Research: Online Book Buyers

gothicangel · Mar 15, 2011

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/recommendation-and-review-less-important-online-shoppers.html

I think this is a bit of a misnomer (i) the research was carried out by The Book Depositry and (ii) I believe when book buyers go to Amazon etc they alreay know what they are looking for. If I'm looking on Amazon for a certain book, and Marketplace offer it for quite a bit less, I will purchase from them.

cameron_chapman · Mar 15, 2011

gothicangel said:
(ii) I believe when book buyers go to Amazon etc they alreay know what they are looking for.

I've got to disagree with this point, based on my own personal experience. I often browse Amazon (as well as Barnes & Noble's website), looking for new books. I look based on the books I've purchased and what's recommended (Amazon's recommendation engine is really good), and I do general searches.

I think the ebook market has really made an impact on how people shop for books online. I've always browsed for non-fiction books online, but now I'm looking for fiction in the same way.

I have to disagree with what the article was saying about reviews and recommendations being less important, though. Those are the two of the biggest factors in influencing what I purchase online (as well as a sample or the "look inside" function on Amazon).

gothicangel · Mar 15, 2011

cameron_chapman said:
I've got to disagree with this point, based on my own personal experience. I often browse Amazon (as well as Barnes & Noble's website), looking for new books. I look based on the books I've purchased and what's recommended (Amazon's recommendation engine is really good), and I do general searches.

I think the ebook market has really made an impact on how people shop for books online. I've always browsed for non-fiction books online, but now I'm looking for fiction in the same way.

I have to disagree with what the article was saying about reviews and recommendations being less important, though. Those are the two of the biggest factors in influencing what I purchase online (as well as a sample or the "look inside" function on Amazon).

But you've just contradicted yourself. You say you browse Amazon [I never browse Amazon] and you are influenced by reviews and recommendations [or are you just refering to Amazon reviews and recommendations.]

I believe the research is talking about reviews and recommendations in magazines and the press. There are two books I'm waiting to be published, I discovered both through author interviews - one in Writing Magazine, the other in Mslexia.

Ebook reviews on Amazon I am suspicious of, especially if there are only a few.

veinglory · Mar 15, 2011

I browse Amazon most of the time without a specific purchase in mind. I check 'recommended for you' at least once a week. I also often go to the page of a book I love and use the 'similar books' tool.

Jettica · Mar 15, 2011

I look at the lists too. Very helpful, especially if I'm looking for books in a certain genre.

The recommendations tool is so useful. Even if I go onto Amazon for a specific book I'll also check through my recommendations to see if there's anything else I want.

cameron_chapman · Mar 15, 2011

gothicangel said:
But you've just contradicted yourself. You say you browse Amazon [I never browse Amazon] and you are influenced by reviews and recommendations [or are you just refering to Amazon reviews and recommendations.]

I believe the research is talking about reviews and recommendations in magazines and the press. There are two books I'm waiting to be published, I discovered both through author interviews - one in Writing Magazine, the other in Mslexia.

Ebook reviews on Amazon I am suspicious of, especially if there are only a few.

I meant the reviews and recommended books on Amazon. The thing is, though, that I don't just have one way of finding books to read. I don't think most people who read often only have one way of finding books. They're looking for books all the time, from a variety of sources.

What was interesting, to me at least, about that article was that they indicated price was the main factor. For me, price is pretty much the least of my considerations when I'm buying a book.

Soccer Mom · Mar 15, 2011

veinglory said:
I browse Amazon most of the time without a specific purchase in mind. I check 'recommended for you' at least once a week. I also often go to the page of a book I love and use the 'similar books' tool.

This. And I love the Listmania function.

ETA: responding to the above, price isn't the reason I buy something. It might be the reason I DON'T buy something (too high) but I never buy just because it's cheap.

Mr Flibble · Mar 15, 2011

I browse Amazon quite regularly ( i put in a very very specific genre for ex, an see hwat has those keyword/tags)

If I'm looking for something specific re title/author, I order at my local bookshop. I only buy from amazon if bookshop can't get it in. (ebooks I prefer to get straight from pub, when I can)

veinglory · Mar 15, 2011

I agree, if its a bestseller I know will be in store I like to get it there. Use it or lose it.

Research: Online Book Buyers

gothicangel

Toughen up.

cameron_chapman

Makes Things Up

gothicangel

Toughen up.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Jettica

Superfluously multisyllabic

cameron_chapman

Makes Things Up

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

veinglory

volitare nequeo