I guess it depends on your point of view.
Abebooks.com, one of the largest book selling sites recently got acquired by Amazon. Now, I am not opposed to online selling, even though it probably is the biggest reason independent bookstores have been going under. I sell on Alibris.com, because it is the easiest way for an indie to stay afloat, even thrive.
I used to order exclusively from Abebooks and Alibris, though, because unlike Amazon these two sites specialized in rare books. Now that Abebooks is essentially Amazon, I will order used books exclusively from Alibris.com, at least until another indie seller pops up. But that begs the question, are independent online sellers even independent anymore?
Alibris also lists their books on other, more popular sites like B&N, Borders, and Half.com. I have certainly benefited from this union, selling twice as many books online as usual. So, is there a difference between Alibris working with Half.com and Abebooks being bought by Amazon?
I long ago rationalized selling online. At least the money coming in is going to an independent bookstore, mine. Can I rationalize my books appearing on a huge website like Half.com? On the one hand, I'm thrilled to be selling so many. On the other, I feel I'm no different from the millions who support Amazon that drive small bookstores out of business.
However, people who buy my books through B&N and Half.com are still supporting an indie store as opposed to the huge corporations.
My old business teacher taught that the most important quality for a thriving business is flexibility. The book business is not the same as it was 20 or even 10 years ago. In order for us to survive as independents, we need to expand into new markets. Alibris needs to build coalitions with B&N. I need to sell books online.
However, we do not have to sell out completely. We don't need to give our money to Amazon and Abebooks. We can keep funneling money to the independent sellers, whether online or at the brick-and-mortars. And, in that way, keep a big part of the book culture that we love alive.
I'm sad to hear about ABE. I know you wrote this post a month ago, but I'm just seeing it today.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm not in your neighborhood but I've bought 8 books from you on-line. Your post raises on-line issues I've been thinking about myself, in part because Borders just offered me a 30%off coupon if I answer some questions on my on-line buying experiences. (I answered the questions but didn't use the coupon).
I do buy books and DVDs online, mostly from Amazon's Third Party vendors. Some are true independent book stores. I also go to my on-line public library and order the book or DVD that way. I wonder how much Alibris and Amazon keep from my cost of a book? I wonder why Alibris makes it so hard to search by book-seller, or to browse.
So, I'd like Alibris to be more friendly to on-line browsers. I'd like it if you'd open up more of your catalogue for the on-line sales. I'd like it, too, if someday I visit Brooklyn, NY and noodle through Babbos' aisles in person.
I'm just seeing your comment now. Thanks for ordering from me online! And I look forward to meeting you if you come to the store.
ReplyDeleteI'm making an effort to list more every day. Eventually I plan to have thousands of books on Alibris.
I guess Alibris can be hard to navigate. I hope you know that you can search for a specific seller and then you can browse the all that seller's books.
I think if people use Amazon and Alibris to buy from independent sellers, they are at least supporting the indie stores, just not their local store. And I realize many communities have lost their local bookstore.
I don't know how much Amazon charges but Alibris charges both a percentage of the book price and a flat monthly fee. However, it still ends up being very much worth it.
Thanks for the comment!