Comments on: 2009 – the year the physical bookstore lays down and dies? http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Sat, 19 May 2012 23:03:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Thomas http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-19136 Thomas Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:58:22 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5318#comment-19136 I buy books online most of the time now, but only when I'm looking for something. Nothing can ever beat the days when I lived in Birmingham, going to this store there called Reed Books. It was a somewhat-organized, dusty, musty warren, filled with all kinds of random crap. I could go in there and spend a couple of hours picking through the shelves, and come out with a stack of things I'd never thought about buying. If that sort of thing starts to disappear, I think the next generation's really going to lose an experience. I buy books online most of the time now, but only when I’m looking for something. Nothing can ever beat the days when I lived in Birmingham, going to this store there called Reed Books. It was a somewhat-organized, dusty, musty warren, filled with all kinds of random crap. I could go in there and spend a couple of hours picking through the shelves, and come out with a stack of things I’d never thought about buying. If that sort of thing starts to disappear, I think the next generation’s really going to lose an experience.

]]> By: Gadget Sleuth http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-17483 Gadget Sleuth Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:27:03 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5318#comment-17483 I've predicted that physical books will pretty much disappear in their existing form in the next 50 years or so, but who know, the way (Barnes and Noble is closing several stores in my area of Northern CA, USA) businesses are performing nowadays, it may be even sooner. I’ve predicted that physical books will pretty much disappear in their existing form in the next 50 years or so, but who know, the way (Barnes and Noble is closing several stores in my area of Northern CA, USA) businesses are performing nowadays, it may be even sooner.

]]> By: SMD http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-17478 SMD Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:56:31 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5318#comment-17478 Well, it depends what kinds of books I'm buying. Since I'm in college/university, I have a lot of books to buy every quarter (being a lit major makes it much worse, of course). Generally I get all my school books online via Amazon (and of course I help someone out with an Amazon store in the process). Occasionally I'll buy a non-school book on there, such as something that is really hard to find elsewhere or if I need a filler book to get free shipping. For everything else I either go to a used book store or I go to Borders or some other new book store. Downtown Santa Cruz has three! Book Shop Santa Cruz, Borders, and Logos (the first and the last being new/used places that have very differing stock). There's also the Literary Guillotine, which contains mostly school books, but sometimes gets some really interesting books (you'd be surprised what some of the students at UCSC read). So, yeah. I will continue doing it that way until I'm done with school or until book stores actually die. Well, it depends what kinds of books I’m buying. Since I’m in college/university, I have a lot of books to buy every quarter (being a lit major makes it much worse, of course). Generally I get all my school books online via Amazon (and of course I help someone out with an Amazon store in the process). Occasionally I’ll buy a non-school book on there, such as something that is really hard to find elsewhere or if I need a filler book to get free shipping.
For everything else I either go to a used book store or I go to Borders or some other new book store. Downtown Santa Cruz has three! Book Shop Santa Cruz, Borders, and Logos (the first and the last being new/used places that have very differing stock). There’s also the Literary Guillotine, which contains mostly school books, but sometimes gets some really interesting books (you’d be surprised what some of the students at UCSC read).

So, yeah. I will continue doing it that way until I’m done with school or until book stores actually die.

]]> By: Kian http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-17477 Kian Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:22 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5318#comment-17477 Personally I tend to know a couple decent shops in London that sell books quite cheap ^_^. Bookends is one that sells the excess books that mainstream shops can not, often for over half price the retail value. From there Ive manage to pick up large amounts of Alaistair (sorry about the spelling) Reynolds, "The Blade Itself" triology and a great selection of others. Secondhand booksstores are great as are charity shops. However if I become entrenched in a series or it comes highly recommend I will happily pick them up new from a bricks and mortar store. For some strange reason I do not like to buy books online unless I can not find them anywhere else. I suppose Im one of those pests who like to talk to staff and get recommendations from them ^_^ Personally I tend to know a couple decent shops in London that sell books quite cheap ^_^. Bookends is one that sells the excess books that mainstream shops can not, often for over half price the retail value.
From there Ive manage to pick up large amounts of Alaistair (sorry about the spelling) Reynolds, “The Blade Itself” triology and a great selection of others.
Secondhand booksstores are great as are charity shops. However if I become entrenched in a series or it comes highly recommend I will happily pick them up new from a bricks and mortar store.

For some strange reason I do not like to buy books online unless I can not find them anywhere else. I suppose Im one of those pests who like to talk to staff and get recommendations from them ^_^

]]> By: Paul Raven http://futurismic.com/2008/12/30/2009-the-year-the-physical-bookstore-lays-down-and-dies/comment-page-1/#comment-17476 Paul Raven Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:56:39 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=5318#comment-17476 Cynical, Ian? You? ;) I expect it's more a case of getting reader eyeballs with stories of economic doom, though you might have a point. The Google Books case indicates that, when roused, the publishing industry can apply a pretty strong lever if needs be. But when it comes to physical goods as opposed to digital, the 'first sale' laws are pretty well entrenched, and I expect the infrastructure to control and police such a system would be pretty hard to build commensurate with the minimal rake-back it would earn. Still, a story to watch, I think. :) Cynical, Ian? You? ;)

I expect it’s more a case of getting reader eyeballs with stories of economic doom, though you might have a point. The Google Books case indicates that, when roused, the publishing industry can apply a pretty strong lever if needs be. But when it comes to physical goods as opposed to digital, the ‘first sale’ laws are pretty well entrenched, and I expect the infrastructure to control and police such a system would be pretty hard to build commensurate with the minimal rake-back it would earn. Still, a story to watch, I think. :)

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