Comments on: Further Thoughts On Free Books

By: Booksquare

Booksquare — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 16:03:32 +0000

Actually, Mark, if you read what I wrote (and have written in the past on this topic), you’ll see that I am not opposed to used book sales. Neither are most authors — but I do have problems with the current business model. Using your example, the craftsman doesn’t normally see his or her work for sale the in used market prior to it being available in the new market. Authors (and musicians) do.

And yeah, I am opposed to the idea of a middleman making a profit off of an author’s lost sales. This isn’t a case of a used bookstore — this is trading with someone in the middle charging a fee to facilitate the trade. It bothers me.

The good thing is that I have a choice — I don’t personally believe in patronizing this type of business, so I don’t. Others are fine with it, so they do. There is no right or wrong here, just choice.

By: Mark D

Mark D — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 03:18:31 +0000

So nothing should ever be resold? Not furniture – after all, the craftsman who handmade that Adirondack chair for your Auntie Jane would much rather make you a new one than see her pass it on to you – not clothing (stay away from those vintage jeans) and certainly not books (man, bummer for those people making a fortune off first editions). Close down all libraries; roll down the blinds on Ebay.

By: Jaynie R

Jaynie R — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 06:03:44 +0000

I have the same rule as you – the book has to be out of print or really hard to find.

Although honestly, that has more to do with the fact that I like shiny new covers *g*

By: Dan Wickett

Dan Wickett — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 17:27:02 +0000

Square,

I asked authors in the EWN last year about this issue – how they felt about their work being re-sold and their not seeing any royalties.

Of course, I can’t find those responses right now, but from what I remember, about 75% were of the attitude, at least my work is being read by more people.

I never did do a follow-up though about whether or not they might have felt this way out of some resignation to the system or not – might make a good due of questions.

Enjoy,

By: Dolen

Dolen — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:49:34 +0000

This paperbackswap.com is certainly problematic in the “Napster” sense. And I fully understand your concerns about undercutting the publisher-profit model. This could most seriously affect the small to mid-size publishers. But how different is this from a library? Also, I’ve watched the prices for books go up dramatically over the years. These days, not only do you have to have the leisure time to read but you also have to have the “leisure money.” Is reading going to become the pursuit of the bourgeois once again?