Is the bookstore dead, or is AMZN just evil?

[Baron]

My wife just recently wrote a novel, and shopped it around to some literary agents and publishers at the San Francisco writers conference. After seeing what a disaster that event was, and how the entire industry is stuck in the dinosaur days, I can clearly see how it is in Amazon's best interest, and the author's best interest as well, to cut out all these middle men who are clinging onto an outdated business model for survival.

It's the age of the Kindle and Ipad. Printed books are a dying breed and Amazon knows exactly who needs to get cut out of the equation to keep prices low for the consumer.

 

[the1]

Exactly. It's called competition. When a company finds a better way of delivering a product or service existing companies will feel the pain much like Blockbuster (as someone already mentioned) is feeling the pain from NFLX and now Redbox. Why on earth would you pay 5 bucks for a movie and 8 bucks for a game when at Redbox you pay 1 buck and 2 bucks, respectively. I don't know how BBI (old ticker) is still in business. I suppose it won't be long before they go into BK with a stock price of 4 cents.

Blockbuster put all the Mom and Pop movies stores out of business. Now, NFLX and Redbox is putting Blockbuster out of business. I guess what goes around comes around. Some day a company may put NFLX out of business.

Quote from Kassz007:

In my experience, I can buy a book from Amazon at least 25% cheaper than a bookstore. They also offer free shipping and the package usually arrives within 2-3 days. I have no clue why anyone goes to bookstores anymore, except to read the material for free in the store I suppose.

 

[nitro]

Quote from Maverick74:

Nitro, what is your favorite bookstore in Chicago?

http://www.thebookstall.com/

This store doesn't play obnoxious music. The bookstore was ruined by music being played in the store, imo. Classical music is fine, at a reasonable sound level. Nothing else. It has a used bookstore feel, but it is 100% new books.

I also like Barnes and Noble now that Borders is closed. I prefer the ones where I can park at easily and has a good science math and computer section. Each B&N is unique in this way and depends on what sells. The store in Niles is terrific in this way, perhaps because of the high concentration of Jewish patrons.

I am saddened that B&N may see the same end result that Borders did, and I am also saddened by many of the responses in this thread. A bricks and mortar bookstore is imperative, but we all have to learn the hard way I guess - we don't know what we have until it is gone. I try to buy books from the bricks and mortar, not because I can save $3 by getting it at AMZN (not even true since B&N online http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ often beats AMZN on price), but because I value the intangibles they provide.

 

[denner]

Quote from Baron:

My wife just recently wrote a novel, and shopped it around to some literary agents and publishers at the San Francisco writers conference. After seeing what a disaster that event was, and how the entire industry is stuck in the dinosaur days, I can clearly see how it is in Amazon's best interest, and the author's best interest as well, to cut out all these middle men who are clinging onto an outdated business model for survival.

It's the age of the Kindle and Ipad. Printed books are a dying breed and Amazon knows exactly who needs to get cut out of the equation to keep prices low for the consumer.

There was a blog that detailed down to the penny how much modestly successful author would make on her book deal. The numbers nearly floored me. Essentially, after the publisher took out all of their "expenses" the author might be lucky to be able to repay her advance from the publisher.

So, I'd agree that anything that can reduce the take of the middleman, especially in an age where electronic publishing is a viable alternative, it should move towards rewarding the writer and not just a bottom line item for a large publishing house.

 

[nitro]

Quote from spd:

I suppose thats a valid option, but I figure Ive already taken the time to go to the bookstore, found a few items Id like, just go ahead and take them home with me. Its kind of a social experience as well, my girlfriend and I like to go browse and purchase cool architecture books, travel books, art books together.

Just to be fair, despite all the warm and fuzzy bookstore stuff, I really love my Kindle DX. I think there is room for both.

Thank God for people like you. My GF and I are almost exactly the same way.

 

[denner]

Quote from nitro:

http://www.thebookstall.com/

This store doesn't play obnoxious music. The bookstore was ruined by music being played in the store, imo. Classical music is fine, at a reasonable sound level. Nothing else. It has a used bookstore feel, but it is 100% new books.

I also like Barnes and Noble now that Borders is closed. I prefer the ones where I can park at easily and has a good science math and computer section. Each B&N is unique in this way and depends on what sells. The store in Niles is terrific in this way, perhaps because of the high concentration of Jewish patrons.

I am saddened that B&N may see the same end result that Borders did, and I am also saddened by many of the responses in this thread. A bricks and mortar bookstore is imperative, but we all have to learn the hard way I guess. I try to buy books from the bricks and mortar, not because I can save $3 by getting it at AMZN (not even true since B&N online http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ often beats AMZN on price), but because I value the intangibles they provide.

The Amazon vs Barnes & Noble / Borders is just a metaphor for the continued battle in the rest of the economy. A few lonely voices back in the late 1990's predicted that this sort of thing would happen once enough traffic moved online. As nice as it is to sit in a bookstore and read the books, I highly doubt there are enough aggregate sales to justify the overhead costs. I wouldn't be surprised if the cafe sections (especially in the smaller locales) are the profit centers.

 

[southall]

The bookstore is dead.. replaced by something newer and better suited to the modern world.

That is our fate too

 

[Maverick74]

Quote from nitro:

http://www.thebookstall.com/

This store doesn't play obnoxious music. The bookstore was ruined by music being played in the store, imo. Classical music is fine, at a reasonable sound level. Nothing else. It has a used bookstore feel, but it is 100% new books.

I also like Barnes and Noble now that Borders is closed. I prefer the ones where I can park at easily and has a good science math and computer section. Each B&N is unique in this way and depends on what sells. The store in Niles is terrific in this way, perhaps because of the high concentration of Jewish patrons.

I am saddened that B&N may see the same end result that Borders did, and I am also saddened by many of the responses in this thread. A bricks and mortar bookstore is imperative, but we all have to learn the hard way I guess - we don't know what we have until it is gone. I try to buy books from the bricks and mortar, not because I can save $3 by getting it at AMZN (not even true since B&N online http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ often beats AMZN on price), but because I value the intangibles they provide.

OK, I figured you would name one in the burbs. My new bookstore after my local Borders closed is now the Barnes and Noble in the Gold Coast which is actually a pretty good store. There has to be some good ones in Evanston no?

 

[5yrtrader]

Quote from IanMacQuaide:

I've been predicting the end of print media since 1982. Maybe I'm a bit ahead of my time?
I do think print media will die off, and little Mom and Pop book stores could spring up for those very few who just gotta have pages in their hands, or just like the way a bookshelf looks in their home for nostalgia.
There are generations being born now who will associate books with nasty old skools, and never seek out anything printed on paper.
They're too busy enjoying the current technology.
Next comes holographic displays.

I am curious, what was your reasoning for predicting the end of print media in 1982?

Al gore hadn't even invented the internet yet, are you saying you thought of it before him?

5yr

 

[IanMacQuaide]

Quote from 5yrtrader:

I am curious, what was your reasoning for predicting the end of print media in 1982?

Al gore hadn't even invented the internet yet, are you saying you thought of it before him?

5yr

Maybe it was in 1992...LOL..I forget!