High Steet/Mall shopping

Georgiegirl2012 · 09-07-2010, 05:08 PM

It occurred to me today that high street shops are missing a potential target audience.

They sell e-readers in their shop, but any future book purchases must be done online. Is this due to the way that books are downloaded onto a device?

Are there plans afoot to be able to scan a barcode from the back of a book and it magically appear on your reader?

If my mother was go into Waterstones and decide to treat herself to an e-reader, she would have no way of getting the books as she does not have, and she has no desire to have, a computer.

shanghaichica · 09-07-2010, 05:21 PM

Hi,

Your Mum could get a kindle 3 with 3G and use the 3G to connect to the Kindle store and buy books. She wouldnt need to use a computer.

susan_cassidy · 09-07-2010, 05:22 PM

There is no such thing as magic! A bar-code alone wouldn't do it. It would still have to download somehow. Wi-fi would be an easy way to do it. Lots of places here in the states have wi-fi.

For your mother, a 3G-connected Kindle would work, if you helped her set it up in the first place (have to create an account), and if she had 3G coverage where she lives.

You are right that stores that sell e-readers and ebooks online could easily set up wi-fi in the shop to allow people to download books right there. Maybe it would actually help them sell more books.

MR. Pockets · 09-07-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georgiegirl2012

Are there plans afoot to be able to scan a barcode from the back of a book and it magically appear on your reader?

Check out the Acer Lumiread (not released yet as far as I know). It will (last I checked) have a ISBN/barcode scanner that will make it easier to find a certain book, but you will still have to buy it (unless it is free) and download it to your device somehow (The Lumiread is supposed to have at least WiFi).

09-07-2010, 05:08 PM	#1
Georgiegirl2012 Connoisseur Posts: 84 Karma: 7038 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cwmbran, Wales, UK Device: Sony touch prs600	High Steet/Mall shopping It occurred to me today that high street shops are missing a potential target audience. They sell e-readers in their shop, but any future book purchases must be done online. Is this due to the way that books are downloaded onto a device? Are there plans afoot to be able to scan a barcode from the back of a book and it magically appear on your reader? If my mother was go into Waterstones and decide to treat herself to an e-reader, she would have no way of getting the books as she does not have, and she has no desire to have, a computer.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ebook Mall compatibility?	krazy4katz	Amazon Kindle	5	02-08-2012 01:36 AM
E-Book Deals Prompts Competition Inquiry Wall Steet Journal	advocate2	News	1	08-02-2010 03:39 PM
window shopping	Lago	Which one should I buy?	3	05-06-2010 07:16 AM
New E-Mall Store - DR800SG	shiffy	iRex	0	03-18-2010 03:24 PM
Shopping: ebooks, converting, need help.	Knittingfor4	Which one should I buy?	8	01-29-2008 04:47 PM

09-07-2010, 05:21 PM	#2
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	Hi, Your Mum could get a kindle 3 with 3G and use the 3G to connect to the Kindle store and buy books. She wouldnt need to use a computer.

09-07-2010, 05:22 PM	#3
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	There is no such thing as magic! A bar-code alone wouldn't do it. It would still have to download somehow. Wi-fi would be an easy way to do it. Lots of places here in the states have wi-fi. For your mother, a 3G-connected Kindle would work, if you helped her set it up in the first place (have to create an account), and if she had 3G coverage where she lives. You are right that stores that sell e-readers and ebooks online could easily set up wi-fi in the shop to allow people to download books right there. Maybe it would actually help them sell more books.

Advert