I have been in Cannes a week now. I have heard most of the languages of Europe spoken and plenty of voices from Eastern Europe too. Yet I have never seen anyone reading from a Kindle as yet (except me), on public transport, in cafes or on the beach. I was aware that the rise of the ebook is slower in Europe but I was still puzzled. The Germans embrace new technology. How come they haven't embraced ebooks? My books sell very well on Kindle in the UK and are doing very well on iTunes. They're slower in US and the recent launch of Kindle in Germany shows a few sales, but since the Germans love Scottish crime and my books are in translation there, how come the sales haven't happened?
Then David Gaughran followed me on Twitter and visiting his blog my eyes were suddenly opened. Having chatted on here about the opportunities that ebooks create in spreading the word, I suddenly discovered that Amazon are 'controlling' the word. This is an excellent article and I thank David for following me and enlightening me at the same time.
Read this and 'weep', or alternatively complain. http://tinyurl.com/6yubd66
The surcharge is totally unjustifiable. I think it's just a profiteering scam for Amazon but surely they can't be the only thing that's holding back the tide of e books/ kindles? Kindles themselves are expensive. For what they cost I would rather use that money for something else but that's just me; my mother in law loves her kindle because it's great for her eyesight - she has the choice of reading in large print and, no one can fault the advent of the kindle for this especially for people with failing eyesight who love to read. I wonder what the answer is but I believe it is in the price - but there may be another reason - I also feel that although Germany certainly does embrace technology, I wonder if there is a sense, in German culture, of the love of a real book. Culturally, the Art of the Book in Germany is a High Art, (yes they have paperbacks too) but I believe there is a different attitude towards the 'book' there. I think it's a cultural issue. And Germans love to read so it does make one wonder, but my gut instinct tells me it might have something to do with cultural attitudes. Culture is something the Germans hold very high . They gave us Gutenberg after all. I grew up within such a mixed cultural background but mine is highly influenced by German culture and I can't help but feel there is a higher appreciation for a holding a 'real' book in one's hand and turning the pages. In fact, a young German friend of mine the other day, made comment on this. He is a student at the University of Edinburgh (banking) is really into technological and digital means of work and play , but he said ' you know, I really don't agree with this e book trend. I just love reading and holding a real book in my hands, I love the feel of the page, the comfort of sitting with it cradled in my hands.' He is in his early 30's. It made me wonder if he was a voice for many young Germans his age.....for me, it is the price of a kindle that holds me back but also, I agree with my German friend. There's nothing like the feel and aroma of the printed page. But I am just a luddite, and probably biased, because my speciality in printmaking was in Book Arts. May your kindle always be kindling wonderful words !
ReplyDeleteI really ought to add here - I am not anti kindle. There's so much good to be said about another medium for reading - and some books are just physically too huge and heavy to put in the handbag. There's a lot of advantages to the kindle and I hope I'm not contradicting myself here when I say there may come a day when I will carry one around in my handbag. It's just another form for the printed word and it is less bulky esp when travelling, for which these are perfect, but I doubt I'd ever have one by my bedside. In fact, statistics show that with the advent of the kindle, people are actually reading more, not less. And this is good, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, there are a number of things holding back e-books in Europe.
1) VAT. 15% is applied across the board by Amazon (some books slip the net, but they are catching most new books now). Direct sales by publishers are even harder hit, with VAT rates in some individual countries going several points higher. All EU countries have a low- or no-VAT rate on print books.
2) Higher prices. Aside from VAT, European publishers are fixing very high prices for e-books in an attempt to shore up print sales. In fact, publishers in four European countries are being investigated for price collusion. Also, self-publishers and smaller publishers are barred from many distribution channels, and are unable to exert downward pressure on prices.
3) Expensive e-readers. Even where the Kindle has officially launched, such as Germany, they cost 50% more than in the US (and are shipped with English language menus and instructions only). Outside of those countries, Amazon will ship the Kindle, but only with a US plug, and customers face expensive delivery costs, and customs charges.
Also, for many different reasons, Amazon has a much smaller overall share of the book market than in the US, and aren't able to use their book storefront to advertise the Kindle as effectively. Customers of Amazon France, for example, don't see the huge price difference with e-books, and are less motivated to switch over.
I don't doubt that physical books are held in high regard in Germany, but I would be skeptical that it would be dramatically different than the UK or the US. I think Germany will see the same explosive growth in e-books, but it will take a little longer to be obvious.
You have to remember that the UK is a year behind the US, and the German market is at least 6 months behind the UK. We are only now seeing signs of the same kind of growth in the UK which is now obvious in the US. The German Kindle store is only 3 months old. Things will look very different in a year.
Dave