 |
|
 |
| - Free Speech, No Spam! - |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
10-20-2009, 12:11 PM
|
#1
|
|
Literotica Guru
LadyFunkenstein is offline
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: I come in colors
Posts: 27,005
|
More Bad News for Indie Bookstores...
as Target.com joins the ongoing book price war.
The race to the bottom continues, as forthcoming bestsellers are now priced at $8.98 at Walmart.com!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...653144662.html
Some times it is worth it to spend more at your local shops... this is one of those times. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 12:15 PM
|
#2
|
|
Literotica Guru
KRCummings is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: On the Saints bandwagon
Posts: 50,709
|
I'd be more than happy to buy more at Borders or B&N or whatever if they stocked what I wanted. B&N especially sucks. Borders is ok most of the time I guess. Too heavy on non-book items if you ask me but whatever works.
We have a monstrous used book store here that I like but even they can be lacking.
I prefer Amazon over all of them because I can always find what I want, it's cheap, fast and I don't have to go anywhere.
__________________
"Attempted murder, I ask you, what is that? Do they give a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"
-Sideshow Bob
"Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change"
"An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site"
-Frank Lloyd Wright
CAN (Cure Autism Now)
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 12:31 PM
|
#3
|
|
Poet Chick
Angeline is offline
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Birdnest
Posts: 20,103
|
I was at Target the other day waiting to fill a prescription so I was walking around looking at stuff, including the book section. If this Target is any indication, the indies don't have a thing to worry about. They had a few bestsellers that anyone might want, but it was mostly romances and crap.
I'm moving to a place that has a great indie bookstore this summer. Yay. Can't wait.
ETA: I get most books used from Alibris, movies and other dvds, too. I can almost always find even obscure stuff there and never more than 5-6 bucks.
Last edited by Angeline : 10-20-2009 at 12:33 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 12:55 PM
|
#4
|
|
destroyer of untruth
pointless is offline
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: doesn't matter
Posts: 20,294
|
all them galldurned books costs too much anyways.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 01:09 PM
|
#5
|
|
.
SeanH is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Eating foie gras in a Porsche.
Posts: 53,604
|
There used to be a thing called the Net Book Agreement over here. Basically it made it illegal to discount books. Plenty argued that this was anti consumer. Strangely, the biggest people against it were the large supermarkets. Our cuntish faux Labour govt rescinded the agreement and allowed the supermarkets to sell books at a discount. Of course, all they sell are top tens and cebrity bios.
The effect? 70% of Britain's bookshops have disappeared.
__________________
Gordon Brown had Margaret Thatcher to number ten and he gave her tea. If you get Margaret Thatcher into a room, you stake her through the heart and bury her under the patio.
Last edited by SeanH : 10-20-2009 at 01:14 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 01:13 PM
|
#6
|
|
Literotica Guru
KRCummings is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: On the Saints bandwagon
Posts: 50,709
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanH
There used to be a thing called the Net Book Agreement over here. Basically it made it illegal to discount books. Plenty argued that this was anti consumer. Strangely, the biggest people against it were the large supermarkets. Our cuntish faux Labour govtescinded the agreement and allowed the supermarkets to sell books at a discount. Of course, all they sell are top tens and cebrity bios.
The effect? 70% of Britain's bookshops have disappeared.
|
I think the internet is more to blame than anything. It was Amazon that put them out, not Walmart.
__________________
"Attempted murder, I ask you, what is that? Do they give a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"
-Sideshow Bob
"Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change"
"An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site"
-Frank Lloyd Wright
CAN (Cure Autism Now)
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 01:18 PM
|
#7
|
|
.
SeanH is offline
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Eating foie gras in a Porsche.
Posts: 53,604
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRCummings
I think the internet is more to blame than anything. It was Amazon that put them out, not Walmart.
|
Oh, Amazon and the like helped, sure. But the NBA kept little indy shops alive.
__________________
Gordon Brown had Margaret Thatcher to number ten and he gave her tea. If you get Margaret Thatcher into a room, you stake her through the heart and bury her under the patio.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 01:20 PM
|
#8
|
|
Literotica Guru
KRCummings is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: On the Saints bandwagon
Posts: 50,709
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanH
Oh, Amazon and the like helped, sure. But the NBA kept little indy shops alive.
|
I can definitely see how that would keep them in business but seems like that kind of law would end up defeated sooner or later anyway.
__________________
"Attempted murder, I ask you, what is that? Do they give a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"
-Sideshow Bob
"Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change"
"An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site"
-Frank Lloyd Wright
CAN (Cure Autism Now)
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 01:31 PM
|
#9
|
|
강타. 당신은 죽다
Lady Reiha is offline
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 난 당신을 죽일 것이다! ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶ ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶ ☆x♥x☆
Posts: 27,754
|
I usually buy my books at Chapters. The reason why? In all honesty, Edmonton has terrible independent bookstores, so anything I'm looking for, they usually don't have -_-" *grumble*
__________________
▲
▲ ▲ 
♫۞ ☆Click on the yumminess banner for sexy asians ^-^ ☆۞ ♫
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Essex
Noone mentioned LadyReiha. This thread is officially moot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 03:40 PM
|
#10
|
|
Literotica Guru
LadyFunkenstein is offline
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: I come in colors
Posts: 27,005
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angeline
I was at Target the other day waiting to fill a prescription so I was walking around looking at stuff, including the book section. If this Target is any indication, the indies don't have a thing to worry about. They had a few bestsellers that anyone might want, but it was mostly romances and crap.
I'm moving to a place that has a great indie bookstore this summer. Yay. Can't wait.
ETA: I get most books used from Alibris, movies and other dvds, too. I can almost always find even obscure stuff there and never more than 5-6 bucks.
|
Actually, its not about the selection you find at a Target. The biggest new releases drive traffic to the independent stores (as well as the chains too). This fourth quarter, it will not happen as people will buy the top 20 or so books online. An independent bookstore can't afford to sell books at a loss in the way target.com, walmart.com and amazon.com are currently doing.
Which indie store?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeanH
There used to be a thing called the Net Book Agreement over here. Basically it made it illegal to discount books. Plenty argued that this was anti consumer. Strangely, the biggest people against it were the large supermarkets. Our cuntish faux Labour govt rescinded the agreement and allowed the supermarkets to sell books at a discount. Of course, all they sell are top tens and cebrity bios.
The effect? 70% of Britain's bookshops have disappeared.
|
It is quite amazing to what extent the supermarkets drive the book business in the UK. Supermarkets in the US sell a nice chunk of mass market and celeb books, but as a percentage of total business it isn't even close to the UK
I have mixed feeling on price fixing. My knee-jerk reaction is to dislike it, but of course it happens in other industries (housewares, electronics immediately spring to mind) quite often (within the support to the law behind it, at least not in the US.) Do you know whether various booksellers across different channels receive the same discount structure? When your supermarkets sell a book at a discount, are they getting a larger discount from the publishers & wholesalers, or are they selling at a loss/low margin?
Last edited by LadyFunkenstein : 10-20-2009 at 03:43 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 03:53 PM
|
#11
|
|
Back, at least for now?
JamesSD is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,326
|
Indie Bookstores still exist?
Actually, I know of one Indie bookstore that is thriving. They specialize in rare and second-hand books and are located in the gay neighborhood. They don't even carry first-run best sellers.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 03:57 PM
|
#12
|
|
Literotica Guru
LadyFunkenstein is offline
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: I come in colors
Posts: 27,005
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesSD
Indie Bookstores still exist?
Actually, I know of one Indie bookstore that is thriving. They specialize in rare and second-hand books and are located in the gay neighborhood. They don't even carry first-run best sellers.
|
You have one of the best indie stores in the country in your neck of the woods. I don't know my SoCal geography that well, but it is on a major drag that is La Jolla or SD - I don't know the dividing line. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 03:58 PM
|
#13
|
|
Literotica Guru
KRCummings is offline
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: On the Saints bandwagon
Posts: 50,709
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesSD
Indie Bookstores still exist?
Actually, I know of one Indie bookstore that is thriving. They specialize in rare and second-hand books and are located in the gay neighborhood. They don't even carry first-run best sellers.
|
Honestly this is something I was thinking. I don't know of any indie bookstores at all except for used book stores. I know they're out there but they're nowhere near me. I don't really mind since I read mostly mass market stuff and Borders is fine if I don't wanna go the Amazon route or just wanna chill with some overpriced coffee. I love our used store but it's worthless for anything less than 6 months old.
__________________
"Attempted murder, I ask you, what is that? Do they give a Nobel Prize for attempted chemistry?"
-Sideshow Bob
"Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change"
"An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site"
-Frank Lloyd Wright
CAN (Cure Autism Now)
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 04:05 PM
|
#14
|
|
Back, at least for now?
JamesSD is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,326
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LadyFunkenstein
You have one of the best indie stores in the country in your neck of the woods. I don't know my SoCal geography that well, but it is on a major drag that is La Jolla or SD - I don't know the dividing line.
|
It's in Carlsbad-by-the-sea I believe. That one is good too. I think they get a lot of foot traffic from the old retired people who live across the street. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 04:27 PM
|
#15
|
|
destroyer of untruth
pointless is offline
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: doesn't matter
Posts: 20,294
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KRCummings
Honestly this is something I was thinking. I don't know of any indie bookstores at all except for used book stores. I know they're out there but they're nowhere near me. I don't really mind since I read mostly mass market stuff and Borders is fine if I don't wanna go the Amazon route or just wanna chill with some overpriced coffee. I love our used store but it's worthless for anything less than 6 months old.
|
we have one here. it is mainly used, but they have some new stuff as well. sadly, it's a small selection, but they do, of course, order stuff for you. i have no idea how expensive they are, though, because i only buy their used stuff. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 04:39 PM
|
#16
|
|
Gatinha~ღ
JustSkye is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Looking toward the North Star.
Posts: 48,914
|
I'll continue to support my local book/coffee shop. The only time I buy a book elsewhere is when I need a textbook for school.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:03 PM
|
#17
|
|
Mother Earth Seduced
Image is offline
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Crossroads
Posts: 39,588
|
Indie bookstores are alive and well. As long as the type of reader is there to support them, they always will be. A true bibliophile would gladly pay a $ or 2 more just to be able to cruise the aisles...
There's at least three that I frequent within a 30 mile radius. Angeline, you're going to love Malaprops  |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:06 PM
|
#18
|
|
On Strike!
Frisco_Slug_Esq is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 18,057
|
They're going to have as much problem as the local video store as we spend more time online...
eBook downloads can go cheaper that a traditional brick and stick establishment.
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:21 PM
|
#19
|
|
Mother Earth Seduced
Image is offline
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Crossroads
Posts: 39,588
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frisco_Slug_Esq
They're going to have as much problem as the local video store as we spend more time online...
eBook downloads can go cheaper that a traditional brick and stick establishment.
|
Somehow, I have more of a problem feeling the same romantic melancholy for a defunct video store... |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:24 PM
|
#20
|
|
On Strike!
Frisco_Slug_Esq is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 18,057
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Image
Somehow, I have more of a problem feeling the same romantic melancholy for a defunct video store...
|
Hey, the world could always use another dance or karate studio...
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:25 PM
|
#21
|
|
Gatinha~ღ
JustSkye is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Looking toward the North Star.
Posts: 48,914
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frisco_Slug_Esq
They're going to have as much problem as the local video store as we spend more time online...
eBook downloads can go cheaper that a traditional brick and stick establishment.
|
I'd rather support our local brick and stick to help keep the economy going. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:27 PM
|
#22
|
|
On Strike!
Frisco_Slug_Esq is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 18,057
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustSkye
I'd rather support our local brick and stick to help keep the economy going.
|
You don't keep an economy going by wasting your discretionary spending on dying technologies/paradigms. You do it by getting the best bang for your buck thus making more total purchases...
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:47 PM
|
#23
|
|
Gatinha~ღ
JustSkye is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Looking toward the North Star.
Posts: 48,914
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frisco_Slug_Esq
You don't keep an economy going by wasting your discretionary spending on dying technologies/paradigms. You do it by getting the best bang for your buck thus making more total purchases...
|
Well, that business is going strong after 14 years, and the lines around the outside of the door, waiting to get in, are a good indicator that I'm not the only one wanting to see business keep going. The food and coffees are great, and so is the book selection. |
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:55 PM
|
#24
|
|
On Strike!
Frisco_Slug_Esq is offline
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 18,057
|
Hey, a lot of real stupid people keep Starbucks in business too!
PT Barnum says...
|
|
|
|
|
10-20-2009, 05:56 PM
|
#25
|
|
Gatinha~ღ
JustSkye is offline
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Looking toward the North Star.
Posts: 48,914
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frisco_Slug_Esq
Hey, a lot of real stupid people keep Starbucks in business too!
PT Barnum says...
|
and here you are. |
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 PM. |
|
|
|
|
☆
