Dave wrote:
> It's kind of an interesting concept for publishers to give out free
> electronic copies of a book before it's published. Probably won't
> cut down into sales, at least no more than sending out ARCs that
> later make their way onto eBay and used bookstores,
And I wonder how much even that really cuts into sales (and how does
that balance against potential future sales if someone gets hooked on
an author?).
A lot of mainstream used bookstores these days don't really want ARCs
-- or even hardcovers. They can't sell them. The few used bookstores
that still exist, that is. Most of them have gone online, and of the
few that are still around, a lot of them aren't even taking in mass
markets anymore -- except for credit. I've heard Amazon won't even
allow their used book dealers to sell ARCs.
(Mind you -- Palmdale isn't exactly the most literate area of the
country so I could be wrong. Boston, however, is a great book town.
What's the used bookstore situation there these days, Dave?)
My guess -- and it's only a guess -- is that most ARCs and e-ARCs will
eventually end up in the hands of the relatively small number of buffs
and collectors or simply get tossed out or erased; not the general
public who have the real buying clout.
The general public generally likes mass market paperback when it buys
used. Generally.
Kevin Burton Smith
Thrilling Detective Web Site
Spring 2009 Issue Now Online
"Love Rears It's Ugly Head"
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 13 May 2009 EDT