Benefits of Subscribing?
DiscussionsLibrary of America Subscribers
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1bwharper78
I am considering a subscription to LOA. Can someone please tell me the benefits of becoming a subscriber vs purchasing editions on Amazon?
2elenchus
A key benefit is the slipcase. Perhaps some of the Amazon editions for sale have the slipcase, but I assume most don't. The edition for sale in bookstores has a paper dustjacket instead of the slipcase, I assume that's the typical edition found for sale online.
There are other benefits: sales and discounts, regular schedule of books from your customized list arriving in the mail, and so forth.
There are other benefits: sales and discounts, regular schedule of books from your customized list arriving in the mail, and so forth.
3civitas
>2 elenchus: A key benefit is the slipcase
De gustabus non disputandum est
The slipcase is the reason I don't subscribe. I much prefer the dust jacket. Now, if they were to offer subscribers the option of dust jackets in place of the light colored slipcases (or even better, with matching black slipcases (I've suggested this before)), I’d reconsider, instantly.
This is obviously a boxed set, but you can generalize a bit and visualize the black dust jack and black slipcase combination:
De gustabus non disputandum est
The slipcase is the reason I don't subscribe. I much prefer the dust jacket. Now, if they were to offer subscribers the option of dust jackets in place of the light colored slipcases (or even better, with matching black slipcases (I've suggested this before)), I’d reconsider, instantly.
This is obviously a boxed set, but you can generalize a bit and visualize the black dust jack and black slipcase combination:
4elenchus
>3 civitas:
Oh, I agree but wasn't explicit in stating that. A more precise terminology is perhaps that I consider the slipcase to be the primary characteristic or feature of subscription, and by implication the prime consideration when deciding upon subscribing or not. It's certainly not universally a benefit.
A close second feature, to my mind, is the financial support to the LOA mission, which again would not qualify as either important or a benefit by everyone. I speculate, however, that even if supposing a subscriber spent exactly the same amount over the same time period (and even, for the same titles) as a non-subscriber, that there is an additional quantity of support to LOA by subscriptions. It would figure in marketing and logistics (deciding upon print runs), for example, perhaps even included when making decisions on whether certain titles or authors are debated for inclusion in the LOA catalogue.
Oh, I agree but wasn't explicit in stating that. A more precise terminology is perhaps that I consider the slipcase to be the primary characteristic or feature of subscription, and by implication the prime consideration when deciding upon subscribing or not. It's certainly not universally a benefit.
A close second feature, to my mind, is the financial support to the LOA mission, which again would not qualify as either important or a benefit by everyone. I speculate, however, that even if supposing a subscriber spent exactly the same amount over the same time period (and even, for the same titles) as a non-subscriber, that there is an additional quantity of support to LOA by subscriptions. It would figure in marketing and logistics (deciding upon print runs), for example, perhaps even included when making decisions on whether certain titles or authors are debated for inclusion in the LOA catalogue.
5AnnieMod
>3 civitas:
You can buy the dust jackets from LOA if you really want them :)
>1 bwharper78:
You get a discount both for the volumes you get as part of the subscription AND for the ones you buy outside of it. Technically, Amazon can be a bit cheaper but I like the slipcases and I prefer supporting LOA and not a reseller when I can so I had been a subscriber for about a decade now.
You can buy the dust jackets from LOA if you really want them :)
>1 bwharper78:
You get a discount both for the volumes you get as part of the subscription AND for the ones you buy outside of it. Technically, Amazon can be a bit cheaper but I like the slipcases and I prefer supporting LOA and not a reseller when I can so I had been a subscriber for about a decade now.
7Dr_Flanders
As far as benefits of subscribing go, I think a lot of people enjoy the way in which books are chosen and shipped. Generally, you fill out a list of books that you are interested in receiving and choose how often you would like to receive a volume. You can choose to receive these shipments as often as about once a month (I think) or as seldom as one every six months. I know some people really enjoy the surprise of getting a package in the mail every so often and opening it to find which volume they have received. In the United States, those volumes cost me about 32 dollars a piece.
If you subscribe, you also have the ability to order any additional volumes at any time for a price of about 25 dollars with free shipping (again, in the United States).
For me, I used to have my subscription frequency set as once a month, but I shifted to once every 6 months about a year ago, because I'd had a baby and money was a little tighter than it used to be, so I didn't want to commit to buying volumes as regularly as I used to. I have discovered that, for me, I actually prefer receiving the subscription shipment less often, and choosing specific volumes to order at the 25 dollar rate when finances allow. You lose some of the surprise aspect, but I'd rather just choose the volume I'm interested in anyway, but that's just a personal preference.
As far as price goes, I think the 25 dollar price with free shipping often (but not always) beats Amazon's price by a dollar or two. The LOA also has sales pretty regularly. I have seen a number of 20% off coupons, which can often be used with any volumes and as many volumes as you choose. When those sales are in effect, you can get each volume for about 20 dollars with free shipping.
For price comparison, Amazon has the following prices listed this morning:
Elmore Leonard - Westerns - 27.40
Walt Whitman - Poetry and Prose - 29.65
Crime Novels - American Noir of the 1930s and 40s - 27.84
Wendell Berry - Port William Novels & Stories - 22.45.
That was an unscientific sampling of volumes that I saw on the first page of results when searching for "Library of America" on Amazon... but of those results for single volumes on the first page of results, the Wendell Berry volume was the only one that would beat the 25 dollar price.
Obviously, there is the difference between dust jackets (3rd party sellers) and slipcases (subscribers). That is simply a matter of preference, I think. I prefer the slipcases in most cases, although sometimes the boxed set artwork looks nice enough to tempt me. I do think the slipcases probably help protect the books from shelf wear a little better.
You can order slipcases through the website if you are a subscriber for 4 dollars (or less if you order a certain number). You can also order the black dust jackets, but I think you have to email to order those. My experiences with customer service have been rare but positive.
I'm happy to be a subscriber but I think there are a lot of people who buy LOA volumes through Amazon or some other 3rd party seller. I'd imagine that any sales help the LOA continue to do what they do. I wanted to try to give you a good overview of why I subscribe. I'm sorry for the length and if this was confusing.
If you subscribe, you also have the ability to order any additional volumes at any time for a price of about 25 dollars with free shipping (again, in the United States).
For me, I used to have my subscription frequency set as once a month, but I shifted to once every 6 months about a year ago, because I'd had a baby and money was a little tighter than it used to be, so I didn't want to commit to buying volumes as regularly as I used to. I have discovered that, for me, I actually prefer receiving the subscription shipment less often, and choosing specific volumes to order at the 25 dollar rate when finances allow. You lose some of the surprise aspect, but I'd rather just choose the volume I'm interested in anyway, but that's just a personal preference.
As far as price goes, I think the 25 dollar price with free shipping often (but not always) beats Amazon's price by a dollar or two. The LOA also has sales pretty regularly. I have seen a number of 20% off coupons, which can often be used with any volumes and as many volumes as you choose. When those sales are in effect, you can get each volume for about 20 dollars with free shipping.
For price comparison, Amazon has the following prices listed this morning:
Elmore Leonard - Westerns - 27.40
Walt Whitman - Poetry and Prose - 29.65
Crime Novels - American Noir of the 1930s and 40s - 27.84
Wendell Berry - Port William Novels & Stories - 22.45.
That was an unscientific sampling of volumes that I saw on the first page of results when searching for "Library of America" on Amazon... but of those results for single volumes on the first page of results, the Wendell Berry volume was the only one that would beat the 25 dollar price.
Obviously, there is the difference between dust jackets (3rd party sellers) and slipcases (subscribers). That is simply a matter of preference, I think. I prefer the slipcases in most cases, although sometimes the boxed set artwork looks nice enough to tempt me. I do think the slipcases probably help protect the books from shelf wear a little better.
You can order slipcases through the website if you are a subscriber for 4 dollars (or less if you order a certain number). You can also order the black dust jackets, but I think you have to email to order those. My experiences with customer service have been rare but positive.
I'm happy to be a subscriber but I think there are a lot of people who buy LOA volumes through Amazon or some other 3rd party seller. I'd imagine that any sales help the LOA continue to do what they do. I wanted to try to give you a good overview of why I subscribe. I'm sorry for the length and if this was confusing.
