tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post6111585534616070979..comments2023-11-05T07:01:05.247-05:00Comments on Maureen McGowan's Blog: Roller Coaster WeekMaureen McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-91964450336576948882012-03-03T18:51:29.020-05:002012-03-03T18:51:29.020-05:00That's an interesting perspective, Anonymous.....That's an interesting perspective, Anonymous... Just curious, are you and indie bookseller or just making an assumption?Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-52304952620609471382012-03-02T23:28:57.149-05:002012-03-02T23:28:57.149-05:00Poetic justice is chain bookstores pushing out the...Poetic justice is chain bookstores pushing out the indies, then Amazon destroying the chains, the indies come back! <br /><br />Funny as it may seem but Amazon is actually a collection of a million independent bookstores. And a lot of indies sell on Amazon to keep afloat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-86358385861169685932012-03-02T23:28:10.812-05:002012-03-02T23:28:10.812-05:00Poetic justice is chain bookstores pushing out the...Poetic justice is chain bookstores pushing out the indies, then Amazon destroying the chains, the indies come back! <br /><br />Funny as it may seem but Amazon is actually a collection of a million independent bookstores. And a lot of indies sell on Amazon to keep afloat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-4224471364716742352012-02-17T16:26:30.474-05:002012-02-17T16:26:30.474-05:00With physical book stores closing right and left a...With physical book stores closing right and left and more and more readers buying ebooks, I think your publishing with Amazon will work out just fine. Good post! And good luck, Maureen! You know all your girly whirlies are behind you 100-percent.<br />DanitaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-18785658554342858722012-02-16T00:15:32.609-05:002012-02-16T00:15:32.609-05:00Your line about feeling like a kid whose parents a...Your line about feeling like a kid whose parents are fighting? That's exactly how it sounds to me. And, of course, I'll be buying your books wherever I can get my hands on them!Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-26916149815916436572012-02-15T13:07:55.579-05:002012-02-15T13:07:55.579-05:00Amazon did announce they are opening a store, but ...Amazon did announce they are opening a store, but I don't think it'll be a book store per se. <br /><br />I only skimmed the articles in the press, but sounds like it'll be more like an Apple store, than a book store. A place to test drive and buy their kindle products.<br /><br />I don't think they plan to compete with book stores in the brick and mortar arena. But I could be wrong.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-57337738829200747642012-02-15T12:52:15.675-05:002012-02-15T12:52:15.675-05:00Don't know why it has to be either/or - there&...Don't know why it has to be either/or - there's room for both digital and print. I'm so excited that an Independent bookstore on Balboa Island is stocking my book, "Letters on Balboa Island" - love book stores of all kinds!<br /><br />PS - Did I hear somewhere that amazon was going to open a brick and mortar book store? Or is that just a rumor?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-27552437472389197432012-02-14T03:22:04.477-05:002012-02-14T03:22:04.477-05:00Although I don't really believe they are anti-...Although I don't really believe they are anti-print. Just making a point. But to be clear, right now B&N is fighting for rights to sell digital books by refusing to sell print books.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-4037735294336482102012-02-14T03:11:02.284-05:002012-02-14T03:11:02.284-05:00I think both B&N and Amazon support both forma...I think both B&N and Amazon support both formats. And in fact, this "fight" is over Amazon not letting B&N sell their books in e-book format... So it's about B&N wanting more of the e-book market. And B&N refusing to carry the print versions of Amazon's books. That's why I don't think it's that obvious which side to take based on loving print over digital or vice versa. <br /><br />Amazon didn't invent e-books, nor did they have the first e-reader. Neither did B&N. But they both make and sell them and both want as much of that market as they can get. <br /><br />I too love printed books. I don't think they're going anywhere. Especially not for kids books.<br /><br />But I think this is getting off track from my point which was not about e-books versus print books. Amazon Publishing is releasing their titles in both formats. B&N is refusing to stock the print versions because they are being blocked from being able to sell the digital versions. One could argue that it's B&N who's anti-print books with regard to this particular issue.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-53752493638395782492012-02-14T00:32:44.106-05:002012-02-14T00:32:44.106-05:00Well when I say that I meant "print books.&qu...Well when I say that I meant "print books." I think Amazon would be happier if everyone just bought a Kindle and Kindle books. Print books are VERY important to me because if they stopped making new print books I wouldn't be able to read new books at all just old books - since I dislike the experience of reading from an e-reader - and I did try one out at the library and hated it. I do think ebooks and printed books can both exist like they do now, and I support companies like Barnes & Noble that support both physical and ebooks, but I think Amazon would be happy to see physical books die. Especially for children I think having bookstores and libraries are SO important - it's just not as exciting to order online!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-38315744122788632252012-02-13T21:23:22.127-05:002012-02-13T21:23:22.127-05:00Anonymous... You certainly aren't alone with y...Anonymous... You certainly aren't alone with your feelings. But the way I think about it is this:<br /><br />First, they have always been, in my experience, top notch in customer service. From way back in the 90's when I was nervous ordering online for the first time, and their e-mails letting me know the status of my order, etc. made me feel comfortable.<br />Second, in contrast to you, I don't see any evidence they no longer care about books. Even after moving into other areas of retail, do they become or buy lawn chair manufacturers or clothing companies? No... they vertically integrate into publishing. Shows me that their core business, their true love if you will, is still books.<br />And third... while I too love physical books, even more I love stories and the experience of reading. Digital books are making it easier, not harder, for me to find and enjoy great stories. <br /><br />But I respect your opinion. And do get where you're coming from.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-25134857961723526932012-02-13T20:56:30.570-05:002012-02-13T20:56:30.570-05:00As a customer that *loves* print books and booksto...As a customer that *loves* print books and bookstores and hates ebooks, to me I feel that what Amazon does is not good for something I love and something I hope my future children will be able to experience: physical bookstores and physical books. I don't think Amazon cares about the survival of books and bookstores as long as they can make a profit off ebooks. Personally, I won't buy anything published by them, and will only purchase a book on Amazon from another publisher if I've exhausted all options to find a copy elsewhere.<br /><br />I'm not saying this to be hurtful but I really disagree with Amazon's business practicse and I don't feel they value the continued survival of physical books even though that's what they got started selling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-16873781212435316862012-02-13T20:39:32.737-05:002012-02-13T20:39:32.737-05:00Aryn, I agree. It's not a simple situation and...Aryn, I agree. It's not a simple situation and I'm not sure what I'd do. Just glad I'm not an exec at either company right now...Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-29177743048550450022012-02-13T19:03:40.555-05:002012-02-13T19:03:40.555-05:00B&N is in a tough spot in retail. Why not carr...B&N is in a tough spot in retail. Why not carry your competitor's books and try to get their customers to come to your store to buy them. Then you at least get a piece of the action!Arynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03888510181574261962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-5172300985272458872012-02-13T12:02:34.091-05:002012-02-13T12:02:34.091-05:00Thanks Chrissy. :)Thanks Chrissy. :)Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-64340821251468185232012-02-13T11:53:53.876-05:002012-02-13T11:53:53.876-05:00When I saw this link on twitter (an RT) I almost d...When I saw this link on twitter (an RT) I almost didn't click it. I have become so sick and tired of the completely incorrect blather all over the internet, in print, on tv.<br /><br />THANK YOU for being not only correct, but for responding to the situation without using the knee-jerk buzzwords embraced nearly everywhere.<br /><br />None of us wanted to see Borders go. None of us want BN to fold. But the bottom line is, they have to save themselves by getting it right. Borders failed. BN is failing.<br /><br />I'm so sick and tired of Amazon taking hit after hit for doing things right.<br /><br />Well done!Chrissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17825661131803547197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-79245761282306165392012-02-13T11:36:36.368-05:002012-02-13T11:36:36.368-05:00I'm aware that B&N put Stirling up for sal...I'm aware that B&N put Stirling up for sale just before making this announcement. Timing no coincidence I'm sure.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-87572553193259839702012-02-13T09:17:12.655-05:002012-02-13T09:17:12.655-05:00On January 5, 2012 B&N put Sterling Publishing...On January 5, 2012 B&N put Sterling Publishing up for sale so they are trying to get out of the publishing business. <br /><br />I'm not a huge fan of Amazon's tactics on a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I will bash the company. I just won't buy a Kindle. I do hope that ebooks will stop being captive to a particular platform and be more widely available.Qwillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865542704843782399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-60462538024212774382012-02-13T09:11:52.426-05:002012-02-13T09:11:52.426-05:00I hear you, I'm 'sighing' with you and...I hear you, I'm 'sighing' with you and for one of the first passengers on the I-Hate-Amazon bus, I'm despondent over how this playing out. <br />Naive, I know, but I just wish everyone would be happy with a little piece of the pie rather than wanting to own the entire dessert cart *pout*Wylie Kinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09271148590574475682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24994577.post-12707656442539820552012-02-13T08:46:13.804-05:002012-02-13T08:46:13.804-05:00Wow Maureen such a good post. It does seem to stin...Wow Maureen such a good post. It does seem to stink all around and end up hurting hardworking authors. So sorry. <br />Yay on the quote though!Kwanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06428954660974395117noreply@blogger.com