tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post7815959108810621931..comments2024-03-28T09:21:52.243-04:00Comments on Pimp My Novel: Ho Ho Holy Returns, BatmanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-54399427977058463492010-01-09T13:39:51.984-05:002010-01-09T13:39:51.984-05:00One should not judge the e-book reader experience ...One should not judge the e-book reader experience by one's experience reading from a laptop or ipod. <br /><br />My partner bought me a Sony Reader for Christmas because vision problems have made the books I've always loved unreadable. Much to my surprise, I love my Reader too. In its cute little cover complete with light, it has the feel of a real book. The print quality is so book-like that it took me a few days to remeber to push the buttons at the bottom rather than trying to flip the top right corner of the "page" to get to the next one.<br /><br />Unlike with the Kindle or Nook, I can quickly download Word doc's and pdf's from my computer onto my Reader. This spares me all the scrolling involved in trying to read larger print from my computer because everything is immediately resized and reformatted to look just like a printed page. And did I mention--no glare. It is not backlit like a computer screen, hence the need for a booklight to read in the dark.<br /><br />Even huge book lovers like me might actually want to try an e-reader before they condemn them. The possibility of having hundreds of books on tap with the weight and size of one paperback means that you will never find yourself away from home, having finished reading the only book in your bag. That alone should be enough to recommend them to all reading lovers, at least while traveling.Wingspanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199453116713149273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-87476551677840390522010-01-09T03:07:41.377-05:002010-01-09T03:07:41.377-05:00E-books are the future of literature like Velveeta...E-books are the future of literature like Velveeta is the future of cheese. Reading on a laptop or ipod with electronic glare in your face and scroll-down motion sickness giving you a migraine will never replace the beautiful feeling of 400 linen-encapsulated, crisp, inky-smelling pages in your hands. I can't believe any literature lover would let it happen. The book is as much a part of the story as the words.Amber Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02385926949848352057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-15094587555487630182010-01-06T09:24:42.263-05:002010-01-06T09:24:42.263-05:00Hi Vacuum Queen,
Until e-books take over as the p...Hi Vacuum Queen,<br /><br />Until e-books take over as the predominant (or at least, a significant) format, I don't think the returns aspect of the business will change. It's been as-is for eight decades now.<br /><br />Hi Susan,<br /><br />When a book is remaindered, it's sold off to specialized markets at extraordinarily reduced cost. When a book is pulped, it's destroyed.<br /><br />Hi Adam,<br /><br />Leftover Depression-era marketing tactics. That, and since it's tremendously difficult to figure out ahead of time what's going to be a bestseller and what won't, publishers adhere to a "throw it all out there and see what sticks" mentality. In order to get retailers to play ball, they've generally allowed them to return unsold stock.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14083923167072216074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-49105368008003361962010-01-06T03:02:39.363-05:002010-01-06T03:02:39.363-05:00Vyrdolak, I love your website. I am going to be pe...Vyrdolak, I love your website. I am going to be perusing it for days. Of course I'm all about anything gothic. I would love to be a vampire. eeee, buuuutttt, I just don't like touching people all that much--I'd starve just out of disgust.<br /><br />Anyway, you mentioned you're book and asked if they returned for the sake of the book or some other reason. But what's your book? I got a a Kindle.Gordon Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388580995877537254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-49217503363991282812010-01-05T22:04:25.899-05:002010-01-05T22:04:25.899-05:00Actually, e-books *can* be returned. I've lost...Actually, e-books *can* be returned. I've lost royalties from a few copies of one of my books that Kindle buyers returned--and the worst thing is, I have no idea why. Is there something I should fix about the book, or did the Kindle reader just not like it? However, the current industry model by which all bookstores are basically consignment shops is not sustainable--it was first implemented during the Depression as a desperation tactic--and it's going to end eventually, just because it has to.Vyrdolakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03041137622749077226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-18233485186203630972010-01-05T21:36:01.489-05:002010-01-05T21:36:01.489-05:00Does anyone know why it is this way? With most oth...Does anyone know why it is this way? With most other products, aren't the retailers the ones responsible for getting rid of stock that won't sell? I mean, that's what clearance sales are for.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-10202419802109527502010-01-05T19:08:30.346-05:002010-01-05T19:08:30.346-05:00Returns will be history in a few years, just like ...Returns will be history in a few years, just like Scott said above. E-books will be what fiction is published as. And that's a good thing. The publishing industry needs e-books, the consumers need e-books, the environment needs e-books. Printers don't, truckers don't, and warehouses don't, but the rest of the world does.<br /><br />I've made a New Year's resolution that I will only read fiction on Kindle from now on.Gordon Jeromehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388580995877537254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-41157244075666894462010-01-05T18:05:01.837-05:002010-01-05T18:05:01.837-05:00I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and it wa...I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and it was packed, with people lined up at the register. That was good! I asked for a certain book that was not on the shelf and the clerk told me one should be in in a few days.<br />I said, "One?" and she informed me they only got one at a time. I left and found it in a second hand book store.<br />What chance does an author have with that kind of salesmanship?Jilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06206343146099915097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-54025850714499379132010-01-05T15:37:20.636-05:002010-01-05T15:37:20.636-05:00I really hate stale fish egg taste, which is why I...I really hate stale fish egg taste, which is why I don't eat caviar. That, and it costs money that would be better spent on . . . books!<br /><br />Ok, um, a dumb question? I kinda always thought remaindered meant destroyed. Prithee, what is the difference? Thanks!Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-55212413445819222012010-01-05T15:25:37.620-05:002010-01-05T15:25:37.620-05:00So, to sound really stupid, can this return policy...So, to sound really stupid, can this return policy ever be changed? Or more...do you think it might be changed? I mean, if you buy an ebook, you can't return it (I'm guessing). I always figured book stores didn't allow returns since you could obviously read the book and then return it. Doesn't seem right. Books should be kinda like food. Perishable, and therefore nonreturnable. <br />I suppose they'd order less to begin with though...Vacuum Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591189479761010265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-34407301130358344702010-01-05T15:18:23.730-05:002010-01-05T15:18:23.730-05:00Help publishing in January -- give book tokens for...Help publishing in January -- give book tokens for Chrsitmas!Thomas Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987047131104943571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-29621062518872648802010-01-05T13:21:19.912-05:002010-01-05T13:21:19.912-05:00Thanks for that comment Lydia. I spent a good chun...Thanks for that comment Lydia. I spent a good chunk of my kids' Christmas money at a scholastic warehouse sale (buying books for them, mostly) and it was SOOO much fun. But then I started wondering if this sort of behavior hurt the book world, and authors in particular. Much better to think about the pulper being the alternative. I saved those books from certain death! I'm a hero!Kelly Brysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08324622421797199560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-64269717301792890232010-01-05T13:14:57.505-05:002010-01-05T13:14:57.505-05:00My old company talked all their accounts into hold...My old company talked all their accounts into holding book returns until January so the end of the year numbers looked better. This meant every year the first quarter looked horrible, a sea of red ink, and we all panicked starting about 100 gazillion percent below quota. It took until June or so to dig out of the hole and then began the process of talking people into over ordering stock to pretty up the numbers for the end of the year when they would ship back all the surplus again. Does mainstream publishing do this, too? I mean, the returns are going to happen but every year it was the same thing. We spent stupid amounts of money shipping books we <i>knew</i> were coming right back in January.Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06120847492230531939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-5560440639044018192010-01-05T12:27:12.889-05:002010-01-05T12:27:12.889-05:00Five years from now this won't be an issue bec...Five years from now this won't be an issue because most everything will be published electronically.Scott Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09744436601853807608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-60079687288677109902010-01-05T12:25:22.351-05:002010-01-05T12:25:22.351-05:00Lydia - I agree. Anything w/ stickers is like magi...Lydia - I agree. Anything w/ stickers is like magic in a book for my kids!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-27797104771331866432010-01-05T11:29:07.738-05:002010-01-05T11:29:07.738-05:00Oh, ouch. Striving for a career in the publishing ...Oh, ouch. Striving for a career in the publishing industry is never easy, is it?Bethany Wigginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345327120999157124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-32599216435444624392010-01-05T10:55:52.776-05:002010-01-05T10:55:52.776-05:00Can I use this opportunity to mention that if you ...Can I use this opportunity to mention that if you think you can't afford new books, you're wrong. Now is the time to buy. I am poorer than I care to admit on a public forum, and I just a brand new hardcover. Did I mention it's brand new (just released in October '09)? And a HARDCOVER? Yeah. I got a $25 book for $3. That's ri-doggone-diculous. And through the magic of drastic price slashing coupled with coupons and accumulated Borders Bucks, I also bought my son a STACK of new books (some of them included stickers, and those things aren't cheap) for FIVE BUCKS.<br /><br />Buying books at a discount is better than having them sent back, correct?Lydia Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15328254761920829040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-17946813769109381772010-01-05T10:07:26.756-05:002010-01-05T10:07:26.756-05:00Maybe the Great Cantankerous Pulping Machine™ shou...Maybe the Great Cantankerous Pulping Machine™ should eat less. And perhaps go the gym once in a while.Laura C. Ombreviationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12079133569258549461noreply@blogger.com