Are book publishers/retailers connected to reality?

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dejadeadnz

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#171320 13-Apr-2015 19:52

So I was in Whitcoulls this morning and came across this book. Figured it's fairly topical and Jessica Stern is a writer whose writing on terrorism I have read and respected -- as a result, I almost decided to just grab it there and then to support the shop's effort at stocking something topical and scholarly. It was being sold for about $35.

Then I pulled out my smartphone and realised that I could get a Kindle version of it, which I can read on my dedicated reader, IPhone or Ipad Air 2 and sync my progress etc, all for around $10. And as much as I wanted to "reward" a retailer for stocking something a bit more intelligent than garbage written by some All Black, I couldn't justify paying a 350% premium.

I know retailers have more costs, book publishers/distributors are horrible rip off merchants, and all that stuff. But sometimes retailers don't even try. This book was actually found on the wrong shelving and the Whitcoulls branch was actually playing fairly loud music at the time which was hardly conducive to book browsing.

What are some retailers thinking?

MikeB4

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#1282473 13-Apr-2015 19:58

They are connected to reality, the reality of overheads.

Sideface

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#1282477 13-Apr-2015 20:07

I feel your pain
Book prices have always been very high in NZ.
"Real" book shops (as distinct from retail chains like Whitcouls) are an endangered species.

When comparing prices with the UK remember that the Brits don't pay tax (VAT = GST) on books - but they DO pay VAT on ebooks.
The postal costs on personal imports of books can easily double their price - even if you don't mind the delay.

So if you find ebooks an enjoyable way to read, your choice is obvious.
If you want the printed version NOW, you'll have to pay NZ prices.

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dejadeadnz

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#1282515 13-Apr-2015 21:02

Sideface: I feel your pain
Book prices have always been very high in NZ.
"Real" book shops (as distinct from retail chains like Whitcouls) are an endangered species.

When comparing prices with the UK remember that the Brits don't pay tax (VAT = GST) on books - but they DO pay VAT on ebooks.
The postal costs on personal imports of books can easily double their price - even if you don't mind the delay.

So if you find ebooks an enjoyable way to read, your choice is obvious.
If you want the printed version NOW, you'll have to pay NZ prices.

I used to have a slight preference for printed non-fiction books, especially books that had a lot of maps and graphs, which usually look horrendous on my Kindle reader. OTOH, since getting an Ipad Air 2, its lightweight and the display quality is such that I no longer despise using it for reading books, like in the days of having my Ipad 3. To be fair to Whitcoulls, if you're comparing a physical book with a physical book available online, the book we are discussing is available for $26 via Book Depository and the same price as Whitcoulls via the contemptibly expensive online store that is Mightyape. Christ, at least Whitcoulls provides some added value.

But NZ book sellers generally, setting aside issues of price, just aren't trying hard enough to introduce people to books and good reads. A lot of the independent bookstores are crowded and uncomfortable, the likes of Paperplus and Whitcoulls seemingly do not know anything about non-fiction books that aren't cook books or written by All Blacks etc etc. Boy, if Amazon somehow folded my reading world would become rather bleak indeed.

MikeB4

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#1282517 13-Apr-2015 21:09

dejadeadnz:
Sideface: I feel your pain
Book prices have always been very high in NZ.
"Real" book shops (as distinct from retail chains like Whitcouls) are an endangered species.

When comparing prices with the UK remember that the Brits don't pay tax (VAT = GST) on books - but they DO pay VAT on ebooks.
The postal costs on personal imports of books can easily double their price - even if you don't mind the delay.

So if you find ebooks an enjoyable way to read, your choice is obvious.
If you want the printed version NOW, you'll have to pay NZ prices.

I used to have a slight preference for printed non-fiction books, especially books that had a lot of maps and graphs, which usually look horrendous on my Kindle reader. OTOH, since getting an Ipad Air 2, its lightweight and the display quality is such that I no longer despise using it for reading books, like in the days of having my Ipad 3. To be fair to Whitcoulls, if you're comparing a physical book with a physical book available online, the book we are discussing is available for $26 via Book Depository and the same price as Whitcoulls via the contemptibly expensive online store that is Mightyape. Christ, at least Whitcoulls provides some added value.

But NZ book sellers generally, setting aside issues of price, just aren't trying hard enough to introduce people to books and good reads. A lot of the independent bookstores are crowded and uncomfortable, the likes of Paperplus and Whitcoulls seemingly do not know anything about non-fiction books that aren't cook books or written by All Blacks etc etc. Boy, if Amazon somehow folded my reading world would become rather bleak indeed.

I agree with the crowded state of stores, I have given up on going to our local Whitcoulls, it is impossible to get around it in my chair.

dejadeadnz

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#1282519 13-Apr-2015 21:11

KiwiNZ:
I agree with the crowded state of stores, I have given up on going to our local Whitcoulls, it is impossible to get around it in my chair.

Another hazard is the obnoxious music that's often loud enough to deafen you.

MikeB4

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#1282521 13-Apr-2015 21:14

Bad music is a feature in retail generally, another bad example is JB HiFi.

Sideface

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#1282537 13-Apr-2015 21:55

KiwiNZ: ... I agree with the crowded state of stores, I have given up on going to our local Whitcoulls, it is impossible to get around it in my chair.

Whitcoulls is a book supermarket.

Supermarkets cram in as many goods as possible, and clutter their aisles.

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mattwnz

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#1282550 13-Apr-2015 22:19

Sideface:
KiwiNZ: ... I agree with the crowded state of stores, I have given up on going to our local Whitcoulls, it is impossible to get around it in my chair.

Whitcoulls is a book supermarket.

Supermarkets cram in as many goods as possible, and clutter their aisles.

I have found they have limited book stock these days, and they have pushed their books to the back of the store. You tend to have to buy books you actually want online. They seem to have more toys and games these days.

teamyoyo

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#1282576 13-Apr-2015 23:51

I would love to buy more books but given the rate I read them spending $30-40 per book is just unaffordable. I think a $10 price point is perfect to pop in and try something different.

The local Whitcoulls only has about 20% of it's shelf space for books. It has about he same for toys and games.

Geektastic

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#1282752 14-Apr-2015 10:51

Sideface: I feel your pain
Book prices have always been very high in NZ.
"Real" book shops (as distinct from retail chains like Whitcouls) are an endangered species.

When comparing prices with the UK remember that the Brits don't pay tax (VAT = GST) on books - but they DO pay VAT on ebooks.
The postal costs on personal imports of books can easily double their price - even if you don't mind the delay.

So if you find ebooks an enjoyable way to read, your choice is obvious.
If you want the printed version NOW, you'll have to pay NZ prices.

When we first moved here, we found it very odd that books - many of which have the UK price printed on them (and which usually sell for less than that in many cases) - were so much more. EG a book married £12 should cost around $25 here but often costs $45. UK bookshops also have overheads, of course.

TBH I have more or less given up on physical books unless they are for reference and almost always get them from Amazon.