A bookseller's take on Amazon (not the river)
I've been a long-time customer of Borderlands Books and it's one of my favorite places to be, actually. Over the years I've continued to be a customer pleased with the books they sell and the events they host. I even considered buying a condo in the neighborhood to be close to the bookstore and other fun places in the Mission District area of San Francisco. (Instead, I bought a condo several blocks from The Other Change of Hobbit Bookstore and other fun places in Berkeley, though OCH recently moved a BART station stop away. Anyway …)
Latest issue of the Borderlands Books newsletter - take a look at "From the Office."
In reading Alan's "From the Office' piece, it pulled together a lot of info. I also get that there's a lot of opinion mixed in regarding Amazon.com, which I appreciate.
I admit to using Amazon, directly and indirectly (Kickstarter). I, didn't know the AbeBooks connection and I purchase used books from them far more frequently than I make purchases from Amazon. When Amazon first started up, I thought it was a good alternative for buying books for those who weren't near real bookstores. See, my preference is to be able to hold them in my hands prior to purchase, especially "normal" hardcover and paperback books. I do have different criteria for the special ones (like signed/limited), figuring specialty booksellers (like my beloved Ziesing Books) or the publishers themselves would do a good job in getting the books to me in great condition.
While many of my friends flocked to Amazon for the discounted books, preorder capability and wish lists, I continued to get my books from the "old" places (many now closed) for new and used books. Sure, I liked discounted and "on sale" books! A local bookstore chain I'd been using, Crown Books, discounted books but also had author readings/signings. As more online outlets for books showed up, I'd look at them, but would rarely use them.
I've taken a look at a few e-readers. Right now, I still prefer reading the dead tree versions of books and it's not just about the content, the story on the page. As a consumer who has spending money to choose -- partly good fortune and partly good decisions -- I hope I continue to be able to get books "my way" for a long while. If books/stories I want are only available in electronic form, which is starting to happen, I'll go without or see about (ick) printing them out for my own use. And if Amazon becomes the only game in town … well, I don't know. Aside from asking the authors directly or something like that.
I look forward to the next part(s) of Alan's commentary.
Latest issue of the Borderlands Books newsletter - take a look at "From the Office."
In reading Alan's "From the Office' piece, it pulled together a lot of info. I also get that there's a lot of opinion mixed in regarding Amazon.com, which I appreciate.
I admit to using Amazon, directly and indirectly (Kickstarter). I, didn't know the AbeBooks connection and I purchase used books from them far more frequently than I make purchases from Amazon. When Amazon first started up, I thought it was a good alternative for buying books for those who weren't near real bookstores. See, my preference is to be able to hold them in my hands prior to purchase, especially "normal" hardcover and paperback books. I do have different criteria for the special ones (like signed/limited), figuring specialty booksellers (like my beloved Ziesing Books) or the publishers themselves would do a good job in getting the books to me in great condition.
While many of my friends flocked to Amazon for the discounted books, preorder capability and wish lists, I continued to get my books from the "old" places (many now closed) for new and used books. Sure, I liked discounted and "on sale" books! A local bookstore chain I'd been using, Crown Books, discounted books but also had author readings/signings. As more online outlets for books showed up, I'd look at them, but would rarely use them.
I've taken a look at a few e-readers. Right now, I still prefer reading the dead tree versions of books and it's not just about the content, the story on the page. As a consumer who has spending money to choose -- partly good fortune and partly good decisions -- I hope I continue to be able to get books "my way" for a long while. If books/stories I want are only available in electronic form, which is starting to happen, I'll go without or see about (ick) printing them out for my own use. And if Amazon becomes the only game in town … well, I don't know. Aside from asking the authors directly or something like that.
I look forward to the next part(s) of Alan's commentary.