topic Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question in Electronics

An e-reader/tablet buying question

gardenman — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:47:40 GMT

If you were going to buy an e-reader/tablet and found out that those offered on QVC included a redemption code for ten novels from StoryBundle.com, would it increase the likelihood that you'd buy the e-reader/tablet from QVC, or play no role?

Thanks for any feedback. I've got a novel in the political thriller story bundle that's up now at Story Bundle and I'm encouraging Jason Chen, the founder of Story Bundle, to consider contacting QVC about offering bundles with sales here, much like QVC typically bundles covers/chargers, etc. Why not include a bundle of books with every e-reader/tablet? Story Bundle typically has bundles available for differing tastes, and could even create unique bundles for just the QVC customer. I think it could be a win for all involved.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

jaxs mom — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:54:30 GMT

Nope, but I also wouldn't ever buy an ereader or tablet on QVC. They tend to sell outdated models and add on accessories that are inferior and jack up the price.

I'm an ereader and tablet early adopter. I bought the very first kindle and ipad. I've bought 3 kindles since then.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Qgirl26 — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:59:29 GMT

It would not play a role for me. I won't buy those off-brands they offer anyway, even if it did come with a bundle. It might make some want to buy but I would not be one of them.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

millieshops — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:08:07 GMT

Such a bundle wouldn't interest me at all. Even for the time I had Amazon Prime, almost none of their monthly free books turned out to be anything I liked and I deleted most after a chapter or two.

There are thousands of free books available to download from my library - that's where I find my most interesting reading.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

10grands — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:10:41 GMT

No, I have 3 Kindles - that would not interest me at all. There are so many available books for free plus many for low prices that would not be a temptation for me at all. That genre would only appeal to a few.

My first Kindle was a gift, and the other 2 I have purchased through Amazon.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

NickNack — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:15:26 GMT

I would never purchase an e-reader from QVC, so it wouldn't interest me. I bought my Kindle from Amazon.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Qgirl26 — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:17:56 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
Such a bundle wouldn't interest me at all. Even for the time I had Amazon Prime, almost none of their monthly free books turned out to be anything I liked and I deleted most after a chapter or two.

There are thousands of free books available to download from my library - that's where I find my most interesting reading.

Me too, millieshops. I am a big patron of the library. I like to still read physical books but sometimes all that is available are the ebooks so I get those instead. I rarely buy a book. I have too many other things I need to spend my money on.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:38:07 GMT

I echo what others have said here, especially the part @jaxs mom said about QVC selling outdated tech. I buy my Kindles directly from Amazon.

I would prefer a voucher or code to purchase one book of choice for $10 or less (maybe $12, including taxes). I believe in quality over quantity and a bundle of books I don't know anything about doesn't really appeal to me as much as getting one book of my choosing.

The Story Bundle concept is interesting. I'm glad each bundle is up for a reasonable amount of time. I'd prefer to go in and download the samples of each book in the bundle and then see if I liked them and if it's worth it for me to buy the whole bundle or just download one or two books I liked in the bundle directly from Amazon. The first one I checked just now is $2.99. I'd rather pay $2.99 for one book I might really like than $15 on a bundle of books when I still might only like one.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

ALRATIBA — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:54:01 GMT

The bundling would not be an incentive for me.

In addtion to all the free books available at Amazon, and the Kindle Unlimited program, there are a couple of places that offer free books ... new ones every day.

Bookbub is the one that I use ... just google "free ebooks" ... you'll see lots of services.

I got my Kindles (2) from Amazon and my tablet was a freebie when I bought my new iPhone. (The Kindle app for android, iPhone or PC is free.)

Why deal with a third party when I can buy the device from the source?

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

hckynut — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:00:55 GMT

Hi to you bud @gardenman,

I don't, and never have read a lot of books, particularly novels. My primary reading for many decades were those written by Exercise Physiologists/Sports Med Doctors of all fields connected to exercise performance and enhancements.

Those types of books have also been used by me to reference certain specific health related studies done, and books written by people such as Dr.Kenneth Cooper/Dr. David Costill, just to name a couple of them.

Pretty much the only books I have read/bought recently are all the Killing Books written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Just yesterday I received my copy of "Killing of the Rising Sun", Bill's just released Killing Series Book.

From the replies I have read here so far, it doesn't appear too many care for bundles with their electronic readers. I was hoping this might help you with the sales of your book(s), and that still might be true.

Wanted to weigh in to you about my reading propensities over the last few decades. I wish you the best with this,

hckynut(john)

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Nuttmeg — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:40:10 GMT

You have only received feedback from a few people. Ask Jason to consider a general survey on his facebook or other social media sites. He needs to know the level of interest. He can then approach QVC.

He could make his question very general,because of branding laws.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Moonchilde — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 23:48:42 GMT

Self-published and Indie authors have a rough way to go with early adopters of e-readers. There has been a veritable tsunami of free and almost-free e-books from unknown authors for years now and discerning readers have been burned and ended up permanently down on such authors as a group, frankly; you probably know this, or if you didn't you should become aware. For many readers (who probably would not buy old technology or no-name readers in the first place), such a bundle included would turn them off. Other, less discerning customers would probably think it was as cool as the less desirable tech they just bought for $50.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

nomless — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:00:54 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
Self-published and Indie authors have a rough way to go with early adopters of e-readers. There has been a veritable tsunami of free and almost-free e-books from unknown authors for years now and discerning readers have been burned and ended up permanently down on such authors as a group, frankly; you probably know this, or if you didn't you should become aware. For many readers (who probably would not buy old technology or no-name readers in the first place), such a bundle included would turn them off. Other, less discerning customers would probably think it was as cool as the less desirable tech they just bought for $50.

You got that right. I no longer read self-pubbed books, and I am not happy that it's become exceedingly difficult, in some instances, to determine what is self-pubbed. The quality of most self-pubbed books is so bad it's not worth my time to keep reading them to find a few that might be good. I stick to traditionally published books and usually to authors I know I can depend on to deliver a well-written story.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

nomless — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:06:21 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
If you were going to buy an e-reader/tablet and found out that those offered on QVC included a redemption code for ten novels from StoryBundle.com, would it increase the likelihood that you'd buy the e-reader/tablet from QVC, or play no role?

No, the offer would not influence my decision to buy a device. It is unlikely I would take advantage of the offer.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Moonchilde — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 02:46:41 GMT

@nomless wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
Self-published and Indie authors have a rough way to go with early adopters of e-readers. There has been a veritable tsunami of free and almost-free e-books from unknown authors for years now and discerning readers have been burned and ended up permanently down on such authors as a group, frankly; you probably know this, or if you didn't you should become aware. For many readers (who probably would not buy old technology or no-name readers in the first place), such a bundle included would turn them off. Other, less discerning customers would probably think it was as cool as the less desirable tech they just bought for $50.

You got that right. I no longer read self-pubbed books, and I am not happy that it's become exceedingly difficult, in some instances, to determine what is self-pubbed. The quality of most self-pubbed books is so bad it's not worth my time to keep reading them to find a few that might be good. I stick to traditionally published books and usually to authors I know I can depend on to deliver a well-written story.

I will add - passing no judgment on the OP's book and writing talent, as I know nothing of them; not meaning to disparage the OP as an author.

My suggestion to any new self-pubbed or Indie author would be to go with Amazon's program(s) for new authors and let your book be distributed free/cheap *honestly* through their marketing. IMO that way you have the best chance of catching the notice of the type of discerning readers you want, who will become loyal to you with future books that may cost more.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

Big Sister — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:23:56 GMT

I have and will buy e-readers from Amazon.

Re: An e-reader/tablet buying question

jackthebear — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 10:57:24 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
If you were going to buy an e-reader/tablet and found out that those offered on QVC included a redemption code for ten novels from StoryBundle.com, would it increase the likelihood that you'd buy the e-reader/tablet from QVC, or play no role?

Thanks for any feedback. I've got a novel in the political thriller story bundle that's up now at Story Bundle and I'm encouraging Jason Chen, the founder of Story Bundle, to consider contacting QVC about offering bundles with sales here, much like QVC typically bundles covers/chargers, etc. Why not include a bundle of books with every e-reader/tablet? Story Bundle typically has bundles available for differing tastes, and could even create unique bundles for just the QVC customer. I think it could be a win for all involved.

Although it sounds like a great idea, its hard to target the Q audience with a good selection of books, I actually dislike the bundling they do here anyway.

It's a way to sell something you can buyelsewhere (ipads) anyway at an inflated price to allow for ezpay.

A certificate for the book of your choice or selection of genres may be better