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/lit/ - Literature

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3368372 No.3368372 [Reply] [Original]

I mean, apart from Borders? In my country, the UK, a bunch of major companies have gone under during the last 4 years. These were companies that sold very popular things, like DVDs, video games, etc. How have book stores, which have never been popular, stayed afloat? I would hate to see B&N, and particularly Waterstones (because I have one in my town) go under.

>> No.3368380

Perhaps they appeal to a richer demographic?

>> No.3368389
File: 389 KB, 1600x1067, Academic Bookstore Helsinki.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
3368389

When we are talking about book stores, do we mean those small, around 10 square meter antiquaries or those large complexes with cafes and aesthetically comfortable surroundings, like in the pic?

>> No.3368396

chill out sunhawk

the new industry has been on the market for less than a decade

these things take time

>> No.3368400

The spectrum of people buying books is considerably broader, including huge groups that are older and richer, and the physical medium hasn't changed several times over the last fifty years, unlike video games, music, or movies/television.

With online bookstores and ebooks it's likely that things are going to become even more difficult for IRL book shops than today, but change will probably still come about slower than it has done for music/movie/game shops.

>> No.3368405

Do you have any specific stores in mind? I really don't think there are that many outside of B&N and Waterstones. B&N stays afloat thanks their online presence and the Nook but I'm not as familiar with Waterstones. Do they sell Kindles or feature any sort of ereader?

>> No.3368410

>>3368372
Smaller, older bookstores often have some really neat stuff and still merit a visit now and then, but the enormous chain stores (B&N, Borders) carry stuff that can all be bought online for less trouble. I don't really see any reason to go to them.

>> No.3368412

In Finland book stores survive with the sales of Highschool and University books. 50 000 students spending 500 euros per year is more than enough to keep the industry going, if not afloat.

>> No.3368417
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3368417

>>3368405

I think Waterstones sell an ereader, but obviously they are mainly selling paper books, and a few other things. I've heard they're doing quite well these days. Whenever I go in, their store is fairly busy where I live.

I'd be miserable if they went under. In the last 5 years, I've been in on average once a week to that store, and apart from buying, it's just a great place to be, e.g. relaxing, comfortable, nice staff, etc. I dunno. I hope it doesn't go under, but who knows?

>mfw the last 2 book chains in the UK close

>> No.3368420

>>3368372

Whenever I go into the smaller bookstores I have a lot of trouble finding things I am looking for.

>> No.3368426

>that feel when you wish you met the girl in OP's pic
>She'd be working on her Ph.D in English, specializing in children's lit
>Really shy, raised by her overprotective father
>She's 19 but never had a boyfriend
>She falls in love with you... you go back to her apartment...
>Tons of children's picture books
>You sit on her bed, side by side, as she reads them aloud to you
>That feel when butterflies in your stomach at the gentle sound of her voice...
>That feel when the book's story reaches the part with the sex scene
>that sexual tension between you two...
>that feel when too beta to make a move and you leave that night
>that feel when she doesn't return your texts

>> No.3368428

>>3368410
>but the enormous chain stores (B&N, Borders) carry stuff that can all be bought online for less trouble. I don't really see any reason to go to them.
Yeah, I really don't get it. I like to go in and browse, but that's it. Unless they have any special deals I don't see the point of buying a new release from a B&N. I think someone on lit once posted an anecdote where he was going through WS with his dad and the dad saw a book he liked. He took out his phone, found the book online cheaper and had it shipped to his house the next day. While I love to physically hold a book, I can't see emotional ties to physical books keeping a mega business afloat.

>> No.3368429

>>3368372
>which have never been popular, stayed afloat?
That should tell you something. Probably has to do with the elasticity of the 'book product'.

>> No.3368437

No. Only like a quarter of book sales are digital (correct me if I'm wrong). Still, I buy most of my books from Amazon because of their nigh-infinite stock, while I just walk around in Barnes & Nobles because it's comfy there.
>>3368389
He used Borders as an example, you fucking retard. Stop nit-picking.

>> No.3368436

>>3368389
Why does Academic always have such terrible lines.

I had to wait 80 minutes to buy two books for my dad for Christmas.

>> No.3368440

Even I, an ardent hoarder of digital media and torrented material still feel the seductive allure of books as pure artifacts. It just feels fucking wrong for me to read Dickens on a screen. I can't explain it, something to do with not being able to distinguish between artifice and reality any longer. Isn't that always the case with the modern era?

Also, old people still buy and love books and technology hasn't yet provided them a superior alternative. My dad has a kindle for instance and he fucking hates it, squinting at a shitty little screen.

Ps, I tried to ramp up my post with excessive pseudo-pretension.

>> No.3368442

The best book shop in New Jersey (The Raconteur) shut down last year and it still fucking sucks. I think the owner just didn't feel like doing it anymore, I don't think it was a money thing. Cool guy.

>> No.3368446

>>3368426
>19
>Ph.D in English
She's one smart girl

>> No.3368450

>>3368426
>children's picture books
>the part with the sex scene

The book she's been reading to you in her gentle, butterfly-inducing voice is something like "A toddlers guide to sexual reproduction"

>> No.3368463

>>3368426

What a quality post. Copied and pasted it into Word, and save it. But yeah, like the other guy said, why do children's books have sex scenes?

>> No.3368464

Waterstones seems like the B&N of the UK, so I wouldn't worry about the franchise. You may worry about your specific store though. Does it seem to stay busy and are you in a major city?

>> No.3368475

It's because most people don't have kindles yet so pirating books is impractical.

>> No.3368502

>>3368426
>Tons of children's picture books
>That feel when the book's story reaches the part with the sex scene

No really what fucking books were you given as a child?

>> No.3368532

>>3368502

When I was a kid, I used to draw penises on the illustrations inside picture books.

That was when my mom brought me to see a counselor.

>> No.3368535

Waterstones and HMV are the same company Sunhawk.

>> No.3368537

>>3368532
When I was a kid I set things on fire. I didn't see a counselor until I left rehab at the age of 21 though.

>> No.3368547
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3368547

>>3368475

>> No.3368556

>>3368535
They were, Hmv sold Waterstones not too long ago though

>> No.3368559

>>3368556
So that's how a water stone stays afloat.

>> No.3368566

>>3368559
I giggled

>> No.3368573

>>3368559
I cringed

>> No.3368583

I think physical book stores are doomed. In the future it'll be all Amazon all the time, and maybe Kobo will stick it out too.

>> No.3368595

>>3368573
Fuck you it's a clever pun.

>> No.3368607

I seem to remember Waterstones being constantly busy when I was young - 15-20 years ago. Now it always seems like they have more staff than customers.

>> No.3368619

>>3368412
That's the big trick for Barnes and Noble, too. Anchoring yourself to a university is minting money.

>> No.3368631
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3368631

>>3368428
>I like to go in and browse
>he was going through WS with his dad and the dad saw a book

This, I think, is why you should support bookstores. Online book shopping is going to funnel you towards things you already like based on previous reading choices (and not always effectively). Supporting a permanent stock of somewhat randomized books increases your chances of running across something you potentially wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

>> No.3368659

>>3368440
It is the same for me man. Reading a paperback book feels better than reading things on a screen. And I also really like to have a collection of nice books in my apartement.

>> No.3368671

You underestimate how many fantasy novels the average middle class housewive can consume per week.

No, they don't thrive on Foster-Wallace or Satre.

>> No.3368715

In The Netherlands, there's basically only big chains left, and even then these mostly aren't big stores.

I know big bookstore downtown is struggling financially, and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes bankrupt sooner or later. I don't hope so though. Weird is, they changed their upper floor from the writing (nice pens) and office supply things to classical CDs, and apparently that sells better? I'd never thought that selling CDs would be a good idea.

Anyway, the CD stores are gone, and in Amsterdam a famous big one closed last year (IIRC).

I find it very sad to see it all go, but yeah, they can't really make a living out of my purchases either.

Can someone make me feel bad about stores like this going down/under?

>> No.3368722

>>3368410
Yeah all the things that are physically available in bookstores today are mostly not worth buying, in my opinion.

>> No.3368729

>>3368463
>>3368502
What about that last book in His Dark Materials? That scene where they're having a picnic and he's feeding her that strawberry, caressing her lips with it before letting her have it in an obvious metaphor for oral sex.
<spoiler> that's when the Christian assassin deems them kosher for jihading </spoiler>

>> No.3368731

very little overhead. book stores tend to have lesser staff as well.

>> No.3368730

Same goes for music stores

I only buy my music at one small store, because it's cozy as fuck and I don't want it to close.

>> No.3368742

>>3368412
Same for The Netherlands, I guess.

But there's basically only Bruna and Selexyz left. There was Broese Kemink in Utrecht which I always liked, but that's part of Selexyz too now. Regionally we have Broekhuis here, which I think can also survive by keeping the university contract if they do it right/properly.

>> No.3368753

>>3368475

What's wrong with reading on a monitor or laptop screen and using a special filter to reduce the glare?

I still download books and texts from torrents and such because ultimately if you want to read something enough (and it's freely available to do so) you're gonna read it regardless of kindle or comfort.

>> No.3368761

>>3368742
Its not that bad in Amsterdam, American Book Center, Waterstone's, and some smaller english bookshops keep me well supplied and satisfied. I never read works translated into Nederlands, vertalingen zijn afgrijselijk.

>> No.3368763

>>3368753
I get really, really tired with reading on screens. Don't have a filter though.

Nothing wrong with it of course, just that it doesn't seem to suit me.

By the way, I feel like watching Black Books now.

>> No.3368766

Buy Waterstones shares today!

>> No.3368768

>>3368761
Ah yeah, I'd love to live in Amsterdam for the sheer amount of shops/stores, but it's expensive and crowded :-)

Hope these survive though.

Groetjes trouwens!

>> No.3368789

>>3368768
Pretty much all of the stuff you find in the shops here you can find on bol.com too by the way, you just need to know what you want to get, theres nothing like the real thing if you just want to browse and explore some titles at leisure.. Groetjes terug!

>> No.3368797

>>3368789
Aye agreed. Thanks :-)

>> No.3368800

Some friend of mine owns and runs a small bookstore, and he is only doing it because he wants to. He makes almost no money with this, but has a rich family to support him.

>> No.3368814

Borders went out of business because barns and noble put them out of business. B&N isn't going anywhere, and they have pretty much secured the market in book retail right next to amazon books

>> No.3368820

>>3368412
Bookstores hardly make any money off school textbooks unless they are selling used texts.

>> No.3368830

>>3368820
Universities usually require you to buy a number of textbooks with that year's edition. These books are often mysteriously written by some of the profs. But often you can't buy the right used copy and get a decent discount from the uni shop.

>> No.3368850

>>3368814
They just closed a fuckton of stores, so don't be so sure.

>> No.3368865

>>3368850
I stand corrected

>> No.3369075

>>3368830
The best place for these are always the university's own attached book-store. In Strathclyde University it's located just next to the library.

Especially when it comes with the EA-style online pass to do your coursework in which by the way are complete bullshit.

>> No.3370933

Can we check how companies are doing?

>> No.3370940
File: 119 KB, 1000x507, 1000px-Countries-with-a-Fixed-Book-Price-Agreement.svg.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
3370940

What does /lit/ think about this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_book_price_agreement

>> No.3370944

>>3368372
I went book shopping last week and of the 4 bookstores on the highstreet, only 1 had a customer other than myself. He left without buying anything. I have no idea how they stay open. I assume they all double as drug fronts like Salma Hayek's in Desperado.

>> No.3370947

>>3370944
>I assume they all double as drug fronts like Salma Hayek's in Desperado.
A cross between that and Black Books is the dream.

>> No.3370979

Never ordered a book online. Never will. Got me a Waterstones loyalty card

>> No.3371021

>>3370940
Argentina has this law, yet I have to pay ~50 dollars for a fucking book.

>> No.3371034

at least we still have Blackwells if Waterstones does go under.

>> No.3371037

>>3370940
It makes books more expensive. I had to pay 40 euros for the new and highly acclaimed Magic Mountain translation.

>> No.3371052

everything going digital eventually. that's why blu ray isn't going to take over dvds. the digital format will do that as well.

>> No.3371073 [DELETED] 

look at what people are buying, it's not literature, it's just books, e.g.

- piano learning
- home diy
- celeb biographies
- popular fiction
- cook books

most people that buy these books don't bother going on the internet for something that is so easily available in shops like waterstones, you don't need amazon to buy the hunger gamse

>> No.3371216

>>3371073

And supermarkets sell most of those anyway at discounted prices, especially celeb shit and popular fiction.

So you got the supermarkets pushing the crap tier lit and Amazon and digital stores taking up the obscure through there sheer power to stock just about every title imaginable. I can't really see what can survive in between those two positions.

I'm personally hoping the high streets will be redeveloped as social areas like parks and green spaces.

>> No.3371261

When I went to England, I saw book shops fucking everywhere. New and old. Tons of used book stores. Sometimes on the Tube I'd see people finish a book and just leave it there

I was mortified

>> No.3371271

i can't think of any bookshops i know which have closed. i went into an independently owned bookshop last week as well as the waterstones a few doors down, both had no lack of customers. come to think of it, bookshops are relatively common where i live at least. i live in england for reference.

>> No.3371291

I don't like second hand bookshops because I feel like the staff will try to be friendly, or I'll feel very self aware because I'm the only customer, and I don't like chain bookshops because there's always a cute girl looking at the classics or poetry sections.

>> No.3371296

>>3371261
>I was mortified
Oh no, people reading!

>> No.3371313

>>3371216
Ha I like this post.

Also, I went to the biggest bookstore here today, and the collection/stock was just appalling. Also, while it's not literature, I remembered them having tons of in depth programming books in the Computer (Science) section. Now there was only a bunch of books targeted at seniors.

It was also really quiet and empty :-(

>> No.3371321

>>3371296

No, throwing books away when you read them.

>> No.3371326

>>3371321
Leaving a book on the tube =! throwing it away

I don't know what landfill of a country you come from, but in the UK there is still some mild awareness of throwing things away involving a bin.

>> No.3371334
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3371334

>>3371326

You've rused me enough today.

>> No.3371355

>>3371261
people leave books/newspapers on trains for others to read

>> No.3371362

My contribution here is that I like to buy hefty books from Waterstones (i.e. The Brothers K, Gravity's R) because they don't fit through the letterbox and driving to the collection office on a Saturday morning pisses me right off. On this basis, Waerstones must live. Small books, Amazon.

>> No.3371373

Owning a bookstore is also a lifestyle that some people will lose money to maintain, much like owning a vineyard.

>> No.3371413

>>3371373

Can you explain the vineyard comment? I know little of these things.

>> No.3371423

>>3371355

yeah I do that very often, it's not a big deal

>> No.3371599

>>3371362

Look up 'Amazon lockers' Delivery to your local late night opening corner store.

They've even got that cornered as well.

>> No.3371604

posting in a sunhawk thrad