Comments on: A Technical Thing re: Amazon and My Tor Books

By: Carole

Carole — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:23:02 +0000

@Sherri. 47′s not old! I think I’m nostalgic for a future. The question is do the book buying public want bricks and mortar stores in their town. I do, but the way things are going there may not be any in 10 years at which point Amazon may rule the book buying world – certainly that’s what it wants to do. Not only am I pessimistic but cynical as well, I don’t believe Amazon are in it for the good of their customers but for the good of Amazon, I just want people to consider the book buying future if we put all our eggs in the Amazon basket.

By: Sherri

Sherri — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:32:08 +0000

@Carole: The problem is, I am old enough. Most of the time I was referring to happened long before Amazon. I’m 47; I remember when Amazon was just a text list of a fairly small number of books. Neither Amazon nor big chain bookstores nor warehouse stores nor Walmart were responsible for the lack of local bookstores during much of them time I referred to. That’s what I meant about being nostalgic for a past that didn’t exist.

By: IreneD

IreneD — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:05:58 +0000

@ Bryan #51: Seconded! And that’s one thing I like about Fictionwise, the opportunity to buy short stories and novellas as e-texts, at very reasonable prices, in a variety of non-DRM formats. And they have a large SFF selection!

By: kejia

kejia — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:07:45 +0000

@ChrisM #1

Thanks for posting the link for the podcast this afternoon on Amazon/macmillan feud
(4pm Saturday EST)

http://www.teleread.org/2010/02/04/saturday-4-p-m-eastern-live-talk-podcast-on-amazonmacmillan-affair/

I’m logged in right now :)

By: Carole

Carole — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:54:01 +0000

Sherri@31, I hope I’m not old enough to pine for a nostalgic past! The situation you describe is very much what the situation is here in Ireland now, most towns would not support a local bookstore. My own store now opens at 10 rather than 9 as there is not enough custom before 10 to justify paying my wages. The point I was trying to make is that this is a real economic issue, particularly now. I have no figures for the numbers employed in small firms in Ireland (let alone the US) but by not buying locally it is local jobs that are lost. By all means shop at Borders, whilst they are a chain they will also employ local people. Borders in the UK has closed with the loss of 1,100 jobs.

Also, by paying a proper price for a book you remunerate properly those who have produced the book, not just the author. Amazon is not evil per se but using it’s economic muscle to strongarm huge discounts is killing the publishing industry, an industry which authors seem to be saying they find of value.

I have no answers but think the debated is wider than just Amazon v Macmillan and it’s a debate worth having.

I apologise John if this has strayed to far of topic.

By: Steve Burnap

Steve Burnap — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:08:51 +0000

Josh Jasper@30: Yeah, I may still order it that way, but I was out of town and so not at a local store.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:51:34 +0000

@William Schafer #33
Thanks. I don’t know what sense these things make from the author/publisher side. I can say as an interested reader, if they were available as e-content, I’d buy (at any sane price). Have bought shorter works before, authored by Nancy Kress and others.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:42:31 +0000

Kindle books aren’t back so I am guessing no agreement yet.

By: Harry Connolly

Harry Connolly — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:31:53 +0000

I wonder if Amazon.com and Macmillan *did* reach an agreement, or if Hatchet’s announcement broke the impasse.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:43:15 +0000

I’ve been less and less interested in Amazon since the Kindle came out. Sure, the thing looks cool and the e-books have been a good price, but I can’t afford the darn reader and that means the e-books are no good to me. (It also makes me mad at the pricing system for e-book readers. Way to market to the masses…)

Besides, I much prefer e-books in a format that can be used with various readers. None of this proprietary crap.

The latest Amazon debacle just makes me sure that I’m not missing anything by giving my loyalty to local bookstores and a Canadian online store.