![]() |
#1 |
Bibliophile
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 167
Karma: 1147338
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New Zealand
Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kobo Touch
|
Waterstones is removing Kindles from stores
This is interesting. It follows another recent new report that paper book sales had increased by nearly 5% in the last year.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/wa...-stores-313827 "“Sales of Kindles continue to be pitiful so we are taking the display space back in more and more shops...We’re not seeing a great deal of people who are buying an e-reader for the first time now,” he said. “People are buying e-reader replacements, but that’s it.” I have been surprised by how few people around me have bought e-readers. It doesn't look like it will get beyond niche in the near future. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Wizard
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 3,821
Karma: 19162882
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Te Riu-a-Māui
Device: Kobo Glo
|
It is hardly surprising when you look at their bizarre strategy: sell ebooks only in ePub format, and stock only ereaders that can't read ePubs!
|
![]() |
![]() |
Advert | |
|
![]() |
#3 | |
Bibliophile
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 167
Karma: 1147338
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New Zealand
Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kobo Touch
|
Quote:
But it fits with my experience of e-readers in bookshops where I live; even those who sell epub readers with epub books ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Grand Sorcerer
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 9,707
Karma: 32763414
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Krewerd
Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
|
I think the majority of people that read electronically also order electronically. And these days people read often on tablets and phones (now both are getting better, regarding screens and battery)
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member Retired
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 3,183
Karma: 11721895
Join Date: Nov 2010
Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2
|
I'm not sure the epub policy matters. Users who buy Kindles buy from Amazon. What this shows is that in the UK people have stopped buying e-readers.
What is probably a driving factor is that publisher savings on e-books are not being passed along to consumers. Why buy electronic when its the same price as paper? The only other factor is portability. |
![]() |
![]() |
Advert | |
|
![]() |
#6 |
Wizard
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 2,125
Karma: 11500000
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch
|
I imagine most people are e-reading on tablets and phones these days, and don't see the need for an eInk reader unless they already have one and are a convert.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Wizard
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 1,179
Karma: 11573197
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: London, UK
Device: Voyage
|
Eh? Just because Waterstones have stopped selling Kindles doesn't mean that people aren't buying e-readers. Waterstones would be the last place I'd think to get one from - If I want a Kindle, I get it from Amazon; if undecided then I'd go somewhere like John Lewis who sell both Kindles and Kokos so I could compare.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
eBook Enthusiast
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Because that's absolutely not the case. eBooks (on Amazon UK, at least) very rarely cost as much as two thirds of the price of the equivalent paperback. Often less than that. There are of course exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of Kindle books cost a lot less than the paperback.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Addict
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 221
Karma: 1550696
Join Date: Sep 2012
Device: kobo aura
|
Yikes, you couldn't pay me to read on a phone or tablet again. I read A Wild sheep Chase on an iphone 4s! (i was desperate to finish it) and then from memory i read Out by Natsuo kirino on a Blackberry Playbook and gave myself eye strain.
Most people who buy ereaders in the uk would probably do so online i would think. (although i didn't from memory) Anyone who has seen the uncared for kobo display stand in any given Whsmith understands. People going into bookshops i would think are after books, actual real physical books and not tech. I do still buy actual books, all be it always second hand and for peanuts. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 72,067
Karma: 307935764
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Voyage
|
Quote:
The other great advantage of ebooks (apart from portability) is that they don't talk up any shelf-space. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
eBook Enthusiast
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
So do I, but not fiction. Very few of the books I need for my Egyptology degree are available as ebooks, and those I buy (by necessity) as paper books. Fiction is all ebooks, though, for me.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Grand Sorcerer
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 5,034
Karma: 18018738
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Scribe, PW SE & Kindle 2022, Kobo Libra 2
|
Quote:
Also the partnership between Waterstones and Amazon was a divorce waiting to happen, it was a ridiculous partnership in the first place. Waterstones should have partnered with an epub ereader like Nook but then the Nook brand has even less of an idea of what they are doing than Waterstones. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
eBook Enthusiast
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |
Grand Sorcerer
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 5,034
Karma: 18018738
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Scribe, PW SE & Kindle 2022, Kobo Libra 2
|
Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Grand Sorcerer
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 5,034
Karma: 18018738
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Scribe, PW SE & Kindle 2022, Kobo Libra 2
|
It still seemed silly to me. At the time it spoke of desperation on Waterstones part to be 'relevant' what they failed to understand is that most people who go into a bookshop don't do it to get a ereader. When i go in with hubby he is looking at non fiction history books and I find a chair and get out my ereader. I never bother to look at the shelves, they don't sell the books I read anyway.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Removing Waterstones Screensaver on Paperwhite | jforner | Amazon Kindle | 3 | 01-02-2013 07:38 AM |
Removing Waterstones Screensaver | jforner | Kindle Developer's Corner | 12 | 12-27-2012 10:16 AM |
Physical Retail Stores that carry Amazon 2012 Kindles (Paperwhite, Fire 2, Fire HD) | Top100EbooksRank | Amazon Kindle | 6 | 09-21-2012 07:57 AM |
Waterstones to Sell Kindles and Kindle ebooks | fjtorres | News | 2 | 05-21-2012 08:39 AM |
All Kindles (including Fire) coming to U.S. stores soon! | DreamWriter | Amazon Kindle | 24 | 11-10-2011 11:17 AM |