Interesting story by Fox23's Paul Merrill on local store owners irked over Amazon's "Price Check" app. Says the Book House's Susan Novotny: "We can't really see our way into the future if we're a catalog showroom for Amazon." Earlier on AOA: Is there a happy ending to the story for the Book House and other indie book stores?
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Comments
Fox 23 chose a lousy example; everybody already knows you can buy a book cheaper online than you can in a bookstore. You don't need an app for that.
Don't get me wrong I love bookstores, but I'll tell you what: I'm pretty sure that the last book I bought wasn't even in any local store -- and if by chance it was, I got it cheaper than it would have cost at a brick and mortar retailer.
That saddens me -- but unless it's something I need to try on or inspect personally, I'm less and less likely to visit a store.
... said Rob on Dec 9, 2011 at 12:09 PM | link
I think the markets are a bit different.
I go to a brick-and-mortar bookstore because I need a book NOW. Even if I find a $3 discount online it doesn't justify the wait. There is a shipping charge on the top of that.
Also, after I learned how Amazon treats their warehouse employees (forces them to work in 110 degree heat so people get heat stroke) I avoid Amazon altogether. I use their website to find product reviews but I buy elsewhere, usually at the local stores.
... said Lu on Dec 9, 2011 at 12:28 PM | link
[Ted Potrikus of the Retail Council of New York State] says the new app is the company's way of finding out what the little guys are doing. "Basically, it makes you wonder if you're being asked to go out and shop or spy," he said. Potrikus says the use of this app raises some privacy questions.
Is this guy a moron? A) PriceCheck does not use location data B) Scanning a BAR CODE does not reveal how much the store you're shopping in is charging for the item, it is a unique identifier used (in this case) to search Amazon to show Amazon's price. C) Potrikus needs to add a few more layers to his tinfoil hat.
... said Paul on Dec 9, 2011 at 2:56 PM | link
@Paul - Actually, Amazon will pay you 5% if you turn location tracking on. So, instead of worrying about removing tinfoil hats, maybe you can remove your blinders.
... said Jay on Dec 9, 2011 at 5:05 PM | link
Lu, re: the treatment of warehouse employees, that's not the half of it. In the Big Brother is watching you category, I stumbled on an article not long ago which claimed that Amazon had patented technology that can monitor each employee to verify they're doing what they're supposed to be doing every second of their work shifts. It sounded farfetched so I did some Googling and found the actual patent:
http://www.patents.com/us-7693758.html
If you don't want to slog through the details, it breaks down into networked cameras covering the work area. Biometrics software is tied to the order picking database to ensure that each picker is performing the tasks assigned to them, if the digital Big Brother catches someone making idle chit chat or taking a bathroom break they didn't get permission for, an alarm will sound that reminds them who signs their paychecks.
It's horrible, but I admit I use Amazon all of the time for music purchases I can't find from indy websites. We've got a fantastic used music shop in Last Vestige, but if I want the new Serge Gainsbourg box set, what options do I have? And I've been avoiding downloading because it kills jobs. Even rotten jobs like described above.
... said Tim on Dec 9, 2011 at 8:32 PM | link
I just ordered a few books through the Book House's website to give as Christmas gifts. I saw them on people's amazon.com wishlists, brought up the Book House website, ordered them on that and opted to pick them up in person (no shipping fees that way). Within 2 days they called to say my order was in and I then picked them up at my leisure. I've done that several times, and from what I've seen they can get pretty much any book that's in print quite quickly. It's been a good way to both shop and spend my money locally while enjoying the huge selection of books of an online retailer . . .
... said KJS on Dec 9, 2011 at 9:10 PM | link
Kudos to KJS. I've done that, too - although I don't buy a lot of books, I would much rather support the Book House or another independent bookstore than Amazon. And at this point, I'd like to find somewhere else where I can buy new CDs (yes, I still buy them).
... said Ellen on Dec 10, 2011 at 12:21 PM | link
Most of my books, especially those that I buy based on a blog recommendation, are purchased through Amazon. Often the blog recommending the book will have a link to Amazon and a "store" there, and I feel the blog author should be compensated for the work he or she has done in posting and reviewing.
Following the same logic, when I buy books for my daughter, I usually go to a brick and mortar store- higher prices or no. The staff at the store is taking the time to recommend appropriate books to me; it is only fair that the store owner paying the salary of said staff earns a return on resources spent.
For me there is no big = evil, small = worthy deliberation; whoever helps me gets my book money. The smaller bookstores potentially have an advantage if they market to the right customer. And possibly invest in cellphone jamming equipment on-premise.
... said Liz on Dec 21, 2011 at 9:17 AM | link