Amazon controls 80% of eBook sales - Bookshop.org wants to change that

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Read Local: Bookshop.org has launched a new e-reading platform aimed at supporting third-party booksellers. The platform, which debuted five years ago with the goal of helping independent bookstores, is now extending that mission to the eBook market, despite Amazon's overwhelming dominance.

According to recent data from research firm IBISWorld, Amazon controls over 80 percent of all online (e)book sales. The retail giant also owns the highly popular Kindle platform, making it even harder for readers to choose smaller, independent alternatives.

"No matter how much you love your local bookstore," Bookshop founder Andy Hunter said, "if you want to read an e-book, you have to go to Amazon" or any other online platform. eBooks are now a significant revenue source for publishers and writers, and they could also benefit independent bookstores if readers are willing to practice a form of "socially-conscious consumerism."

Bookshop.org's new offering for eBook enthusiasts includes enhanced reading tools and the ability to purchase eBooks from local sellers. Readers can acquire their digital books in the same way they buy physical ones – by choosing a specific local bookstore to support or allowing Bookshop to distribute the funds across all participating sellers.

Once purchased, eBooks can be read using a dedicated mobile app on iOS or Android devices, with a web-based option available for desktop readers. However, Bookshop notes that the "full" reading experience, which includes advanced features like bookmarks, highlights, annotations, font and typeface customization, text search, and device syncing, is only accessible via the mobile app.

Since its inception, Bookshop has raised over $35 million to support independent bookstores, according to official figures. Founder Andy Hunter explained that while there is no "real way" to make the eBook service profitable, profitability isn't the focus in this case. Bookshop's mission is to help smaller bookstores not just survive, but thrive, in an increasingly digital world.

Amazon's eBook service undoubtedly offers a seamless reading experience, and it is likely to remain dominant in the near future. However, Hunter and Bookshop are determined to offer an alternative.

There's "no reason on Earth to give a billionaire your $9.99 for your e-book," Hunter said, criticizing the growing influence of Silicon Valley oligarchs. "It doesn't have to be this way. We can invest in, we can support our local community even when we're reading digital books," the entrepreneur added.

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Amazon controls 80% of eBook sales – Bookshop.org wants to change that

 

[NumberNine]

So Bookshop doesn't have books or a shop, but they are willing to step in to help actual book shops with sales.
Hooking public sentiment to drive business is marketing 101 so I'll take the whole "fighting the rich by earning money" thing with a grain of salt.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Fighting "Silicon Valley oligarchs," one good read at a time

I would want that very much!

 

[Squid Surprise]

I always felt that publishers dropped the ball when it came to ebooks. They should have included the ebook for “free” when purchasing any hardcover book - and at a discount when purchasing a paperback.

Instead, they largely went ignored and allowed Amazon to dominate.

While I applaud bookshop.org, I feel it’s too little, too late.

 

[DrFoster]

Hunter totally misses the point. You ain't giving Bezos/Amazon that $10. $8 at least goes to the publisher. They will pay some of that to the author based on what is in their contract. The real reason to boycott Kindle is they don't support the epub format. Every other device (desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, eBook reader you can buy from every other manufacturer and every other eBook store

 

[RudyBob]

I hope they garner a larger market share

 

[scoffer]

Competition is good. If they can keep their prices competitive, then hopefully they will do OK. Personally, I've never heard of them before, and neither have any of my friends -so right there-it seems they need to advertise /publicise more. It can only be a bad thing if Amazon totally captures the market 100% - because we all know what will happen then. Spaceman Bezoz will jack up the prices through the roof.

 

[Lowhangingfruit]

Their catalog seems to be pretty good. Noticing a couple of quick things when compared to amazon:

- Prices across the board seem to be higher. I'm seeing close to 20% higher. Makes sense I guess.
- There are no book reviews or ratings.
- Without ratings when you search you get back results that are not necessarily ordered in a meaningful way. You'd need to do your research about what to buy elsewhere.