Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home

[ppppenguin]

Exhibition in Oxford and accompanying book:

https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/listenin

I've ordered the book from Hive, an ethical alternative to Amazon: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Beaty-Rub...e/30987562

[Radio Fixer]

Wont sell many at that price ! Why go to the bother of writing and publishing?

Better to have made it a cheap paperback at half the price with possibly four times the sales (or more)

Gary

[Mike Watterson]

It's the 75 colour illustrations that put up the price. Colour is WAY more expensive than an entirely mono print. A paperback wouldn't reduce the cost much.

Only mass sellers are cheap. A B&W only niche title could easily be £12, so that's not a bad price for a niche market colour edition. Soon be about 4 cups of coffee, because with coffee shortages it's to head to £6 eating out.

[Radio Fixer]

Putting you hand in your pocket for a coffee is no big deal, even if you mumble "that was a bit expensive", but £30 for a book seems too much. Maybe its my upbringing 'cos I could easily afford it. I certainly would need to see it first before buying.

And thats the big advantage of Amazon, even if some of their practices are not liked. Sending back is free and easy.

An alternative is to wait a while and the unsold copies may turn up at a cheapo bookshop in town that sells such books, certainly less than a tenner.

So ordereds yours then Mike?

Gary

[ppppenguin]

I paid £24.95 from Hive (same as Amazon) again with easy returns. I've started reading it and so far I like the style. Haven't got far enough in to say anything about content. £20+ is now commonplace for hardbacks. Many specialist books are a lot more than that. I looked up Art of Electronics (Horowitz and Hill) which is a widely used and essential reference for many. £74.39 from Amazon!! Gobsmacked.

[Mike Watterson]

I've been involved with publishing and £24.95 is a good price for 75 colour illustrations in a book.
Here €17+ is common even for popular paperbacks excluding Tesco discounted titles.

[Radio Fixer]

Missed the tip to buy from the Hive. Yes! £24.95 is a possibly a more tempting price so lets hope they sell plenty.

The Hive does have a returns Policy but you have to pay postage for "just changed your mind" and if its shrink wrapped its a no return. As is ebooks which is not so with Amazon and I have sent back a Kindle book and got a refund. Mind you I did buy the paper version after for the better diagrams.

I see that there is no feedback on the book at the Hive or option to add one. Not so of course at Amazon as nobody seems to have bought one. Feedback is another feature that is very useful. Amazon is maligned but it gets so much right including easy open paper packaging, including tape, and delivery to a pickup location for free. It hopefully is making other sellers pull there socks up.

I dont always buy fromthem often going to the local Argos which is somrtimes cheaper !

Gary

[Mike Watterson]

Too many returns and Amazon kills your account. The basis is opaque.

[PerdioPal]

Looks like a good read, just ordered one. Saved up for it by not getting expensive coffee!

[PerdioPal]

Mine has arrived, very good quality of manufacture, wood free paper too (as it says inside, what is wood free paper?) and made in China, I wonder how much it would have cost if made here?
More importantly, 'er indoors is visiting mum for a weekend soon, sounds like a bottle of half decent red wine and a read. From a quick dip in it looks like a book that needs reading in one go. The cat will love it, sitting on a heated surface (my lap) for ages!