Interesting Night out with the Reader

Rimbaud · 11-11-2006, 07:42 PM

Well I had an interesting evening with my Reader. I walked over to the local wine bar to sit outside, have a couple glasses of wine and some cheese, and read for awhile. Basically, a nice way to decompress after the work week.

Now, here's the interesting part. The waiter came up to me and we were chatting and he said, "In about three seconds, nonchalantly look over to your left." I did, and the entire table of people closest to the window were staring at me. I asked him what that was about and he said they were all in there trying to guess what the device was that I was looking at!

In the two hours I was there, five people (not from that table) came up to me (separately at different times) to ask what the "thing" was that I was reading from. I explained to each one that it was a Sony Reader and let them hold it, check out the screen, play with the buttons, etc. I felt like a Sony rep or something as I explained how it worked, how you got books, that you could put your own content on it, etc.

Every single person LOVED it. Three of them asked me how much it cost. I expected them to think it was expensive, but when I gave the price the response was interesting. Two of them didn't blink an eye and said that wasn't bad at all. The third said she thought it would cost more than that(!) Of the three that asked about the price, EACH of them said they wanted to buy one and where could they get it.

Anyway, I thought I would share that. I found it a very interesting response from a random (although very small) sampling of people!

Egghead · 11-11-2006, 08:16 PM

Nifty.

randyman · 11-11-2006, 09:10 PM

A couple weeks ago, I visited a local dive I rarely go to, just for a change of pace. The woman tending bar and one of the waitresses were very curious about the Reader, though the bartender closed the conversation with the observation , "books are overrated."

<sigh>

Cthulhu · 11-11-2006, 10:44 PM

Randyman:
Sad that people can be so easily swayed with such a tired statement.

How did you fair reading in the low light of a divey bar?

Not to be mean, but maybe that bartender thinks books are overrated because he can't read.

Solan0 · 11-11-2006, 11:24 PM

kinda the same thing happen to me when i was in the subway, everybody stopped reading their "paper books"

, trying to see what was i holding. And they keep staring at me the whole time !......hopefully i just stayed in the train for 3 stations or i'm pretty sure i would have to start a conference in there.

Nightwing · 11-12-2006, 04:18 AM

You get very odd looks from people. Esp when you explain what it is. Most are impressed but a small percentage say why and rather use my... fill in the blank... But those are generic and not as good as this.

What is interesting is standing in a slow line.

Jake · 11-12-2006, 12:58 PM

Great stories! Had a similar experience at a local coffee shop recently - and you're right, the price point didn't phase folks at all! (in fact it's right up there with a high-end ipod).

What I find funny around here - on the bus: not a blink - this is Seattle and I notice people on my bus using all manner of pocket pc's, cell phones, laptops, ipods and combinations of all of them (one guy even brings a portable DVD player regularly )
The Sony Reader is not unusual at all. (just another big PDA)

Kosst Amojan · 11-12-2006, 01:04 PM

Happens to me at least once a day on the Metro, people would prob ask me more but I'm busy readin.

NatCh · 11-12-2006, 08:13 PM

I finally had a couple ask after mine last week in a B&N's coffee area. They were interested and only slightly put off by the price.

I find it interesting, okay: fun, to do the Palm by Reader comparison for people, especially when they say they'd rather read on their Palms. No one has yet claimed they'd rather read on the Palm when they see the two side by side.

Snappy! · 11-12-2006, 09:17 PM

This is the kinda viral marketing Sony should be doing to push out the Reader en masse! Let's say they seed 10 customers with heavily discounted Sony Reader in every state, then followup with a series of simple ads showing man in the street using the SonyReader in everyday scenarios ... that should create the product awareness needed to increase buy-in. 8)

Nightwing · 11-12-2006, 09:43 PM

The best advertising is word of mouth. ^_^

Have seen the brochure from Sony. Not bad... Looks like the reader.

Borders still have not put out the display.

Peregrine · 11-13-2006, 03:05 AM

I spent the weekend at a boardgaming convention and definitely showed off my Reader quite a bit and people loved it. Since most of the boardgamers there think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars on games the price didn't seem to faze them at all.

Cthulhu · 11-13-2006, 11:37 AM

Wow. There's a boardgamers convention.

Everyone has a "con" now. ;-

I read a little blog by someone in the UK regarding....what was the name....spontaneous dance parties, I guess. People were sent e.mails or told virally about little "iPod-ins." This man--the blogger--went to the tube station were lots of other people had their little white earbuds in. At 19.00, they all turned on their iPods to whatever song they chose themselves, and danced around like complete fools together with the other commuters. Got the impression that such "mini-raves" were more than a singular occurence in London.

With regard to viral marketing, maybe folks could use the forum to start an e-vite event to have a "read-in" across the country, or simply across town.

11-11-2006, 07:42 PM	#1
Rimbaud Member Posts: 24 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2006 Device: Kindle Touch, Sony Reader	Interesting Night out with the Reader Well I had an interesting evening with my Reader. I walked over to the local wine bar to sit outside, have a couple glasses of wine and some cheese, and read for awhile. Basically, a nice way to decompress after the work week. Now, here's the interesting part. The waiter came up to me and we were chatting and he said, "In about three seconds, nonchalantly look over to your left." I did, and the entire table of people closest to the window were staring at me. I asked him what that was about and he said they were all in there trying to guess what the device was that I was looking at! In the two hours I was there, five people (not from that table) came up to me (separately at different times) to ask what the "thing" was that I was reading from. I explained to each one that it was a Sony Reader and let them hold it, check out the screen, play with the buttons, etc. I felt like a Sony rep or something as I explained how it worked, how you got books, that you could put your own content on it, etc. Every single person LOVED it. Three of them asked me how much it cost. I expected them to think it was expensive, but when I gave the price the response was interesting. Two of them didn't blink an eye and said that wasn't bad at all. The third said she thought it would cost more than that(!) Of the three that asked about the price, EACH of them said they wanted to buy one and where could they get it. Anyway, I thought I would share that. I found it a very interesting response from a random (although very small) sampling of people!

11-11-2006, 09:10 PM	#3
randyman Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 8851 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol, RI Device: Now, iPad!	another bar A couple weeks ago, I visited a local dive I rarely go to, just for a change of pace. The woman tending bar and one of the waitresses were very curious about the Reader, though the bartender closed the conversation with the observation , "books are overrated." <sigh>

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11-11-2006, 08:16 PM	#2
Egghead Mentat Posts: 78 Karma: 77 Join Date: Jun 2006 Device: Bookeen Gen3 Cybook	Nifty.

11-11-2006, 10:44 PM	#4
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Randyman: Sad that people can be so easily swayed with such a tired statement. How did you fair reading in the low light of a divey bar? Not to be mean, but maybe that bartender thinks books are overrated because he can't read.

11-11-2006, 11:24 PM	#5
Solan0 Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Montreal Device: Sony Reader	kinda the same thing happen to me when i was in the subway, everybody stopped reading their "paper books" , trying to see what was i holding. And they keep staring at me the whole time !......hopefully i just stayed in the train for 3 stations or i'm pretty sure i would have to start a conference in there.

11-12-2006, 04:18 AM	#6
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	You get very odd looks from people. Esp when you explain what it is. Most are impressed but a small percentage say why and rather use my... fill in the blank... But those are generic and not as good as this. What is interesting is standing in a slow line.

11-12-2006, 12:58 PM	#7
Jake Renaissance Man Posts: 45 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle Device: Sony Reader	Great stories! Had a similar experience at a local coffee shop recently - and you're right, the price point didn't phase folks at all! (in fact it's right up there with a high-end ipod). What I find funny around here - on the bus: not a blink - this is Seattle and I notice people on my bus using all manner of pocket pc's, cell phones, laptops, ipods and combinations of all of them (one guy even brings a portable DVD player regularly ) The Sony Reader is not unusual at all. (just another big PDA)

11-12-2006, 01:04 PM	#8
Kosst Amojan Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 19597 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Happens to me at least once a day on the Metro, people would prob ask me more but I'm busy readin.

11-12-2006, 08:13 PM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I finally had a couple ask after mine last week in a B&N's coffee area. They were interested and only slightly put off by the price. I find it interesting, okay: fun, to do the Palm by Reader comparison for people, especially when they say they'd rather read on their Palms. No one has yet claimed they'd rather read on the Palm when they see the two side by side.

11-12-2006, 09:17 PM	#10
Snappy! Addict Posts: 260 Karma: 4256 Join Date: Feb 2006 Device: SHARP Zaurus C1000	This is the kinda viral marketing Sony should be doing to push out the Reader en masse! Let's say they seed 10 customers with heavily discounted Sony Reader in every state, then followup with a series of simple ads showing man in the street using the SonyReader in everyday scenarios ... that should create the product awareness needed to increase buy-in. 8)

11-12-2006, 09:43 PM	#11
Nightwing Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 541 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Cowon A2 Dell x3i, Sony Reader & Eee PC!	The best advertising is word of mouth. ^_^ Have seen the brochure from Sony. Not bad... Looks like the reader. Borders still have not put out the display.

11-13-2006, 03:05 AM	#12
Peregrine Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cary, NC Device: iPad	I spent the weekend at a boardgaming convention and definitely showed off my Reader quite a bit and people loved it. Since most of the boardgamers there think nothing of spending hundreds of dollars on games the price didn't seem to faze them at all.

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11-13-2006, 11:37 AM	#13
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Wow. There's a boardgamers convention. Everyone has a "con" now. ;- I read a little blog by someone in the UK regarding....what was the name....spontaneous dance parties, I guess. People were sent e.mails or told virally about little "iPod-ins." This man--the blogger--went to the tube station were lots of other people had their little white earbuds in. At 19.00, they all turned on their iPods to whatever song they chose themselves, and danced around like complete fools together with the other commuters. Got the impression that such "mini-raves" were more than a singular occurence in London. With regard to viral marketing, maybe folks could use the forum to start an e-vite event to have a "read-in" across the country, or simply across town.