tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post6335858769969837633..comments2023-10-15T11:23:35.339+01:00Comments on Hawkins Bizarre: Bookarazzi on AmazonAlishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18406189984167289987noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-7555223278592308612008-06-19T20:17:00.000+01:002008-06-19T20:17:00.000+01:00As a secondhand bookseller on Amazon I worry about...As a secondhand bookseller on Amazon I worry about their market dominance but can't deny their attractiveness for buyers. I still buy new books on there too, though I try to buy new books from shops as well. Interestingly I can tell from the style of order that Amazon attracts largely a different custmer from other bookselling sites, so I suspect that they attact a different customer from real shops too. I also suspect, entirely anecdotatlly, that they (and the likes of Tescos) probably result in more books sold overall by reaching out to thhose that wouldn't ordinarily buy books, and by making it so clickably easy. However, if you would like to spread your bookbuying pound about online then you could try Bookrabbit.com or one of the other new book bookselling sites.Juxtabookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102279698993288454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-67336606265178882462008-06-19T16:44:00.000+01:002008-06-19T16:44:00.000+01:00I enjoy visiting bookshops but must confess if I d...I enjoy visiting bookshops but must confess if I don't order books through the library I buy them from Amazon. I love it - from a buyer's point of view...as a writer, getting your book read is the thing and if they fulfil that role I'd have no complaints!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05986874444030474719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-20486883081447092112008-06-17T11:09:00.000+01:002008-06-17T11:09:00.000+01:00This subject is on blogs and writing groups everyw...This subject is on blogs and writing groups everywhere - it makes my head spin as I want to do the 'right' thing. But the 'right' thing to do is always a subjective judgement. So like others I intend to buy locally where I can but will continue to buy on Amazon & other huge companies. Or at least until I'm convinced otherwise.<BR/><BR/>KatKat Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14176200521240664479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-70793685138679028312008-06-16T09:51:00.000+01:002008-06-16T09:51:00.000+01:00Hi Michelle - thanks! Hope you find a copy of Test...Hi Michelle - thanks! Hope you find a copy of Testament (there are always some on the new & used on Amazon) and that you enjoy it. You never know, there might be a copy at the library. <BR/>Hope to see you in the comments box regularly and the very best of luck with your own work.Alishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406189984167289987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-52899818884501110772008-06-15T21:40:00.000+01:002008-06-15T21:40:00.000+01:00Hi AlisJust found your blog through my friend Kat'...Hi Alis<BR/><BR/>Just found your blog through my friend Kat's blog and I am really excited by your new book. As a hopeful writer of historical/fantasy fiction for children and a medieval history graduate, your book sounds fantastic. So pleased it is selling well, I will look out for it locally as we have some cracking local bookshops who may just have a copy. All the very best and I am pleased to have found your blog<BR/>Kind regards<BR/>MichelleMichellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06224208773361822237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-55871211636754085592008-06-15T19:07:00.000+01:002008-06-15T19:07:00.000+01:00California man - a hunter-gatherer species... Hmmm...California man - a hunter-gatherer species... Hmmm. Not quite how I'd envisaged you all over there!Alishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406189984167289987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-18028488459369845802008-06-15T17:06:00.000+01:002008-06-15T17:06:00.000+01:00If a book's available locally, I buy it in a books...If a book's available locally, I buy it in a bookshop. I like visiting bookstores and I'd like to see them stay in business. Plus this is California, and we have to keep up our reputation for leaping into the car at the smallest excuse. (I also enjoy the primitive hunter-gatherer satisfaction of searching through the shelves and immediately having it in my hands.)<BR/><BR/>When a book isn't available locally, I buy it online--and it's amazing how often this happens. But I'm certainly not to worry about it; if the bookshops can't be bothered to stock what I want, then they can expect my business to go elsewhere.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-36501174717809472282008-06-14T11:18:00.000+01:002008-06-14T11:18:00.000+01:00Hi Tim. Yes, to everything you say. I'm finding th...Hi Tim. Yes, to everything you say. I'm finding that I'm becoming more and more pro-Amazon. It also doesn't stop displaying books after the run of a few months which is all new fiction tends to get in order to make its pitch and sell. <BR/>And of course, you're right - whatever the financial implications of discounting for us, more people reading our books is good. That is, after all, why we're doing it.Alishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18406189984167289987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9088473527308746266.post-22405073416210610222008-06-14T10:12:00.000+01:002008-06-14T10:12:00.000+01:00Interesting post, Alis.It's easy--almost too easy-...Interesting post, Alis.<BR/><BR/>It's easy--almost too easy--for bien-pensant writers to throw stones at Amazon. The retailer has a dominant market influence which is only going to increase; they use their commercial muscle to extort favourable terms from their suppliers: boo! the unacceptable face of capitalism. It's easy--but wrong.<BR/><BR/>In any commercial sphere, a dominant retailer will try and reduce its supply costs. Favourably regarded supermarkets like Sainsburys and Marks & Spencer are notorious for it. It's part of life, and Amazon are not unique. And what about the monstrous discounts--and full returnability--demanded by Waterstones?<BR/><BR/>Amazon stand or fall on whether they give customers what they want. And as someone who buys a lot of books--a hell of a lot of books--they certainly give me what I want. I've no doubt that I buy more books because it's so easy. I read about "Year of Wonders" or "Resistance", and five minutes later the book's on its way to me. So Amazon gives me, and readers in general, what we want.<BR/><BR/>Even as a writer there's no downside.My self-pubbed books are on Amazon and allowed me a publication outlet before I joined MNW. Yes, I get a lower royalty per copy for The Dog of the North because Amazon discounts it so heavily--but if it translates into more sales I'm happy. I'd much rather my royalties came from lower unit returns and higher volumes sold, because books sold is good currency with my publisher, and more readers is what I'm after as a writer.<BR/><BR/>I think Amazon get a lot of stick because they're the market leader. Ultimately I'm sure they'll damage high street booksellers (so Waterstones, who destroyed so many independent booksellers, will themselves suffer). But if you think that getting people to read the books is more important than how they get into readers' hands, I can't see Amazon as anything other a positive development.Tim Strettonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598897603628943741noreply@blogger.com