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Trendsetter or merely head of the herd?
A new book I’d ordered from the local bookstore came in yesterday. When I walked in to buy it, one of the old-timer employees commented that when he sees me placing an order, he stocks up a bit on the book – that the SF and fantasy books I order tend to sell well.
I already knew that I’m one of their best customers. After all, I buy a new book roughly every two months! (Which is kind of scary when you think about it. What, does the average American buy less than one new book a year? ...)
It just left me feeling slightly odd.
I already knew that I’m one of their best customers. After all, I buy a new book roughly every two months! (Which is kind of scary when you think about it. What, does the average American buy less than one new book a year? ...)
It just left me feeling slightly odd.
More like, "Leading the Rear Guard"
(I'm assuming you're buying books at a 'real' bookstore, not a "Starbucks-with-books" like Barnes & Noble.)
As much as I *love* a good bookstore, I don't buy from them, anymore -- and it's a matter, unfortunately, of personal economics: I buy online because the books are generally sold at a discount and with no sales tax. This more than makes up for what minimal shipping charges might occur (and if I wait a month or three -- I can buy several at once -- and often avoid shipping charges altogether).
I'm also one of those lucky people who has an 'associate's account' with one of the large not-to-be-named online services (their clout and strength in the industry is Amazonian. Dot Com.), I get a small percentage back (in the form of a store credit) for anything I buy. Or for whatever I can convince others to buy.
Sadly, I have *great guilt* over contributing to the demise of quality bookstores. Really, I do. I justify it to myself in saying that the jobs that will be lost by the loss of the small bookstores will be made up for elsewhere in the warehouses and distribution channels for the online purchases.
The weird thing is that I find myself in a couple branches of the San Jose Library at least once, and usually twice a week (gotta go make the trip to the new MLK Main Library; haven't done that yet). I think I handle more books, physically-in-my-hands, now than I have in years. What's cool is that there's nothing ever unavailable; Interlibrary loan is as easy as placing a special book on order: It's just as fast (2-3 weeks), and there's no disappointment if that book isn't exactly as good as I'd hoped it would be -- I return it, and I don't feel stupid for having an expensive-but-poorly-written doorstop. And if it *is* something special, I can buy it myself online later.
And nothing is *ever* out-of-print. Not with ILL. It may take longer to get (4 months is the max so far for me), but most things *can* be found.
And it's all FREE.
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In response to your question "What, does the average American buy less than one new book a year?": Don't make the mistake of equating "Purchases" with "Books read". Lending Libraries are very much alive and doing very well. I *could* do very well without buying *any* books for a year or more... so long as I have my Library card.
Re: More like, "Leading the Rear Guard"
I read a huge amount. I have library cards at three libraries, and I use ILL or Link+ extensively to supplement their collections. If I like a book enough to read it more than two or three times, though, I'll often buy it.
I don't buy all my books from the local store. I've ordered from more than one insert-name-here.com, especially if it's an obscure title that the local store doesn't have on hand right now. Most of the onlines are quick, reliable, and fairly cheap. So why pay full price at the local store? ...first, I get 10% back, which helps me justify it fiscally. More, anyway. Mostly, I think it's the satisfaction of "It must be MINE! NOW! Not when they ship it in a month."
And if I go to an author signing, as I am this Friday, I buy the book there.
Do I feel guilt over ordering online? Sort of. On the other hand, I've ordered a ton of used books online. Including one from Brazil or Venezuela (I can't remember which), and many from the U.K. These guys are all independent. I couldn't have done that pre-Net.
Ok. So which book?
Re: Which book?
Friday I'm going to the Neal Stephenson signing. I rather liked Cryptonomicon, and word is that this one (first in a trilogy, taking place in the 17th/18th centuries) is pretty good too...
Thanks!