Poll: Are bookstores dissapearing?

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Sadly, I think they are, although I don't want them to. I know plenty of people who read and I know plenty of people that don't, but I know more that don't read than do. To add to that, it's far more convenient to simply order the book off Amazon and pay for delivery that go rooting around a book store. Unless you're simply looking for a book in general, the internet is far easier.

I don't think e-books will overtake books though. People who read generally prefer to have a book in hand, it's something that makes everyone feel that little bit more intelligent while also keeping around a lost pastime.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I really, really REALLY hope not!

I don't want to have to order books!

 

[BreakfastMan]

I work in a bookstore. We're seeing profits increase steadily.

Borders et. al. collapsed because they tried to screw the market. People know they can get better deals online, so retail stores need to offer more, not less, than the 'net.

A friendly face and a good price does that. Coffee and loud music don't. Borders didn't click on that until WAY too late.

Pretty much this. Used book-stores like Half Price Books will do well, since they offer a fairly large selection of used books for dirt cheap. Whenever I walk into a Barnes & Noble, I never end up buying anything, 'cause everything is too darn expensive. Whenever I walk into a Half-Price Books, I usually end up flat broke. Even if I do have money in my wallet when I walk out, it is always much less than I went in with. It is a bargain people want, not atmosphere.

 

[Jessta]

Kind of depends on the bookstore, bookstores that want to remain, well bookstores, are probably going to die out, I mean anyone who is really an avid reader in the first place can get most of the books at those bookstores at the library, however, I've noticed that when I go to a bookstore like Walden's books I treat it more like a hobby store than a book store, I usually get a 5$ paper back dragonlance book or the sort, 20 dollars of manga, a 30-40$ d&d book and about 5 dollars worth of little extra things they hold at the front counter like magic cards or dice. (note I can only go to a bookstore three times every year since I live on a secluded island and its a hundred twenty dollars for a round trip plus another eighty dollars if I want to stay more than an hour in town.) So 'bookstores' might be dieing but book/hobby shops seem to be flourishing.

Edit, OMG SUPER DUPER RUN ON SENTENCE

 

[Rin Little]

Actually the whole "e-reader" thing is starting to decline already. I have one myself and I've been using it a lot lately because I had to pack up all my books to move and haven't gotten around to getting them out yet. I mean, I love my Kindle, but when you get right down to it, if I have the money I'm going to buy the real book.

 

[JaceArveduin]

dog eared

*cringe* I absolutely go off the deep end when people do that to my books.

OT: I hope not, but I've noticed that Barnes & Noble tend to be on the expensive side, and I've yet to go into a half priced books store, though usually from lack of funds in the first place. I've been thinking about getting an kindle, but I like having a physical book selection. I also like when people leave me alone because I'm not worth worrying cause I'm reading a huge book and they assume I'm anti-social. It make's my life easier. Though if I did get a Kindle, I'd probably end up getting copies of the books I already own by debatable methods, cause I really don't like the idea of rebuying something I already bought.

 

[Fiad]

Nothing can compare to reading an actual book, e-readers just aren't the same. I don't think bookstores are going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[VanTesla]

I will miss the Boarders by my house, but the Library is just a few miles away from it. I think Boarders just played a bad hand in the markets. I will always go hardcover over digital.

Off Topic: Always support the mom and pop bookstores before going to a corprate or online bookstore. It's better for the community and makes me feel good.

 

[Stoike]

I Hope that bookstores never go out of business i will use e-books as they allow me to have more books in a cramped space than before but there is nothing like the feeling of a book in your hand the smell of coffee and of books and sunlight to relax. That is why bookstores will never truly dissappear.

 

[oliveira8]

Actually the whole "e-reader" thing is starting to decline already. I have one myself and I've been using it a lot lately because I had to pack up all my books to move and haven't gotten around to getting them out yet. I mean, I love my Kindle, but when you get right down to it, if I have the money I'm going to buy the real book.

Actually they aren't.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/07/amazon-more-e-books-than-hardcovers/

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Barnes and nobles are still open so...No.

 

[Beliyal]

I most certainly hope not. I haven't really seen bookstores closing in my area, and as I am an avid reader and a member of a type of a book club which has a lot of bookstores around the country, my obligation to the club is only that I purchase at least one book in three months. And I often buy more than one and I buy books from other stores too. However, I've read in the newspaper that publishing business is slowly losing profit (at least in my country) and that less and less people are buying books. I find that sad, especially when books are practically given away (we can buy them with newspapers for example and they cost less than most basic food). Though I have nothing against e-books (I actually find them nature-friendly), I can't imagine a world where I wouldn't have shelves filled with real books and the feeling that in a few decades, we might not have classical books any more. I really hope that will not be the case. As much as e-books are modern and better for the environment and all that, nothing beats a real, physical book.

Captcha: "and romitsti". What? What is this, cliffhanger captcha? Damn you!

 

[tenaciousotaku]

I hope not. I hate e-reader. It just doesn't feel the same. Sadly, the only Barnes and Nobles is on the other side of town and besides that, there's only one other bookstore here that I know of.

 

[RagTagBand]

Yes they are.

But not because nobody reads or writes books, but because we're heading deeper into the digital age; I can carry an entire bookstore worth of books on my iPhone.

Its, essentially, what is happening to newspapers. Except bookstores haven't been whoring themselves out.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I don't think so, just because Borders boarded the sink boat doesn't mean the entire industry is going downhill. Other places like Barnes and Nobles still are going strong.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Of course they're not disappearing don't be ludicrous. They're getting demolished and replaced with something else.

OT: I'm pretty sure there's always going to be a market for paper books. Although it will become more and more of a niche appeal as time and technology advance.

 

[DarkRyter]

No.

The barnes and noble's in my local mall is probably the only consistently popular store (that doesn't serve food) in there.

It should be noted that the store spends a great deal of effort trying to sell it's "ebook" thingy.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Books generally sell less than any other media, even prior to Ebooks.
I don't see the print media leaving anytime soon, just a lessening of the high priced stores like Borders. Sure you can carry a library of books on an ipad, but it can't replace a dog-eared copy of Good Intentions. And you can't get Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman to e-sign your iPad copy either.

 

[Zaverexus]

um, no. I've only seen a couple of stores close down in the past 5 or more years, the ones I go to are still as successful as ever and I haven't decreased in my book buying for any reason other than school assignments.
I would still rather have physical copies of my stuff, so I'm not going to buy "e-books". And I think enough people like the feel of some paper in their hands to agree with me and buy real books.