Comments on: The Rise of the Nonbook: How Bookstores are Trying to Change with the Times

By: RLV

RLV — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:11:50 +0000

RLV…

[...]The Rise of the Nonbook: How Bookstores are Trying to Change with the Times « All About Romance’s News & Commentary Blog[...]…

By: Kay

Kay — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:35:20 +0000

“Yet publishers are worried that as more brick-and-mortar bookstores close, fewer people (eBook readers included) will be exposed to the latest books. Without the displays, customers won’t know what’s out there.”

As an avid ebook reader, I disagree with the above statement. I don’t feel I need physical displays to know what’s out there. Between Facebook, Twitter, websites for Barnes & Noble, websites for the publishers, and authors’ personal websites, there are many avenues for me to find out what books are out there. On FB, I have many authors (who I’m fans of) recommending and praising their fellow authors upcoming releases. In fact, I get more of my info on upcoming releases from the Web than I do from an actual store.

By: Stumbling Over Chaos :: A flood of linkity!

Stumbling Over Chaos :: A flood of linkity! — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:01:38 +0000

[...] Brick-and-mortar bookstores are trying to figure out how to bring people in. [...]

By: AAR Sandy

AAR Sandy — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:29:39 +0000

Frankly, I think bookstores caused a huge chunk of their own problems, but I’m still sympathetic to the situation they find themselves in. Back in pre-Internet days when I didn’t know book release days, going to the bookstore to see what was there used to be an adventure — and even a little exciting. But once I became clued in to when books were released and would go to my bookstore only to find them NOT there, well, then what used to be exciting turned into a frustration. They simply did not adapt to their most loyal customers needs by still keeping the same lackadasical shelving habits they’d always had. This is the number one reason I got a Kindle.

I’m glad bookstores are adapting because as a society we need bookstores. But I wish they’d adapted before it was necessary to sell bears by serving the needs of bookbuyers better.

By: willaful

willaful — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:45:42 +0000

I was at a store a while back that had what was practically a Twilight merchandise shrine. It creeped me out.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:41:29 +0000

I’m a browser. I do buy books online sometimes, but much prefer to “handle” the book. I love any bookstore, including used bookstores. I don’t mind them selling other things (I LOVE the coffee), as long as the store still has a decent collection of books. Before I spend my hard-earned money on a book, I usually want to read a few pages. So I try to buy books locally before giving up and going online. I do own a kindle, and sometimes buy books for it, although my preference is reading an actual book. I find I mainly use my kindle for freebies or discounted reads, or for books published in ebook format only. The only other reasons I buy for the kindle are books where the content is too adult to have around the house (minor children) or that have covers I simply can’t stomach or am too embarrassed to own.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:13:47 +0000

I really don’t miss bookstores. . . I know that sounds horrible. But with the Internet I can search our reviews on books and make my buying decision without feeling like I am taking a big gamble.

I love being able to buy a book without leaving home. I have never been the type to just buy what is out there. I have always had something that I was looking to buy. So in the past, different outlets (K-Mart, Wal- Mart, grocery stores, and bookstores) all had different schedules (before Tuesday release dates) and I used to drive from one to another looking for new releases with more then 50% of the time coming away empty handed.

Even now, knowing the released dates, my local bookstore doesn’t always have the book. It is perfect for me to be able to order online, and at 2 am the book is delivered to me, and it is there when I wake up.

A friend of mine, works near a Books A Million and she find new releases all the time before the release date. . . but in my small town it doesn’t happen, and with gas so high, it doesn’t make sense to drive 40 miles to for a book.
I feel like bookstores are for the dedicated readers. I know many people like to browse, find new authors etc. And love the ambiance of the bookstores. . . but the convenience outweighs that for me.

I realize that not everyone feels this way.

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:09:30 +0000

I stopped going to bookstores (large and small) when books were the “oh,yeah, we also carry them” items.

Now I buy only online because I can find what I want and get lists of upcoming books with blurbs and often pre-pub reviews. Sites like AAR help me with links from the reviews, so if something really intrigues me, I don’t have to copy down the title and then drive somewhere to find it.

I find that I make just as many impulse purchases (“Readers who bought this title also bought…” or “Recommended for you…”) as when I shopped in bricks and mortar stores. The difference now is when I shop for books, I find the books I want.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:04:14 +0000

I wouldn’t mind it except that it makes it hard to shop with my 4 y.o. son when I specifically want to buy him a new book–he’s too distracted by the toys to care about the books.

By: xina

xina — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:37:02 +0000

I don’t mind it at all. My B&N sells Vera Bradley bags! I thought that was a little strange when they first appeared.