The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
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The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
1–10 of 193 posts
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#2This article really resonates with me and I'm somewhat relieved to see someone else feels the same way.
I love physical books for general reading and will often buy both physical and ebook format for technical books to get the best of both worlds.
I now cannot stand print-on-demand books and, like the author, I can spot them very quickly. The quality is abysmal, and I might as well be printing them myself at that point.
I too used to default to Amazon, as the price was often about 30% cheaper. However, I've come to realise that you get what you pay for. In the UK, I just buy from Waterstones or local bookshops, as then I can trust that it has likely come from the publisher or at least can inspect in advance.
I am never buying a book from Amazon again.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#3I don't have any reason to believe this is not a scam. If Amazon had any good intention in doing this, why didn’t they simply note on the webpage that this book is printed on demand? Those introduction on pages look exactly the same as those for the original edition. It’s only once you’ve received the book that you realise Amazon has printed it themselves. I don’t like this game, and now I never buy books from Amazon unless I absolutely have to.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#4This article really resonates with me and I'm somewhat relieved to see someone else feels the same way. I love physical books for general reading and will often buy both physical and ebook format for technical books to get the best of both worlds. I now cannot stand print-on-demand books and, like the author, I can spot them very quickly. The quality is abysmal, and I might as well be printing them myself at that poi…
Is there a way to filter out such books when you browse Amazon? They should at least tell you it's an "on-demand" printed book before you order?
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#5Is it really the enshittification of books, or the enshittification of printers that's responsible?
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#6I gave up, bought a kobo libra2 that never saw an internet connection (you can find updated firmware online to download) and now just borrow epubs in the soulseek library.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#7The last 3 books I’ve purchased from Amazon (UK) have been of questionable quality. The most recent was Designing Data–Intensive Applications (O’Reilly) and I’m still not sure if it’s print on demand, counterfeit- or just a reject. Roller marks, damaged pages, slightly off print. The returns process is inconvenient, one-offs are okay but on multiple purchases it’s fatiguing and so the book stays.
This isn’t specific to Amazon, I had the same issue with Waterstones in the UK (online)
I now just buy second hand (Abe, WOB) and hope for the best.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#8It is not just the print, it is also the way pages are cut and bound. The printed area is not where it should be on the page.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#9Isn't paperback basically dead in the US because most sales are digital now?
Tbh i've given up on dead tree books with the lone exception of a few hard covers because ... space the final frontier.
Re: The emergence of print-on-demand Amazon paperback books
#10It’s easy to tell when these books are printed by a high-volume inkjet printer. They are not as pleasurable to read. It’s a certain fuzziness, like when cinemas first went to digital, and when planetariums got rid of their optical star projectors.