Comments on: In-store book printing: now comes the real test http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/ Transpromo, Short-Run Book Publishing, Inkjet and other Printing Industry Issues Mon, 21 May 2012 14:35:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Victor Curran http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1350 Victor Curran Tue, 05 May 2009 14:34:52 +0000 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/?p=538#comment-1350 Frankly, I've always been skeptical about point-of-sale POD, for a rather mundane reason: Books are made of paper. Anyone operating a POD device in a retail space has to maintain an inventory of paper, which takes up expensive square footage, which would otherwise be occupied by finished books. Finished books can be returned for full credit if they're not sold, and blank paper can't, so if I were a retail bookseller I'd be reluctant to fill up my stockroom with blank paper. Frankly, I’ve always been skeptical about point-of-sale POD, for a rather mundane reason: Books are made of paper. Anyone operating a POD device in a retail space has to maintain an inventory of paper, which takes up expensive square footage, which would otherwise be occupied by finished books. Finished books can be returned for full credit if they’re not sold, and blank paper can’t, so if I were a retail bookseller I’d be reluctant to fill up my stockroom with blank paper.

]]> By: Andrew Rosenau http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 Andrew Rosenau Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:37:19 +0000 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/?p=538#comment-1207 I agree with all of the posts...throughput x price of a paperback-cost of equipment = window dressing (at best.) I agree with all of the posts…throughput x price of a paperback-cost of equipment = window dressing (at best.)

]]> By: Mihai Paunescu http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1160 Mihai Paunescu Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:48:45 +0000 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/?p=538#comment-1160 I have to agree with Andy on the image it described. It will not work that way. On the other hand as MichaelJ said putting something like this in a student campus or university store will make much more sense. The only downturn in that case will be the fact that most publishers of STM and academic books will prefer to sell high priced hardcovers instead of letting such a "copier on steroids" do the same book for just a small share of the price. I have to agree with Andy on the image it described. It will not work that way.
On the other hand as MichaelJ said putting something like this in a student campus or university store will make much more sense.
The only downturn in that case will be the fact that most publishers of STM and academic books will prefer to sell high priced hardcovers instead of letting such a “copier on steroids” do the same book for just a small share of the price.

]]> By: MichaelJ http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1132 MichaelJ Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:37:42 +0000 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/?p=538#comment-1132 Andy, I've always believed that Starbucks + Kinkos + Barnes and Noble is the killer app for college kids in the States. So maybe printers opening up bookstores and libraries is not as crazy as might appear at first blush. Barnes and Noble + Starbucks is already commonplace. More seriously, if it's going to work, it will be because of the access to titles. Then it will be competing against something that doesn't yet exist, the ability to get a hard copy of an obscure niche title, now. As the tech gets better it could turn out to be Netflicks for previously out of print books. I don't think it works in the shopping mall. But it could work in college towns and certain neighborhoods. Andy,

I’ve always believed that Starbucks + Kinkos + Barnes and Noble is the killer app for college kids in the States. So maybe printers opening up bookstores and libraries is not as crazy as might appear at first blush. Barnes and Noble + Starbucks is already commonplace.

More seriously, if it’s going to work, it will be because of the access to titles. Then it will be competing against something that doesn’t yet exist, the ability to get a hard copy of an obscure niche title, now. As the tech gets better it could turn out to be Netflicks for previously out of print books. I don’t think it works in the shopping mall. But it could work in college towns and certain neighborhoods.

]]> By: Andy McCourt http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2009/04/in-store-book-printing-now-comes-the-real-test/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Andy McCourt Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:07:51 +0000 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/?p=538#comment-1131 Thanks for the update George. I just don't see that the effort is worth the revenue possible. A hundred books a day per machine would be optimistic. As a service to customers for an out-of print or out-of-stock title it's admirable but the one Espresso sold so far here in Australia just sits there not printing for most of the day. The quality is inferior to more professionally-produced books, which can be printed and delivered in 24 hours anyway. So the Espresso sits in a corner of a great-looking bookshop full of hardcovers, 'coffee-table' and other oversize books, merchandising displays, piled-high best sellers and books with DVDs stuck to them and the customer is going to prefer an inferior on-demand copy? Sorry, for me it's an added service to existing bookselling and probably a non-profit one at that. Maybe a vanity press app. might turn a profit. What next? Commercial printers opening bookstores and libraries? Thanks for the update George. I just don’t see that the effort is worth the revenue possible. A hundred books a day per machine would be optimistic. As a service to customers for an out-of print or out-of-stock title it’s admirable but the one Espresso sold so far here in Australia just sits there not printing for most of the day. The quality is inferior to more professionally-produced books, which can be printed and delivered in 24 hours anyway. So the Espresso sits in a corner of a great-looking bookshop full of hardcovers, ‘coffee-table’ and other oversize books, merchandising displays, piled-high best sellers and books with DVDs stuck to them and the customer is going to prefer an inferior on-demand copy? Sorry, for me it’s an added service to existing bookselling and probably a non-profit one at that. Maybe a vanity press app. might turn a profit. What next? Commercial printers opening bookstores and libraries?

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