical restrictions, same prices for all customers, clean layout, well tagged library. I'm not fussy or anything.

10-13-2009, 06:31 AM	#4
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Hmm, good question! I like a simple site. No flash or other newfangled things. I should be able to search for an author, first name, last name, combination, title of the book or keywords (as a minimum) I also need to be able to narrow my search by format and if I don't, all available formats should be visible. The details of a book should at least have a cover, price, available formats, author, title (etc) and either a short excerpt, or even better, a preview download (one for each format). PayPal should be available as means of payment. The bookshelf should have a tree-structure, with at least 4 levels. You decide how that tree is built up. It should show you the date you bought the book and the format(s). Covers should be available but you should be given a choice whether you want to see them or not. And you should be able to filter your bookshelf by format, independent on how your tree is built up. Format, pricing, geographic restrictions are generally things not dictated by the shop, I won't comment on those, though I prefer a multi-format, low pricing and no geographic restrictions, but that is logical and doesn't need repeating.

10-13-2009, 07:06 AM	#5
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	Selection and ease of navigating/searching that selection are the most important for me, there's plenty of other factors that are also very important, but if a store doesn't have what I want or I can't find it in the store then everything else is irrelevant.

10-13-2009, 07:09 AM	#6
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I forgot to mention one thing: you should be able to filter on series...

10-13-2009, 07:16 AM	#7
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	A good, fast internal search engine, that can also handle misspellings. I almost always do a search when I'm looking for a book online. It's crucial that it works well. Results should be displayed in a manner that gives a good overview and crucial details such as avalable formats and price. I should be able to customise my bookshelf, to display in a certain order - perhaps also have several views or bookshelves - then I could choose to share some of these bookshelves publicly and keep other private. Wishlists could be organised in the same manner. Preview/excerpt download for each format is a great idea - and then ability to access the bookstore online and buy the book at the end of the sample so I can continue reading. This requires ability of online access from the device of course. And obviously no DRM or geographic restrictions, and resonable prices.

10-13-2009, 07:16 AM	#8
pwarren Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 186186 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canberra, Australia Device: Irex Iliad (Dead), EcoReader (Smashed screen), Kobo Touch	I'm probably not being very original with this, but in rough order of importance. No Geographical Restrictions ~USD $10 per book (maybe $15 for a new book, $5 for a cheap one) epub format available Good search engine large selection No digital restrictions management clean layout little advertising No silly 'clubs', micropay etc.

10-13-2009, 08:08 AM	#13
Panda Rose Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 204936 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Device: Sony Prs505, Kindle 3, iPhone4	To be very easy for newbies! No geographical shennanigins. We are starved of choice in the UK.

10-13-2009, 08:08 AM	#14
Format C: Guru Posts: 753 Karma: 1496807 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Third World Device: iLiad + PRS-505 + Kindle 3	A cross link with wikipedia and fantasticfiction will do, for me.

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