Do People Still Buy Books ?
Do People Still Buy Books ?
I’ve considered the question are books dead in the past and I am minded to consider the idea with renewed vigour at present.
Though I really only masquerade as a book dealer nowadays I still have a considerable presence on the internet with a fair number of hand-picked books (all remarkably good value to those who may be interested 
) .
Sales seem slower, though ‘sales’ is perhaps the wrong word, than ever I can remember.
It’s certainly true that selling books on the internet is something that has been in decline for some years now - but this seems like something different.
There are the much vaunted ebook readers currently being pushed by several retailers but these are neither here nor there at present. There is also the so called credit crunch - times are undoubtedly harder for everyone and who needs a collectable book ?
It would be interesting to know if anybody who reads this buys secondhand or used books online !
Be they readers or collectors !
I personally believe a lot is generational, some is bad experience from dubious ebayers - amateur booksellers - and those who simply sell in ignorance of condition importance and the rest over supply in the market.
Books that were once difficult to come across in person are now readily available online - therefore the gloss tends to come off them in the eyes of book collectors.
Genuinely rare books I find still sell easily and for good money it’s the more mid range and generally once regarded as, collectable books that appear to be all but untellable.
Amazon is littered with books at a penny that would once have sold for £15 to £25 often considerably more.
Will it recover or is the time of book collecting all but over ?
People will always collect books but will they continue to do so in any number ?
Time will tell !
I can’t see into the future but one thing I do know is that things in this arena that take a dip or drop off never recover the lost ground
Regards to all
Rod - former bookseller 
Little Brother said,
September 11, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Rod,
I do think it is generational, I used to love (still do) getting a new book but now it seems as now reading is too much effort and not enough excitement. It’s far easier to switch on a HD television or X-Box. It’s a real shame because I used to love finding an old second hand bookshop on my travels.
That said I haven’t bought a collectable first edition for years when there was a time that was all I would spend my spare cash on.
LB (dusting off a 1940’s Charteris!!)
Rod said,
September 11, 2008 @ 7:53 pm
LB
I think something you mention also touches on another point. When people get out of the habit od something,such as buying books, then they rarely get back into it.
Shame you’re not dusting off a 1930s Leslie Charteris:)
Rod
Little Brother said,
September 11, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
Rod,
Just dusted three 1930’s off
:B
Rod said,
September 12, 2008 @ 11:22 am
Did you dust the dust jackets off as well
Craig Knighton said,
September 12, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
I read even more now, than I did last year!
Maybe I’ve become jaded by all the gadgetry, or maybe it’s just that curling up in bed reading a good book, with my dog curled up next to me, is far more pleasant an experience than leaping around the living room playing Wii Sports!
By the way have you seen this excellent website for Leslie Charteris?
http://www.detective-fiction.com/leslie-charteris.htm
Little Brother said,
September 12, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Rod,
Oh yes!
Craig,
A couple of dodgy paperbacks but not bad
LB