Comments on: The Future of Bookstores? http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7822 S.C. Butler Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:55:24 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7822 Mike - I think the future's in ebooks as well, but I'll miss browsing in bookstores if that happens. And I don't think you can browse as easily online as you can in person at a store. How does something catch your eye? Amazon's suggestions? That's never done it for me. What I like about a bookstore (or a library) is the fact you can just go down the stacks till you find something you like. Mike – I think the future’s in ebooks as well, but I’ll miss browsing in bookstores if that happens. And I don’t think you can browse as easily online as you can in person at a store. How does something catch your eye? Amazon’s suggestions? That’s never done it for me.

What I like about a bookstore (or a library) is the fact you can just go down the stacks till you find something you like.

]]> By: Mike http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7820 Mike Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:46:09 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7820 I sometimes use an independent bookstore (it carries both used and new books, which I like) and sometimes Amazon. I'm curious why some people say that browsing at Amazon isn't possible. At a regular bookstore, I have to pick fiction based on title and cover, then read the first few pages. This isn't much different than what I do on Amazon, but I have the benefit of reviews and user lists that may lead me from one book that I love to another. The problem, I suppose, is that not every book has that 'look inside' feature. I think the future is in e-books, but it bothers me to think that local economies will suffer and that bookshops may all disappear. I sometimes use an independent bookstore (it carries both used and new books, which I like) and sometimes Amazon.

I’m curious why some people say that browsing at Amazon isn’t possible. At a regular bookstore, I have to pick fiction based on title and cover, then read the first few pages. This isn’t much different than what I do on Amazon, but I have the benefit of reviews and user lists that may lead me from one book that I love to another. The problem, I suppose, is that not every book has that ‘look inside’ feature.

I think the future is in e-books, but it bothers me to think that local economies will suffer and that bookshops may all disappear.

]]> By: More Writerly Links « Genre Bender http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7586 More Writerly Links « Genre Bender Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:36:21 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7586 [...] Butler is musing about the future of brick and mortar bookstores. The more I learn about this business the more I learn just how screwed up the distribution model [...] [...] Butler is musing about the future of brick and mortar bookstores. The more I learn about this business the more I learn just how screwed up the distribution model [...]

]]> By: Twitter Trackbacks for The Future of Bookstores? at SF Novelists [sfnovelists.com] on Topsy.com http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7566 Twitter Trackbacks for The Future of Bookstores? at SF Novelists [sfnovelists.com] on Topsy.com Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:40:04 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7566 [...] First Tweet: 4 minutes ago mikecane Highly Influential Mike Cane The Future of Bookstores retweet [...] [...] First Tweet: 4 minutes ago mikecane Highly Influential Mike Cane The Future of Bookstores retweet [...]

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7560 Elias McClellan Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:23:45 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7560 Having never worked for BB, Tom, I consede your point. However, I have a lot of experience as a customer. If I go to the east-end of Houston, I find a large selection of Spanish language films made in Mexico and South America. If I to go the west-side of Houston, I find films from all over the world, French language, German, Russian; you name it. There are also a lot of documentaries, anime, and dramas. But in my red-neck of the woods, all I find is actioners and comedies, oh and more games for rent (which you won't find in the east-end or north side at all) than anything else. So whether it is franchisee or company owned, the selection is skewed toward a demographic. Which, as I've contented, does not work any better than one person making a selection for a national chain. Having never worked for BB, Tom, I consede your point. However, I have a lot of experience as a customer. If I go to the east-end of Houston, I find a large selection of Spanish language films made in Mexico and South America.

If I to go the west-side of Houston, I find films from all over the world, French language, German, Russian; you name it. There are also a lot of documentaries, anime, and dramas. But in my red-neck of the woods, all I find is actioners and comedies, oh and more games for rent (which you won’t find in the east-end or north side at all) than anything else.

So whether it is franchisee or company owned, the selection is skewed toward a demographic. Which, as I’ve contented, does not work any better than one person making a selection for a national chain.

]]> By: Tom http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7556 Tom Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:08:33 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7556 As for Blockbuster, I worked almost 10 years for them in IT. Most of the stores are corporate owned. Most of the franchises are in smaller towns, and such. They are all run pretty much the same, where corporate or Franchise, though. I'm not defending Blockbuster. They canned me to give my job to someone overseas for 1/4 the pay. Nothing personal, the CEO told us in person. Just business. Well, it was very personal to me. I'll step off my "Bitter" soapbox now. Carry on. As for Blockbuster, I worked almost 10 years for them in IT. Most of the stores are corporate owned. Most of the franchises are in smaller towns, and such. They are all run pretty much the same, where corporate or Franchise, though.

I’m not defending Blockbuster. They canned me to give my job to someone overseas for 1/4 the pay. Nothing personal, the CEO told us in person. Just business. Well, it was very personal to me. I’ll step off my “Bitter” soapbox now.

Carry on.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7539 Elias McClellan Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:11:07 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7539 Yes, the corporate model between Blockbuster and Walden's is is different. But the issues are the same: access to product and declining revenue. Blockbuster is in the top-10 failing franchises in the US. Walden/Borders sales are flat with the company titering on the brink of collapse. As for my point about customer service, well, I don't care to lose the generalization argument again. However, I don't see a consistent commitment to customer service in the retail enviroment, whether it is chain or independent. Ultimately there is no easy answer to this situation. I certainly don't believe it is Kendal or Amazon. Amazon simply comes the closest for me. Yes, the corporate model between Blockbuster and Walden’s is is different. But the issues are the same: access to product and declining revenue. Blockbuster is in the top-10 failing franchises in the US. Walden/Borders sales are flat with the company titering on the brink of collapse.

As for my point about customer service, well, I don’t care to lose the generalization argument again. However, I don’t see a consistent commitment to customer service in the retail enviroment, whether it is chain or independent. Ultimately there is no easy answer to this situation. I certainly don’t believe it is Kendal or Amazon. Amazon simply comes the closest for me.

]]> By: Chris F http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7534 Chris F Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:03:51 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7534 With you on all those points. The only thing that drags me into big box stores is when they send me any discount coupons over what Amazon offers, and even then I usually regret going, thanks to the confusion at the counter over how to handle the specific coupon I brought as opposed to the half dozen on offer at that time. Or, I came in a day late to use it. Which sucked. With you on all those points. The only thing that drags me into big box stores is when they send me any discount coupons over what Amazon offers, and even then I usually regret going, thanks to the confusion at the counter over how to handle the specific coupon I brought as opposed to the half dozen on offer at that time. Or, I came in a day late to use it. Which sucked.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7526 S.C. Butler Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:13:39 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7526 Adam - I still go to my local independent first. But I live in a city where the bookstore is a five minute walk away. Not everyone has that luxury. Adam – I still go to my local independent first. But I live in a city where the bookstore is a five minute walk away. Not everyone has that luxury.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7525 S.C. Butler Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:12:17 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/11/15/the-future-of-bookstores/#comment-7525 Skip - Tor is my publisher, and I have to confess I was absolutely mystified when they decided to publish my books in hardcover when I'd never published anything else before. But apparently Tor makes more money these days on harcovers, because the margin is so big, than they do on mmpbs. A lot of this has to do with the demise of the old distribution system, when most mmpbs were sold in thousands of small stores around the country and distributed by several hundred small distributors. The Kindle may very well bring back that dominance of the smaller margin sale. Skip – Tor is my publisher, and I have to confess I was absolutely mystified when they decided to publish my books in hardcover when I’d never published anything else before. But apparently Tor makes more money these days on harcovers, because the margin is so big, than they do on mmpbs. A lot of this has to do with the demise of the old distribution system, when most mmpbs were sold in thousands of small stores around the country and distributed by several hundred small distributors. The Kindle may very well bring back that dominance of the smaller margin sale.

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