Thursday, March 12, 2009
New or Used?
Hi. My name is Lisa, and I am a bookaholic.
I slid into the world of bookalism at a young age. When all the other kids in the toy store were playing with baby dolls and skateboards, I was in the corner with the new books. In middle school, I graduated from fairy tales to Judy Blume. By the time I reached high school I was a full-fledged addict. I hid Harlequin romances in my backpack and caught a fix when the teacher wasn’t looking. Book addiction has affected a large portion of my life. I’ve hid books from my family so they wouldn’t know I went on a bender while at the mall. I come home with post bookstore euphoria. My eyes glaze over with the anticipation of meeting a new rake with the sexual prowess of a tantric sex God. I rush the family through dinner, and homework so I can get a hit before bedtime. Sometimes I read until the wee hours of the morning. I awake with a book hangover, and struggle through the day, my only fuel found in thoughts of my next stolen moment of prolific addiction. I know I should probably curtail my book spending habits, but I’m entitled to an addiction. It could be worse; I could live under a bridge and read all day.
I joke about my reading addiction, but I am a writer because of my love of books. Through reading, I found a love for characters, and the desire to write stories. I admit, when I first thought about writing for a living, I assumed authors were all very profitable. I soon discovered that just because an author has a book on the shelf at the local bookstore, does not mean he or she is rich and prosperous. I did some extensive research on royalties offered by different publishers. The percentages took some wind out of my sails. I met a few authors through book clubs, and found they had a day job as well as a writing career.
Well, damn.
The discovery of how hard writers work in comparison to the royalties was a revelation. Not only did I appreciate published authors more, it changed the way I purchase books. I used to browse for hours on Amazon and E bay sleuthing for a collection of my favorite author’s work. I was all about the “lot” of 10 books for the low price of 3.99. I also love the used book hyperlink on Amazon found right below the new book price. Just one click away from a bargain book price for a like new book. Why should I pay full price for a book when I can buy a barely used one for a few dollars less? Because if the author in question is new to the scene I want them compensated for their efforts. I’m not bashing consumers who choose to purchase used books. The industry provides a means to find out of print books, and hard to find titles. I have no quandaries about trading a used book for a Janet Evanovich or James Patterson book at the paperback exchange. They are multimillionaires, it’s the authors who want to write full time, and can’t manage it, that I want to support.
Used booksellers argue that if a book is sold once then the author and publisher is paid their dues. Maybe this is true, but it doesn’t seem fair that actors get royalties every time a rerun of their sitcom is aired, but a writer only prospers from the initial sell. It’s hard for an author to sell the number of books needed to receive the highest royalty, when there’s a used bookstore in most every town. Some publishers have gone as far as submitting letters to Amazon about placing the used book sales in a different venue rather than offering a link for used books next to the full sale price. I can understand this, but I can also see how much Amazon does for authors by providing a means for author’s work to become popular and available to readers. It’s a double-edged sword, and I’m not sure of a solution. I would feel better if someone could verify that the used booksellers on Amazon who sell the “used” version of a brand new release are being counted toward total sales, but somehow I find this doubtful. Maybe the fault falls on the publisher in regulating who purchases large lots of newly released titles. Book sales are slipping through the cracks, and that is disturbing to me.
It only makes sense that with the rising wealth of used book sales that the cost of new books may have to compensate to make up for a lack of sales. Some new authors may be discovered on the shelves of a used bookstore, which precipitates the reader to buy new releases of their work. However, you have some readers who patiently endure the waiting lists for new releases at the local library. I was surprised to discover that in some countries such as Canada and Denmark, public libraries give a small portion of payment to authors or publishers every time one of their books is checked out. Now this is interesting. I find it amazing that some countries can afford to do this when my local library had to reduce their hours because of lack of funds.
I love cruising through my local used bookstore, but there is just something about the feel, and smell, of a brand new book. My pulse rate increases when I step inside the doors at Border’s. I honestly can’t imagine how it would feel to see my own book sitting in full view on the shelf. One thing I do know. Writing is not an easy business. It’s hard to become published, and even harder to make a name for yourself. Authors who make it to the shelf deserve every penny they earn. One can only hope that avid readers are educated about royalties and choose to support authors by purchasing new books, but in the present economy, it’s not a given. I understand the need to find a bargain, but I don’t bargain when it comes to newly published fellow writers.
What is your view on the used book market? Do you believe that copyright laws should be changed so authors receive profits from the sale of used books?
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37 comments:
You make some good points, Lisa. I never thought of it in terms of how actors are paid, etc. I know when music is played on the radio there is a royalty... So, sure...an author should recieve something. But how? I cannot imagine how this could be done, to be honest. But Amazon and other online sellers could certainly keep track of used book sales... Again, the pubs don't get money for it, so I don't know how they would give something to the authors.
Sigh. Somethings may just be beyond fixing. I buy mostly new books. I have discovered authors I didn't know in used bookstores. And I find extra copies of books I want to give to people in used bookstores. But! I give my used books away. To my Mom, my family, charity... What else to do with them? I can't keep 'em all, I am too prolific a reader.
Which is why I want an e-book. Less shelf space, though my Mom's local used bookstore will regret the bags of books she used to bring them when I get that handydandy gadget. Though even there, they aren't buying like they used to!
Very interesting Lisa
So thought provoking that Chance forgot her hill billy dialect! *grin*
As we move deeper into a digital world I would like to see some radical revisions.
If I was running the world (and Heaven forbid) I would make all books and music free. Authors would pay for publication and then, together with the retailer, would receive payment from the tax system every time a book is 'bought' borrowed or downloaded. The users would register their use at the transaction point, and possibly on a tax return.
At a stroke the black market in shared computer downloads would be eliminated.Sellers would stop encrypting their digital books. The second hand bookstores would concentrate on old and out of print books, and the public at large would become a lot happier.
Welcome to my Utopia folks! :D
Lisa, interesting discussion. I used to think buying used was great. Now, the only time I venture to the UBS (usually online) is for OOPs. Authors don't lose out on that sale. They've been paid for the books that are printed already. That being said, if everyone waited to find it at the UBS and a ton of books were left on the shelf, they'd eventually be returned (sans cover) and the author could face a smaller book run (which equals a smaller advance) for future books.
It's important to help support all artists. Be they well off or not.
I'm not saying people who only buy at the UBS are in the badbooks, just that they should consider buying their favourite authors new (to show their support) and use the UBS to try new authors.
You've posted a controversial topic, Lisa! I hope I kept my response nice, cause I lean strongly to one side of this conversation.
Chance,
You bring up a very frustrating point. The inability to keep track of used book sales. I like Q's and your answer of ebooks. Maybe as we do enter a more digital world in the future we'll see less printed books and more ebooks, it's already happening more everyday. It's not a great solution to those of us who favor holding a book in our hands. But you can't have the control of sales with printed books like you could ebooks.
I also like Q's suggestion of the author paying for publishing and controling sales and profit through the retailer. Very interestig thought.
Tiff,
I have to disagree on the point that authors have already received profit from used book sales. There are too many used booksellers on Amazon and Ebay who list preorder sales on new releases. Maybe some of them purchased a lot from the pub, but it's doubtful. Sure a used book store sells the majority of books that have already counted toward an author's total sales, but how about all the used bookstores who sell copies of ARC'S and stripped books with no covers? I know there is no way to account for every book that leaves the pub's hands, but it's frustrating to see new realeases listed on Amazon by used booksellers at a discounted price right next to the full price copies.
I do agree that all authors deserve our financial support, but I would much rather see my book purchase account toward a newly published authors totals than someone who is on the best seller list every time they release a book.
Authors are paid on how many books are run. This I know for fact. IF they dont' sell them all, then they are not only docked on the next advance they see smaller print runs. That, my dear, is how publishing works.
Selling a stripped book (see above for what that leads to) is illegal! And sometimes it just can't be helped in this world.
And re: bestsellers. If more people thought along those lines... they wouldn't be bestsellers. Just saying...
I have no problem understanding how publishing works. I'm concerned with booksales that cause an author to see smaller runs, and less profit.
And re: bestsellers, point taken. The books I choose to trade for at a used book store have already seen a profit.
OMG! I have this addiction too! LOL!
Bookaholic. A book hangover. I cracked up through that.
I can see both sides of this. I hate the idea of all those gently used books going to waste. But I can see how it's not fair that an author wouldn't get paid for that work. I think that the best thing is to support your favorites and try a new author at the UBS. I like that compromise.
Marnee,
I think all writers are bookaholics:) It's hell suffering through a book hangover...
I like your compromise. I often seek new authors at the paperback exchange. The only problem is it's like shopping at WalMart. I go in with the intention of buying one book and come out with 10.
I'm afraid I might be in the minority here. I have no problem with used book stores or buying my books there. First I think we need to seperate the sellers on Amazon/eBay who are selling *used* copies from the neighborhood store. I've ordered new release books from a UBS and paid the same price I'd pay at B&N so they aren't all knocking down the price. And I truly believe that before any book reaches a UB seller, someone paid for it originally so the royalties made it through.
I also think you can't compare an actor to an author. It's apples and oranges. The systems I mean. Too many differences between movies/television shows and books.
The bottom line of this for me is control. Once I purchase something from the original manufacturer/retailer, it's mine. They no longer have control over what I do with it. I can't reproduce it, but what I do with the copy I purchased is up to me. If I want to make 10 copies of a CD and give them away as Xmas presents, I can. You're not supposed to, but it's been happening for decades and everyone knows it. When I gave kiddo's old Barney DVDs to a thrift store, I didn't have to have permission. They were mine and I can do what I want with them.
Even my car. When I bought it, GM got their money. If I decide to sell it to another person, I don't have to give GM a cut again.
I'm all for supporting authors, and I wish they made more money, but they don't because of how the system is set up and it's been the same for years. You want to make a difference, advocate to make things better. However, as Romance is the highest selling genre fiction, and UB sales aren't counted in that, I have to believe paying $3 less at the UBS for a book is doing all that much damage.
That's "ISN'T doing all that much damage." *sigh* The boss had to ask me a question right then. LOL!
What an interesting topic, Lisa! I died laughing at "book hangover" - I can't count the number of times I've gone to work like that! I was the kid, too, who thought "getting fresh air" meant reading my book outside instead of inside *g*
I never used to buy books at all. I'd either get them from UBS and swap them the second I finished, or even better, the library. The day I moved to Philly, instead of checking out all the exciting things to do and see, I went to the local library branch and got a card, so I wouldn't have to miss a day reading *g*
But now that I understand more about publishing and royalties and sales, I find myself buying more books. Not all of them - most books I still get from the library. But if it's a new author I like, I'm very careful to purchase their book the first week. And if it's an author I *really* like, I'll buy three or four copies and pass them out.
Also, I may be late to the band-wagon on this, but if anybody else hasn't seen this site yet, check it out: www.indiebound.com - great way to support smaller, independent bookstores while still having the selection and prices of buying online.
Hillbilly? Q?! You're ta British, man... Hillbilly. I'm off to shoot meself...
LOL! I love that Q thinks all hillbillies talk like pirates. LOL! He's obviously never met one!
Lucky him.....
Selling stripped books is so illegal. Though I really despise the rational that it's cheaper to strip them than to send them back. It's criminal. Even more criminal...?
I get the personal freedom aspect of things. Which is why it comes down to a different system. There has to be a way to credit authors, monetarily or not, but to track booksales through resale after resale sort of gets creepy...
It's a serious topic, Q. So, yeah, I eased up on the dialect. Hillbilly. Maybe I should shoot Q? Or sic the monkey on him... *oh, undead monkey? Monkey, monkey, monkey...Chance has a nice bit of rice wine fer ya...jus' inside this box addressed ta Q...
I realize I've not been everywhere, but I have been in lots of UBSs and I've never seen anyone selling stipped books. BUT, that doesn't mean it's not happening. I've just never seen it.
If Q could talk to me it would blow his mind. I'm told a have a very distinct southern accent. Just ask Sin:)
T, I love the used book store and have no problem exchanging books there. If it ends up there, it was purchased somewhere. I just have a problem with the illegal distribution of books with stripped covers. And maybe the UBS on Ebay and Amazon have rightfully purchased the new releases they list. Maybe it shouldn't be such a concern for me since I'm not even published, but it's always given me a reason to pause and contemplate if the sales are legitimate.
Hal, Thank you for the link to the indie website! And I'm a lover of the library as well.
I'm the worst of the worst: I check out from the library if I don't know the new author. IF I then think the book is collection worthy, then I'll go buy it--and I'll likely buy his/her books in the future. Occasionally I make impulse purchases (okay, more than occasionally) of books, but either they are discounted, or the opening page or blurb was too much to resist. However, usually I find once past the blurb, the book wasn't as good as I'd hoped and I feel burnt. So then I go back to checking out from the library. *LOL* And I cash in the book at the UBS to get something I really like.
Lots of things in life aren't fair. As Wesley says: Life isn't fair, princess. Anyone who says differently is selling something. The lack of royalties is a problem. The fact that e-publishing on the whole is a second-class status isn't fair; and many aren't recognized as published by RWA standards. It isn't fair that romance is considered "trash" and second-class to real literature; and isn't fair that all my college professors thought ANYBODY could write a romance novel because they're all so formulaic and just requires you writing the same sex scene over and over.
There are lots of things about this business--and about every business, I imagine--that just aren't fair.
But don't worry, Lisa, I will go buy your book when you're published--even if you're a newby. *LOL*
Yeah, I had to laugh at Q's "hillbilly" remark, because I talk like a hillbilly--in person mostly, not so much in typing--and I know 2nd's dialect is pirate. *LOL*
But then again Q is *British* so hillbilly is probably just another word for Colonial...and we all know those pirates were disgruntled colonials, right?
I know, Terr! He's obviously never met a hillbilly. *LOL*
"Jeetyet?"
"Naw, diju?"
"Naw, yauntto?"
"Yaguess. Whar?"
I do admit to saying "shoot far" all the time. Which translates from Southern into English as "shit fire". :)
hellion - the sad part is, I had no problem reading your hillbilly discussion :)
Lisa - yep, you have a distinct southern accent - it's super adorable!
I have a hillbilly accent, big time. Usually I can keep it under wraps, but if I get tired or emotional, watch out, cause I'm going to break out the y'all about ten times *g*
Out of all of you, I've only met hal in person and I didn't think you had a hillbilly accent at all. I've from Western PA though so maybe I have a bit of hillbilly accent as well. LOL!!
You talk fast though, just like me. I thought we made a good pair. :)
Marn - I'm pretty sure the Western PA accent cannot be called hillbilly. It's something else entirely. LOL!
Shoot fire, now I feel like I have everyone feeling defensive about my blog:)
It is a controversial subject, and I tried to make points on both sides. I love library books and used bookstores as well. I know you all would buy my book as well as I will buy yours. When I did research I was so surprised at the authors who had varied opinions on the topic. I know one tiny blog can't save the world, and no one said life is fair, but I feel like as writers and readers we should buy more wisely. Does that makes sense?
And don't get me started on the RWA ebook thing...
Thanks for the links Terrio!
Hal, Thanks!I never observed your southern accent...and Marnee is correct, you do talk fast:)
Ter, In all the research I found, all opinions were so ambigous. One person would make a statement then totally contradict themselves on UBS. I agree. Huh?
Ter - yes, you're right, but what can we call it? Hick.
Lisa - I think your point about buying smart is an excellent one. If we know how the royalty structure with new books works vs. buying used or checking out library books, then we're better informed to make the best decision for ourselves.
And I said I hide my accent very well - it's just when I forget to hide it that it pops out :)
Marn - yep, we both talk really fast, don't we? When Rob asked me how it went, I said, "it was great - we found each other, we both opened our mouths, and neither of us shut up until I had to leave" *g*
Marn - To be fair when I think of Western PA, I think of Pittsburgh. And that's Pittsburghese which is like a bastardized version of a New Yorker, a Bostonian, and a New Jersey native rolled into one.
Lisa - I do appreciate your desire to point out the crap shoot authors get as compared to some other artists, and your heart as well as your wallet is in the right place. But I think artists try to hold onto their stuff a little too tightly sometimes. I brain-birthed it so I must have control! The point should be that we want to write books that people will read. And enjoy. Though it would be nice if we were compensated fairly, it's really not the ultimate point, right?
Then again, I could be talking out my ass. That happens. LOL!
Hal - So, *I say as I cross my arms* you can find the time to go see Marn, but not me. Fine. *insert huff here*
Lisa, you did handle your blog fairly. *LOL* We're just easy to rile up and get all defensive!
Your absolutely right Terri, I have never met a Hill Billy. I assumed it to be the equivalent of a 'country yokel' over here. Now I'm more confused than ever. :?
Humble apologies Chance. I have met quite a few scientists from Cal Tech and they all spoke fairly standard English with a slight American accent. I had no idea that a real Californian pirate actually spoke like that. *grin*
By the way,an English country yokel might sound something like:
Top oh the marnin t'yee mee old pal me old beauty.
I would love to hear that 'Southern drawl' sometime Lisa. Why is it that the American diplomats and politicians that I hear on the radio always speak 'BBC American' rather like my Cal Tech friends?
I just saw Eliza's father from My Fair Lady saying that line that Q typed. LOL!
Q - Search for anything Paula Dean on YouTube and you'll hear the Southern drawl.
Ter - to be fair, I got dragged to Jersey by the hubby, who expects me to cheer him from the sidelines for every lacrosse game. I made it through 10 minutes of 25 degree weather before I bolted and hung out with Marn at Barnes and Noble instead! :)
A'right, Q. Yer fergiven...when Matty, Jr. gets there, just slip 'im another glass a' rice wind and send 'im back.
Pity, 'e was lookin' forw'rd ta visitin' wit' Uncle Q.
E-Books will get there, ya know. I read a book some years ago...Ben Bova, Cyberbook. The entire idea gets killed by the unions, publishers, paper mills, etc. But it sneaks in by the yonger generation growing up wit' 'em in school.
I ADORE my UBS. One side of it is dedicated to romances. This is a welcome change to bookstores that stash the romances to the back of the store. About a year ago, my UBS started sinking back into the creek behind it. I guess it was listing that way due to all the romances, lol. Thank goodness they were able to shore up the place and save those treasures.
I think it would be a great idea to have authors get a small percentage whenever someone buys a used books. However, I don't know how they would track that sort of thing. I don't know about anyone else's UBS but mine runs on a calculator, notepad and a cash box. They'd have to come into the 20th century!
I've been without my computer for a few days, so I'm really late to this discussion, but I wanted to say that it is a great blog, Lisa. Clearly it set people thinking. I also wanted to add my opinion. Surprised? LOL!
I do agree with Terri that there is a world of difference between the local UBS and Amazon. A local UBS typically is more booklovers' service than profit-making business. Most of the ones I know are lucky to beak even. Amazon's undercutting the price of a just-released book with a used copy is IMO dishonorable even if it's legal. I don't buy in-print used books from Amazon.
However, at last count I had more than thirty romance writers on my autobuy list. Many of them I first encountered in a book I found at my local UBS. If I were independently wealthy, I'd buy all my books new. But I have a book budget, and I choose to spend it by buying new the authors who have given me reading pleasure--most of them over years, or even decades, authors who are highly recommended by other readers whose opinions I trust, and debut authors who are friends and/or writers whose books I've read as mss or ARCS and already have concluded they merit my support. Such books exhaust--and sometimes exceed--my book budget. If there is a new or new-to-me who sounds promising, I'm going to check them out at the UBS or the library. Sometimes she/he gets added to my list, sometimes not.
Santa, My UBS has a cashbox and spiral back notebook that use to keep track of patron's credits:) I love mine as well. The lady that owns the store is book Princess. I could talk to her for hours.
Janga, Thanks for commenting:) I love that you always share your thoughts. I wish I could manage my book budget with more constraint. I do well for a few weeks and then I fall off the wagon. I could benefit from a 12 step program.*g*
I'll always support authors who are friends and newly published. I also use the library and UBS for authors who are recommended to me. I've gotten burned too many times by buying new books and being disatisfied with the author.
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