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Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

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Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#161

Post by PinguTS »

gadders wrote: post #150
niklasmerz wrote: post #142

As a German I don't have to worry too much about the prices of books. We have Buchpreisbindung https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchpreisbindung

We used to have a similar price-fixing thing in the UK called the Net Book Agreement [1]. Thankfully it got repealed and books became cheaper for all. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Book_Agreement

"Thankfully" is an interesting view from the reader side. Would be interesting to know what was the impact on the authors side.

Got it cheaper because the authors got now less money or got it cheaper because the publisher got now less money?

Because I know, that (at least for technical books) the pay for the authors is not really great. It's more like a reputation than making money out of it.

Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#163

Post by mejutoco »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #82
socialismisok wrote: post #64

Is "cheapest" the right objective? Because if that's the case, book piracy seems like the clear winner. But maybe we should consider "cheapest with some boundaries". For instance, we probably agree that bookstores are nice for a myriad of reasons, even if we don't frequent them. They employ people in the area, they offer curation and recommendations, they invite speakers and host events, and they help local authors g…

Clearly this is the cheapest online and legal options. It would be odd and short-lived to include illegally shared books at $0, and a site that shows physical stores would also be odd, since if you are going to a local bookshop you are probably not price sensitive. So for someone shopping online it a good objective, and may take away business from Amazon which is probably a good thing for competition. It is also usef…

You can think of it as analogous to booking a flight. Do you want the cheapest flight with a 16 hour flight and 2 transfers with Ryanair? A lot of people don't mind paying a bit more for a direct flight and a complimentary chocolate (lot, swiss air), even if all are legal.

Some websites even included an option to check as "worry-free" or similar to filter out these cheap options.

Book equivalents could be quality of paper, status of the book, or having good customer support if there is a problem with the order.

Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#164

Post by gadders »

shnksi wrote: post #157
gadders wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we have to consider why books exist. There are many reasons such as disseminating knowledge, broadening perspectives, entertainment, but I would think one of them wouldn't be "to let people have a nice job in a shop".

Certainly, but also in terms of disseminating knowledge, broadening perspectives, and entertainment, if people are able to access cheaper books more easily, it will allow them to gain more of all of these things.

Yes, which is what Amazon and other online retailers (love them or hate them) has done for people.

Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#168

Post by chrisseaton »

PinguTS wrote: post #161
gadders wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We used to have a similar price-fixing thing in the UK called the Net Book Agreement [1]. Thankfully it got repealed and books became cheaper for all. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Book_Agreement

"Thankfully" is an interesting view from the reader side. Would be interesting to know what was the impact on the authors side. Got it cheaper because the authors got now less money or got it cheaper because the publisher got now less money? Because I know, that (at least for technical books) the pay for the authors is not really great. It's more like a reputation than making money out of it.

Poor people should be able to buy books without having to subsidise your bookshop aesthetic.

Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#169

Post by gadders »

chrisseaton wrote: post #168
PinguTS wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Thankfully" is an interesting view from the reader side. Would be interesting to know what was the impact on the authors side. Got it cheaper because the authors got now less money or got it cheaper because the publisher got now less money? Because I know, that (at least for technical books) the pay for the authors is not really great. It's more like a reputation than making money out of it.

Poor people should be able to buy books without having to subsidise your bookshop aesthetic.

Exactly. Enabling poor people to buy books is a far greater social good than having somewhere comfortable for hipsters to sit with their laptops and middle class mums to push their three wheeled buggies round.

Re: Show HN: I built a site that finds the cheapest place to buy a book

#170

Post by rolae »

andrewstuart wrote: post #165

How about "finding the site that best supports independent booksellers"? Its disappointing that so much of our society is about cheapest price.

Bookshop.org is about that, privately funded with the objective to let independent book sellers stand up to the power of amazon.

https://bookshop.org/info/about-us

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