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Kindle or Not, a Resurgence In Used Bookstores
The growing availability of books via internet (whether instant, in the form of downloads from Amazon's Kindle store or the Google Play store, or in physical form by post) puts pressure on conventional bookstores. The Washington Post reports, though, that some bookstores are thriving, and some new ones are getting started, in a particular niche: used books. The phenomenon springs in part from the disappearance of many large chain bookstores, leaving gaps that smaller and nimbler shops can fill; as the article points out, a used bookstore in many places is the only one around. Nonetheless,
It is by no means an easy business. Many used-book retailers — with either bad management or bad locations (or both) — still struggle against the digital headwinds.
For one, Amazon is still just a few clicks away. But some used-bookstore owners have made a shrewd move: widening their customer base by listing their inventories on Amazon’s third-party marketplace, an idea many new-book retailers despise. (The Washington Post is owned by Amazon founder Jeffrey P. Bezos.)
My favorite bookstores have mixed stock (used and new), serve coffee, and specialize -- the process of discovery is still easier at a place like Ada's Technical Books in Seattle than it is browsing through Amazon recommendations.
"...but some used-bookstore owners have made a shrewd move: widening their customer base by listing their inventories on Amazon’s third-party marketplace, an idea many new-book retailers despise."
New-book retailers: "But won't someone think of muh profits?!"
That's one reason they hate the idea of "real" books- there's no DRM, so they can be resold, traded, or loaned without interference.
And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Amazon eventually either forbids the resale of used books in their marketplace, or else makes it so unprofitable that people just won't do it.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
Did we even notice that this article is about old, secondhand books? Derp, derp, derp. It's just unsettling to see people so willing to discard the old way of doing things and completely fail to see the problem with the new way, up to the point of harshly criticizing those who decline to change. A short story called "The Right to Read" should hopefully make an impression, though I doubt it.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
Powell's City of Books in downtown Portland. A full city block, multiple floors, of new and used books (and maps and book-related kitsch). So big (and popular) that they had to expand their technical books to another storefront nearby.
On many days, the place is backed with shoppers - and it's a huge store. They even have a map of the store, so that you don't get lost. The store is divided into general subject sections: Reference, Mystery, SciFi, Art, Languages, Magazines, etc.
It's such a trip to browse, and find, practically any book you can think of. And, if it's not on the shelf, go to their website and see if they have it in their warehouse. (You can check their website from any of the many terminals set up throughout the store) If they do, you can buy it and have it appear in Will Call at the main store.
You can sell them your old books at their buying counter. (I've sold a couple hundred there myself...)
If you're into books (the kind that are made of paper), you should visit this place at least once.
(I'm not associated with the place - just a customer for the last 20+ years)
* Have randomly sized text
* Are impractical to carry in enough quantity for 1-2 weeks away from home
* Require an external light source
* Can't be easily searched
* Annotation is messy and often frowned upon
* You lose your place if you fall asleep while reading them
* Can't read themselves to you
* You have to visit a physical store to get a new one
I don't disagree with your list, just think there's an equal (or in my view greater) list on the other side.
DRM is the big problem, but honestly - screw what I've signed up for, I just treat them as if I'd bought the book, I hope governments will eventually forcibly equalise this difference.