Ways to Get More People to Buy Physical Books

Submitted by Alternative_Usual189 t3_yidghs in books

I personally almost always prefer e-books for the convenience and compactness but I recently bought not one but two copies of A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo. I bought one from her local book store (Porter Square Books) because she offered a signed copy if you order it from there and I bought a second copy from Barnes and Noble because they offered a limited edition that was only available there (the book was largely the same except that the title was gilded and embossed and the inside of the cover had a cool looking pattern). I am usually a cheap person but since I couldn't decide between the signed copy or the LE I just decided to get both since $18/ea isn't really that much these days and Malinda Lo is one of my favorite authors who I feel like is criminally under-appreciated.

I felt like both of those are great ways to get people to buy physical books. You can't autograph an e-book and I can't imagine any way to make a limited edition e-book that would still be as nice as a limited edition physical book.

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[deleted] t1_iui7bnc wrote

I like the aesthetic of seeing books on a bookshelf in my home. Plus the smell of real books can't be beat.

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shorttompkins t1_iui7pxk wrote

Generally I always buy ebooks and save buying physical books for the ones that I really loved. So thats one way to get people to buy physical versions when they already bought an e version (that is, create just a truly amazing book!). The other is definitely special editions and or treatments to the physical version. I just preordered the newest special edition of Snowcrash and I think it'll be my like 5th physical version (gotta have them all!)

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RGL137 t1_iuid2ay wrote

You make a good point but, unfortunately my favorite author is long dead so I won’t be getting a signed copy of anything any time soon hahaha. But collectors editions or other unique versions of material is a great way to encourage someone to buy a physical copy.

I live in a small space though so my Kindle Oasis is really great for me, it’s addicting having so many books so easily accessible on such a high quality device.

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Temporary-Koala-8940 t1_iuie7fv wrote

Unfortunately it is also a question of room, whether I choose a physical copy or an ebook.

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lukeyboy987 t1_iuigjoo wrote

I cannot get behind eBooks and certainly not audiobooks, I always have to have it physically for a true experience.

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joyfullittlecactus t1_iuijnpu wrote

I like having a small selection of books I like on my shelf. It feels the same as hanging your favourite art work or family photos. Those specific books are meaningful, have memories, they’re also a display in my home of things I like. I lent a book to someone and they haven’t returned it yet so there’s a little empty spot on my shelf that I notice.

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shebeogden t1_iuijpmq wrote

I am cheap and also feel a lot of love for books waiting for a good forever home. I almost always go for adopting a book from Half Price or Thrift Books. Sometimes local thrifts get good one as well.

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pnjohnso t1_iuijtu2 wrote

Love ebooks and the Libby app. My whole personal library is on my iPhone along with my public library. Don’t like clutter or a bunch of books sitting taking up unnecessary space. Choices are good for consumers. You want physical buy it. I’m good with my ebooks.

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Constant-Stick2915 t1_iuikm7x wrote

I love physical books. I also have an e reader. Just doesn’t feel the same as a real book and I have had it for almost a year. Just an odd unsettled feeling, and an inability to immerse myself as completely as I do with an actual book. However, convenience, ability to bring multiple books on a small device, etc are the positives of the e reader

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jumanjiijnamuj t1_iuilszo wrote

Replying to Alternative_Usual189 (#387,988)

Lots of vinyl LPs come with a download code for a digital copy, but I guess book publishers would really see that as giving 2 for 1.

I buy a mix of e-books and physical books. Both are good. I just love when people read!

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ehuang72 t1_iuimo29 wrote

I still love physical books but I've gotten more selective. Now the only books I have on my shelves are the ones I truly enjoyed. I don't see it as clutter. Though my house is mess so maybe I'm just a slob LOL.

Signed copies or first or special editions have little appeal for me. I suspect the audience for this sort of thing would be buying books anyway, and don't need extra incentive.

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Rnrnrun t1_iuioi5y wrote

I love my Kindle and my Libby app, but I totally agree with everything in your post!! I like to support small bookstores and will frequently stop by. If they have a signed copy of a book I love or have heard great things about, I will buy it. I also recently purchased a limited edition version of a series that I read via Libby because I loved the books and thought the covers were gorgeous. If it’s an author that I’ve previously loved, I also will consider buying the physical book over the ebook so that I can have it forever (something weird to me about owning a digital copy) as well as loan to friends!

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kyle242gt t1_iuiv3tv wrote

I only read physical copies - I spend too much time looking at screens already. I also tend to read in the hot tub or sauna, neither of which are probably great for electronics (in spite of manufacturer protestations).

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GuyWithAComputer2022 t1_iuiwv81 wrote

I only do physical books for the most part. Tried the e-reader multiple times, I just don't like it. Aside from that, I can't collect 1st editions, signed copies, etc of an e-reader file...

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Tanettenba t1_iuixhum wrote

Because of space I prefer ebooks, but if I really really love a book/series, I will buy the physical versions. My partner loves books too and for those that he really loves he buys 2. Shelf copy and a reading copy lol. I think that including special things in the physical versions is a great idea!

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tsh87 t1_iuiy4hb wrote

I stick to physical books.

I've considered e-books but I miss the feel too much.

On a more practical level, I want to own my books. I don't think that you can own an e-book. So much of art is digital and online now and I feel that's very dangerous. We're being conditioned to paying for art and media that can disappear at a whim.

Look at what's happening over at Warner Bros. TV shows and movies that people poured their soul into over years, just got locked in a vault because one guy at the top said it's not worth having around. When Beyonce released Renaissance, there was a track that was inspired/sampled from another artist. They got into it over credit or money. She pulled that version from all streaming apps. Unless you bought the CD you'll never hear that version again.

So I think I'll keep buying my physical books. Unaltered, safely stored in my possession. It's the last piece of media that I really feel comfortable keeping that way.

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Redneckshinobi t1_iuiz0ts wrote

For me the physical books are for my personal library I've always wanted to own. What I never really thought of was what happens after I die and where do my books go but reading Diary of a bookseller really changed my mind on this massive library I once wanted to own. My dream will end up being someone else's burden (probably my kids). So I'll just stick with the small little library I own and keep reading digital.

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justdrinkingsometea t1_iuj5ffu wrote

I've stopped buying physical and electronic copies of books altogether. I realized that I don't have the room for them, I rarely reread books, and it's not a good way to save money. Now I get all my books from my local library.

That way I can still read, put them in my reading room to enjoy, and save tons of money.

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belladonna_nectar t1_iuj7y98 wrote

Last time I bought physical books ( a week ago) it cost me a bit over 30€. Can't afford to buy physical books by my book addiction with my income

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Complex_Dragonfly_59 t1_iuj9118 wrote

I “read” a lot of audio books via Libby, but l buy physical books to support my local independent bookstore!

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Biotic_Factor t1_iujaniw wrote

I love physical books but I always buy used. I personally like the aesthetic of a used book vs. a new one.

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Jennay34 t1_iujftvy wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#385,838)

I agree that seeing my collection of books on my shelf make me happy. I love going to resale book stores. I love the feel of old paper in older books. I have found books from the 1800’s and can’t imagine what the times must have been like or who read the books. You definitely can’t get that from ebooks.

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fatalexe t1_iujgget wrote

I just want to know why physical books don’t come with a code for the ebook like movies and music does.

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assignaname t1_iujh4rd wrote

If bookshelves were cheaper I'd probably have more physical books.

Only sort of joking. We recently (ish) moved and the ancient "antique" bookshelves didn't make the cut - space, style, and durability were all not up to snuff. Now I'm looking for replacements and I just... Don't like any? Don't want to pay that much for them? Idk. Furniture shopping is exhausting. Building wall mounted shelves seems daunting. Anyone with suggestions is welcome to send them my way.

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Susccmmp t1_iujj0ko wrote

I buy Goodwill books and books by my favorite authors that I know I want to own. I kindle random books.

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Dianthaa t1_iujjdka wrote

I buy physical books so I can feel bad about ignoring them when I read mostly on my kindle cause it's so much easier to hold and has a light.

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South_Honey2705 t1_iujy1ct wrote

Replying to assignaname (#400,836)

Try Ikea for bookshelves ideas they have redone the billy bookcase making it stronger. Also a lot of people use book carts to help with their excess books they aren't shelving like to be read books etc etc

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lurkerlurker789 t1_iuk17al wrote

Replying to tsh87 (#394,330)

This is a good point. It’s also the reason I have a massive dvd collection. It’s not quite as convenient but now I don’t have to worry about Netflix taking off my favorite show or not being able to find my favorite 80s movie.

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tsh87 t1_iuk2ugj wrote

Replying to lurkerlurker789 (#409,401)

I had a media collection in college on some streaming platform, I think it was fandango. Anyway, I had a dozen or so movies on there that I enjoyed. I lost my password, I couldn't recover it. Like $100 of media, gone.

And in the scheme of things, I guess I don't really care. Lesson learned... but I am not going through a repeat with my library collection. I don't want to risk losing all the stories I've read.

I'll stick to actual books. Only way to lose them is in a house fire and if that happens, I'll probably have bigger issues to deal with.

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Dommie-Darko t1_iuk43x3 wrote

There’s a really big market for pretty hardcover books at the moment. Coffee table books.

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kyle242gt t1_iuk5haq wrote

Replying to Dommie-Darko (#410,927)

oh-ho, but you presume I have a good phone (maybe) and that I could read a book on it if I did (no chance with these old peepers). I'd have to buy an e-reader, and I suspect I'd cheap out there too (sense a trend) and wind up sad.

Drop a book in the tub? Yell "oh dammit" and squeeze as much water out as possible.

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steeplechaser89 t1_iuk66rr wrote

I believe ebooks and physical books can coexist peacefully

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kyle242gt t1_iuk6949 wrote

Replying to kace91 (#411,684)

... okay, the book isn't "IN" the hot tub. A few inches above it.

(typed that in case I was in for a literati linguistics lesson)

In case you weren't trying to trick me (almost did), I put a little tape over the edges of the cover where I hold it open. The humidity isn't really an issue; outside it dissipates easily.

Sauna's a little tougher, but I'm not in there often or very long.

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Amzuja t1_iuka1q4 wrote

Replying to shorttompkins (#385,963)

I do the same. Either if I’ve really loved the book, or if it’s the kind of book I hope my kids will one day pick up off my bookshelf. I was introduced to a wide range of writing by browsing my mums books, and it occurred to me not long ago that if I stick with ebooks my kids will never have that opportunity

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AverageApollo t1_iukar3y wrote

If I had all circumstances my way, I’d only buy paperbacks. I guess a cool way to get physical copies sold would be to have a qr in them to download a digital copy, kind of like what physical records started doing.

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