Bookswim, Netflix for books....
Bookswim is set to roll out in the first quarter of 2007 (which would suggest the end of this month). They promise a catalogue of 80,000 volumes, free shipping in both directions and no late fees...and if you fall in love with your tome, you can purchase it outright. It is, effectively, Netflix for books (with a bonus purchase option).They are currently offering "free membership" for signing up before the public release. One can also, it appears, buy into them. I am not certain I would invest in them, but the concept is interesting and certainly could have value and a place in the proverbial marketplace.
I have a hard time making the numbers work in my head (and refuse to spend the time/effort to put pen to paper). I with them the best...I'm willing to support anything that puts more books in more peoples hands. I'll be watching.
Thanks to Wonkette for the heads up of the COO interview.
UPDATE:
Anirvan of BookFinder fame forwarded the following list of related sites/services. It would appear that there is, in fact, a viable business model. Thinking about all this also reminded me of the granddaddy of all such things, BookCrossing. I have "released" a number of books to the wild and had far too much fun watching them travel (I've had several travel more broadly than I...very sad).
"NetFlix for books" service
BooksFree
Bookswim
Person-to-person book sharing sites include:
BookMooch
PaperBackSwap
FrugalReader
BookIns
TitleTrader
SwapSimple
WhatsOnMyBookshelf
SwapThing
AmericasBookshelf
Labels: blogs, bookish, books, computers, random bits
posted by LuxMentis @ 7:45 PM
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2 Comments:
Hmmm... I'll be buying stock when they explain how they make money.
I love Netflix. I think Bookflix is another animal entirely.
I also think they are disregarding a fundemental business principle-
Fill a need.
With best-sellers selling for 10 cents plus shipping on Amazon, and penny-sellers galore out there... where is the need (not to mention profit) for cheap books?
Hello!
Many best sellers are inexpensive, but others are not. Forget best sellers, what about just.. other books?
What about buying a book only to realize that you really don't like it? I think there is a need. In fact, I'm betting on it. I'm one of the founders of BookSwim and the Chief Operating Officer.
We feel that there is a market for this service simply because books are very personal. A DVD you watch for 2 hours (or even 30 min) and you realize you don't like it. Oh well. A book, it takes a little longer. So why buy it first? Why not try it? NetFlix and Blockbuster let you try DVD's all you want. In fact, after renting a movie, I'll often go out and buy it simply because I love it so much (Primer, GREAT movie).
BookSwim has the same concept. Try a book out. If you HAVE to have it, then have it. If you enjoyed it, but you see no need to own it, then great.. do that too.
The choice is up to the customer. Now that I explained how we make money, how about buying some stock, hehe?
Shamoon Siddiqui
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