Death of the Bookstore
I’m an admitted bibliophile.
And yet, I was thinking to myself yesterday about how seldom I actually walk into a bookstore, much less purchase a book from one. My reasons are three (“not two, not four, three” — name the movie?)
- cheaper — why go into Borders or Barnes and Noble so they give you 25% off, when I can regularly buy from Amazon and get 32% off.
- convenience — someone tells me about a good book, or I hear about a good book, I instantly add it to my shopping cart on Amazon. Currently I think I have 3 or 4 books in my shopping cart, that when I’m ready I will purchase.
- on Amazon I can read reviews as well as see other books that are related (this is also dangerous, because I potentially buy more!) At the bookstore, some freckle-faced kid might be able to tell me where the book is located, but that’s about it!
somebody, please defend the bookstore, cuz I’m at a loss!
Well… from a economics standpoint, it’s always great to support local businesses. Sites like Amazon essentially knock out any local “mom and pop” competitor. Sure it saves money, but if everyone does it then it will cost a family business.
Although this is an example of a con of buying from Amazon… I will be the first to admit that I turn to that website for EVERY textbook I buy. I think I saved about $300 last semester. But the money grubbers at the college textbook store/company get no sympathy from me when they try to get me to pay for a “new” book with a few extra pictures. (sorry that kind of goes into another argument!)
Jenni Le
February 29, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I would say it is kinda nice to thumb through a book before buying it. Nowdays many books have previews online either on amazon or books.google.com, so that will probably diminish the appeal over time.
I think that even a large Barnes and Noble has a pretty small selection compared to Amazon. The organization of being able to click on the “people who bought this book also bought” links helps a lot… Amazon does know what books to sell you..
Josh R
February 29, 2008 at 6:18 pm
weird… i just got back from barne’s & noble where i ran into my pal justin locke.
we had this same discussion.
we concluded by the end that amazon is cheap. no doubt about that (the book i had was half as cheap online. i used the wifi at the bookstore to look it up). but the bookstore is instant gratification.
ya know how that bottle of soda is way expensive at the gas station, but really easy to pick up and purchase b/c it’s right there in front of you?
that’s the analogy we came up with.
book stores are good for instantly satisfying your desires. (which i gave up for lent so here i am online).
b&b is also a natural laxative. i know i’m not alone on this one. that store just makes you gotta go!
erichapman
February 29, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I use the store to think. A form of pacing back and forth through the isles using book covers to brainstorm my own ideas or for topics that I want to persue later. So they have to sell atmosphere if they are to compete successfully with Amazon. A place to run into people. I use to do my homework at one in Springfield, IL and while there I would buy a “bargain book.”
Jason
February 29, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I will admit I go to Barnes and Nobles ALOT……but never to buy books. Never with any intention of buying books.
Instead I get a large coffee (Which kills me at $2.30….but made better by .50 refills..), grab a table, and I start reading. I use it as a Library instead of a store (I almost want to start a Peoria Library rant but I digress…). B&N for me is a place to run through lots of thoughts and explore – rather than spend.
Then I go home and order copies of the “must haves” used from Amazon. Never new. Thats our family rule.
I can either read alot used – or a whole lot less new.
Jason Schifo
February 29, 2008 at 11:19 pm
This whole discussion reminds me of the movie “You’ve Got Mail.” In which a B&N like store takes out a local competitor… Amazon is the now… book store were the then. I never buy books there because the prices are just stupid, and everyone knows you can find them cheaper elsewhere. I think book stores are better than libraries, in that they feel alive and energetic vs. just quiet.
Plus… I can surf amazon on my phone and order books and have them the next day… it is not instant gratification, but pretty close…
brandon
March 1, 2008 at 10:14 am
Jenni Le… Support the “mom & pop” I cant think of one in Peoria, Berean (sp?) is a regional and I can think of nothing that comes to true mom and pop
erichampman, I agree… instant gratification
There is a guy, Evan McEntire (sp) he would always go to Barnes & Noble in Peoria and read a book there. He would leave a book mark and would either “hide” the book or make it the last one you would touch in a stack. Pretty good idea if you are not looking to build a library
Mizz out
Mizz
March 1, 2008 at 4:36 pm
There is a place in Pekin I go to called, Bookworm Books.
When I lived in Chicago… they were allllll over the place and you could find just about anything. It was even better to stumble on hard to find first editions of books! But I understand that there arent a whole lot of those around anymore. However, if there happens to be one, I tend to chose to support the locals.
I also admit to going to Barnes and Noble, taking a book off of the shelf, reading it, book marking it, and putting it back.
Jenni Le
March 1, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Ditto – Guilty of the bookmark thing also….
Jason Schifo
March 2, 2008 at 7:50 am
Charlie,
For me it is the whole ambiance of a bookstore. Yeah, the coffee from bookstores is cool and adds to the whole package, but it is also the smell of books, actually getting your hands on a real book and thumbing through it. In my case, without a large retail bookstore around for miles and miles it is being able to support a decent “Main Street Books” store. Also, having intelligent conversations with those who work at this local, college town, bookstore.
On-line is cool and convenient, but it doesn’t compare to the experience of being in a local bookstore surrounded by the smell of books and coffee (yeah, weird I know).
tom
March 2, 2008 at 4:25 pm
as i’ve followed the comments it occurs to me, that if there were a bookstore — local, good coffee, knowledgable staff — i would be much more inclined to shop there — even if it meant paying a little more. (a place like The Tattered Cover in Denver is kind of what i’m thinking)
the local stores are none of those things and so amazon it is — if i want a library, i’ll go to the library — which i do — frequently.
charliedean
March 3, 2008 at 10:52 am
i agree with everyone…..i buy 75% on half.com (thank you Bill Allison), usually it is a race to see who gets back first to order the best priced book after small group…HA! Here is my quandry…the other 25% is usually bought at the bookstore or ordered through the bookstore because the owner is a friend of mine and I like to support my friends. He let me off the hook one day when he said he saw the trend and they jumped into the online market as well……..Whew!
rick-e-b
March 4, 2008 at 10:23 am
Interesting discussion.
I just ran across your blog somehow and noticed this discussion. I can’t defend “the bookstore” as they’re so varied, of course, but I blogged here (http://www.bldavis.org/?p=60) about how it’s worth the trip to drive to Grand Rapids, MI in order to visit Eerdmans and the used Baker store.
Incidentally, I briefly mention Mars Hill in this post, which it looks like you have discussed on your blog.
Also, I notice your in Peoria, IL. I used to live in Edwardsville, IL up until about 7 years ago and then moved east to Baltimore, MD.
Anyway, nice blog you have.
Brian
March 7, 2008 at 9:46 am
This is all interesting, but none of you mentioned Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail or at least the holy hand grenade. This is a sad state of affairs. Clearly all the people commenting read too much without taking in a good movie.
Living in Hawaii though, I do find Borders a good way to buy a book. To make Amazon a good alternative i need to buy at least $25 dollars in books or other items to receive the free shipping, otherwise the shipping cost makes it about the same price as Borders plus a wait of about a week to receive the book.
Eric
March 17, 2008 at 1:41 pm