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My Mother texted recently to tell me that the local Barnes and Noble would be closing back home. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that a bookstore is closing in 2016. Reading itself is a dying art form. I know very few people who take the time to read for pleasure anymore. This, plus to advantages of e-readers have set bookstores up for failure.
There will always be the purists like myself who crave the feel of the book in my hand. The turning of the pages, the smell, the comfort… This is not to say that I don’t love my e-reader (I’m a Kindle gal). They are ideal for travel. Every summer I had to the woods with the family with the intent to read as many books as I can. Every year that I flew, I would be beholden to whatever books are at the cottage or, whatever I could shove in my luggage. My Kindle makes things super convenient and easy. Hundreds of books all packed into one little tablet. I drove this year, so I brought an entire bag of books with me and left the tablet at home. This post is mostly about the monetary side of things. Here’s an article that explains it very well: https://www.cnet.com/news/why-e-books-cost-so-much/ And so the question remains, why am I paying so much for books? E-books or in print? Take for instance a book I saw last week at Barnes and Noble. https://smile.amazon.com/Tales-Shadowhunter-Academy-Cassandra-Clare/dp/1406362840/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1481641606&sr=8-1 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tales-from-the-shadowhunter-academy-cassandra-clare/1123385475?ean=9781481443258 The same book, one on Amazon and one on Barnes and Noble’s website. Within pennies of each other. The cover price on this hardcover book is $23.99. Each website lists the cost as $15.90 give or take. For the same hardcover (at the time of this post). I ordered the book from Amazon while IN Barnes and Noble. That ought to tell you something right there. The book was in front of my face, I could have purchased it right then and there. I saved myself $8. The trilogy that I wanted to buy? $30 on Amazon, $48 in the store. I understand that publishers and authors need to pay the bills. It’s why I prefer to buy my books brand new or from a small used bookstore. Shopping online saved me around $26, which, let’s face it…is only going to be used to buy more books. The question becomes, how can anyone justify charging a customer for the full cover price when their own website lists it for $8-9 less? What about you? How do you read your books?
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