I really like the Amazon Kindle. I have two, one as a loaner and one for personal use. It's a great way to carry stacks of books in a simple device for reading. Just recently on a trip to the U.S., I took the device into a Borders bookstore. There, at the new non-fiction table, I checked out the new books by looking at the covers, thumbing the book, etc, and -assuming I wanted it- ordered it on the spot via the Kindle's wireless connection. Lots of money saved.
After doing this twice, a store person came up, asked me what I was doing and after hearing my answer, got into a serious lather trying to stop me by explaining the store's policy against people grabbing 'pricing research'. I thought that was a bit of stretch but admired the attempt at some type of response.
I made the suggestion to the manager who happened to come along that maybe having a Kiosk in here allowing me to locally download electronic copies either with my hard copy or as an alternative would allow them to make some money off of me. Cut a deal with Sony for branded E-book devices they were hawking. I knew, of course, this person had no control over the chain.
The reaction was, however, funny and sad at the same time:
[Laughter] Right. I'm working for a technological backwater. If it was up to these people, we'd be using an abacus for checkout. Use your Kindle all you like, I have one as well. Just buy something, I need this job.
Fun, eh?
I'm guessing that you can't order new books in Canada :(
Otherwise I'm in.....
Posted by: Farhan Thawar | June 19, 2008 at 19:49