ebook gift-giving
DiscussionsBooks in 2025: The Future of the Book World
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1brightcopy
Tim's tweets about ebook gift giving (and the lack thereof) got me thinking. It seems weird that the big online companies (or those with B&M presence) aren't more savvy about ebook gift giving. It seems like with Amazon you can give them one through email. That's fine, if you're in the tiny percentage of people who want to do such a thing.
But wouldn't it make a lot of sense for many of the rest to be able to order a "thing" to give to a person? Imagine if they sent you a hard paper card the size of a hardcover with the book's front and back covers on its front and back (or, for cost savings, just the front). Imagine the big display cards for the expensive items in some stores that are held behind the counter. Sure, this would cost a lot more (shipping and printing, for one), but you could add that to the price. If you wanted it cheaper, you could always do the email thing. The recipient then just registers that big card with the website and away they go with their book.
I would think this might appeal because people could have a real tangible thing. they could wrap up and give. Recipients could still "return" it just like they can a book that they get via email (amazon exchanges them for amazon gift cards). You could also exchange this way.
And they could extend their reach into B&M places like grocery stores, wal-mart, etc. with these cards. They might need to do something like have the big card have a little pouch to hold a conventional gift card that the person at the register activates. Companies like Amazon could probably work out some nice deals with non-bookstore retailers.
Is any of this making sense? Too much sense? Or is anyone actually doing it already?
But wouldn't it make a lot of sense for many of the rest to be able to order a "thing" to give to a person? Imagine if they sent you a hard paper card the size of a hardcover with the book's front and back covers on its front and back (or, for cost savings, just the front). Imagine the big display cards for the expensive items in some stores that are held behind the counter. Sure, this would cost a lot more (shipping and printing, for one), but you could add that to the price. If you wanted it cheaper, you could always do the email thing. The recipient then just registers that big card with the website and away they go with their book.
I would think this might appeal because people could have a real tangible thing. they could wrap up and give. Recipients could still "return" it just like they can a book that they get via email (amazon exchanges them for amazon gift cards). You could also exchange this way.
And they could extend their reach into B&M places like grocery stores, wal-mart, etc. with these cards. They might need to do something like have the big card have a little pouch to hold a conventional gift card that the person at the register activates. Companies like Amazon could probably work out some nice deals with non-bookstore retailers.
Is any of this making sense? Too much sense? Or is anyone actually doing it already?
2lkernagh
Yes it makes sense and although I cannot speak as to whether this has already been done in the States, in Canada, I remembered reading an article a few months ago in the Globe and Mail about this very idea. I searched the Globe and Mail after reading your post above and located the article in question from May 27th, 2011:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/coming-soon-to-a-store-near-you-a...
Now, this may still be in theory and not in practice as I haven't encountered it in the stores that I frequent.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/coming-soon-to-a-store-near-you-a...
Now, this may still be in theory and not in practice as I haven't encountered it in the stores that I frequent.
3brightcopy
Good memory, lkernagh! I wonder if these people managed to snag a patent on it (*eyeroll*). Seriously, though, I can't imagine the big guys needing this company. Maybe they can add value by managing the distribution, I suppose. But they never actually mention (even on their website) which companies they'll be selling ebooks for. It sounds like you download it from them. I'm skeptical.
Having watched the video, they do have one very interesting thing I didn't think of. The cards have QR codes on them that are retail location specific. So the user can scan the QR code and buy it directly from the web and the retail still gets a cut. Of course, they could still go to Amazon or some place different and cut out the retailer. But at least it's something.
ETA: Also noticed they had something else I had thought of. You can read sample chapters on their website. Was wondering what a good way to handle that would be.
Having watched the video, they do have one very interesting thing I didn't think of. The cards have QR codes on them that are retail location specific. So the user can scan the QR code and buy it directly from the web and the retail still gets a cut. Of course, they could still go to Amazon or some place different and cut out the retailer. But at least it's something.
ETA: Also noticed they had something else I had thought of. You can read sample chapters on their website. Was wondering what a good way to handle that would be.
