Random thoughts...

[Dave1442397]

I used to hit the bookstore every Tuesday back in the '90s. I worked near the Garden State Plaza and Paramus Park malls, and they both had a few bookstores back then. New releases were on the rack on Tuesday, and with my crazy $400/mo rent, I had plenty left over for books

Now though, I mostly go for e-books over paperbacks. I picked up a couple of Laird Barron's paperbacks recently, and a few from Jerad's John Pelan sale, but that's about it.

As for deckled edges, back in the day I thought that was just the publisher being too cheap to cut the damn pages properly...I didn't know it was a thing!

I bought myself a new kindle for Christmas. My old one (2014) has 1gb of storage and hold around 500 books before starting to complain about lack of memory. The new one has 30gbs of storage, so...15,000 books? Lol, that'd be close to fifty years worth of reading. There should be a rule that you can't die until you've read all the books on your kindle.

[RonClinton]

Paperbacks don't seem to have the charm they once did. I got McCammon to sign my paperbacks of Swan Song and Wolf's Hour and I love those formats. But today's mass market paperbacks just don't have the same energy. Although--there's no way I'd be able to read those small format paperbacks.

As much as I adore mylar-wrapped hardcovers -- and I'm now sitting in an office surrounded by thousands of them, almost all of which I have read (and those that aren't will eventually be read) -- I have to say that, inexplicably, my favorite format to read -- not own or collect, but actually read) has always been a trade paperback with French flaps, especially one with deckled edges. No idea why, but for me that's the perfect combination of size/comfort in the hands, easy-to-read font, and a visually pleasant upgrade from its standard form...and I don't feel like I have to baby it like a hardcover costing 10X more.

I also collect vintage crime/noir mmpb paperbacks from the '40s and '50s (primarily), and while I enjoy doing so I do have to admit trying to read that small font is a challenge.

I haven't bought any of CD's tpbs and likely won't as that kind of indie/minor author lineup doesn't do it for me these days (and no French flaps or deckled edges! ;-)), but I am glad it's an option that's available to their customers.

[Ben Staad]

No worries, Jeff. I don't think many of us can read those PB's either.

I think what may have lead to PB's charm decreasing over the years is the change in shopping habits and the instant news on the internet.

Going to a brick and mortar, finding that your favorite author has a new book, and then purchasing said new book was a thrill. Now we typically know way in advance of a new publication, purchase the book online, and never get that excitement of discovery.

All that being said I think CDs venture into PBs is great for many people. They are way more affordable and may be helping a whole new generation of collectors, readers, and imaginators (not a word), explore many authors they likely wouldn't have been exposed to.

Paperbacks don't seem to have the charm they once did. I got McCammon to sign my paperbacks of Swan Song and Wolf's Hour and I love those formats. But today's mass market paperbacks just don't have the same energy. Although--there's no way I'd be able to read those small format paperbacks.

[jeffingoff]

Right. I don't care about the paperbacks at all. I buy the 99c e-books, 'cause that's a bargain, but I don't need more paperbacks in the house. I have eight boxes of books ready to haul to the library, and I'll have many more. All those Amazon boxes are coming in handy.

Paperbacks don't seem to have the charm they once did. I got McCammon to sign my paperbacks of Swan Song and Wolf's Hour and I love those formats. But today's mass market paperbacks just don't have the same energy. Although--there's no way I'd be able to read those small format paperbacks.

[Dave1442397]

Yeah it's all still a gamble--depending on what's published. The paperback book club is interesting but not something the traditional CD customer base gets fired up about. It's the signed limited editions that get people into the CDCC. The first dibs and the discounts. The last CDCC I was in was the one that deposited $10 a month into our account balances and that credit stayed there forever. That's a no-brainer when they were putting out the great editions they used to publish.

Right. I don't care about the paperbacks at all. I buy the 99c e-books, 'cause that's a bargain, but I don't need more paperbacks in the house. I have eight boxes of books ready to haul to the library, and I'll have many more. All those Amazon boxes are coming in handy.

[jeffingoff]

In the past they have done it both ways. I remember once they offered coupons each month that were valid that month. That offer would simply not work for me with CD's current offerings. They also offered monthly credits as digital gift cards in the past that was applied to your balance each month. That would work for me. I believe the two scenarios have different accounting challenges but am not sure with current tax code. The end of the email I posted from mentioned possibly doing something different and I have received an update.

"I think we will send two $120 ones 6 months apart!". I also asked about expiration, and it was stated that both would be valid through 2024. So, I would be committing to making two purchases both equaling $120 or more to utilize the benefit and if I only use one the offer actually pays for itself. I am now undecided but since I was a hard no previously it is movement.Â

Yeah it's all still a gamble--depending on what's published. The paperback book club is interesting but not something the traditional CD customer base gets fired up about. It's the signed limited editions that get people into the CDCC. The first dibs and the discounts. The last CDCC I was in was the one that deposited $10 a month into our account balances and that credit stayed there forever. That's a no-brainer when they were putting out the great editions they used to publish.

[Martin]

Thanks Martin.

I thought when Brian was still around and they did something similar, the credit was just added to your balance? Wonder why it's different now?

I too can't see myself buying something every month - the last few years have had the same promise of "this year is our best year and we have so many awesome things coming!" which hasn't panned out.

In the past they have done it both ways. I remember once they offered coupons each month that were valid that month. That offer would simply not work for me with CD's current offerings. They also offered monthly credits as digital gift cards in the past that was applied to your balance each month. That would work for me. I believe the two scenarios have different accounting challenges but am not sure with current tax code. The end of the email I posted from mentioned possibly doing something different and I have received an update.

"I think we will send two $120 ones 6 months apart!". I also asked about expiration, and it was stated that both would be valid through 2024. So, I would be committing to making two purchases both equaling $120 or more to utilize the benefit and if I only use one the offer actually pays for itself. I am now undecided but since I was a hard no previously it is movement. 

[TacomaDiver]

Thanks Martin.

I thought when Brian was still around and they did something similar, the credit was just added to your balance? Wonder why it's different now?

I too can't see myself buying something every month - the last few years have had the same promise of "this year is our best year and we have so many awesome things coming!" which hasn't panned out.

[Martin]

I don't know how many CDCCs I've purchased, but I know my 2023 membership didn't do much for me at all so I wasn't going to sign up for 2024, but like Martin said above, I just saw the $20 per month in credit and that sounds promising for some random one off purchases.

Here is the response I received to my email regarding the monthly $20 credit.
"well they will be coupons so you won't be able to use more than one on an order... I don't think our site allows that. But I'm not sure if we should consider doing it a different way because of that. Hmmm..."

And with that I am probably still out. I just can't envision 12 different items coming from CD in the next year that I want. I am still looking for a reason to jump in but am just not finding one. If they treated it as a $20 Gift card and I could basically build up a credit for something I want this would push me back in.
 

[TacomaDiver]

Also, I just saw here about Kim at Camelot - sending all of the positive energy her way. She's always been a great person to work with and beyond accomodating.

[TacomaDiver]

I don't know how many CDCCs I've purchased, but I know my 2023 membership didn't do much for me at all so I wasn't going to sign up for 2024, but like Martin said above, I just saw the $20 per month in credit and that sounds promising for some random one off purchases.

[Martin]

I have asked this question via email. Since the CDCC has been a topic here I thought I would ask it here as well. Today the offer for the 2024 CDCC was modified to include a $20 credit for each month of the club for a $240 credit. My question is, will the credit be cumulative as or does the credit only remain valid for the month it is issued? 

[RonClinton]

Really sorry to hear this…Kim has always been a wonderful person to communicate with. I wish her and Tony all the best.

[jeffingoff]

Just saw on Camelot's Home page that Kim is dealing with some tough medical issues. I've always loved Camelot as a customer and Kim has definitely taken good care of me in the past. Even though she may not see it, just wanted to shoot some positive karma her way!

"12:00 noon Kim just went back for brain surgery! This just came up all of a sudden, needless to say we are not going to be shipping or answering many e-mails this week, believe it or not that was Kim's biggest concern with all this. I will post updates as we get them, please keep her in your thoughts!"

OH no! I'm so sorry to read this! What awful news. I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery. Life is precious!

[Ben Staad]

That is just sad news. Kim is the best.

Just saw on Camelot's Home page that Kim is dealing with some tough medical issues. I've always loved Camelot as a customer and Kim has definitely taken good care of me in the past. Even though she may not see it, just wanted to shoot some positive karma her way!

"12:00 noon Kim just went back for brain surgery! This just came up all of a sudden, needless to say we are not going to be shipping or answering many e-mails this week, believe it or not that was Kim's biggest concern with all this. I will post updates as we get them, please keep her in your thoughts!"