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July 9, 2009

| Language and the New Liberal Arts >>

Please Take This Simple One-Question Survey

I’m wondering about payment methods and purchase “friction.” I have one question for you—click over to this Google Form and give me your gut reaction.

Robin-sig.gif
Posted July 9, 2009 at 11:35 | Comments (9) | Permasnark
File under: Briefly Noted

Comments

I wanted to pick the Amazon option but then I pictured myself actually clicking on that link and felt overwhelmed by the array of possible alternatives offered by Amazon. Why this particular $9.99 book when I could get something by a Pulitzer prize winner or maybe a Blu-ray of something? The PayPal link narrows the choice...and reinforces the unique indie quality of the book sold by a bootstrapping individual and not by mighty Amazon (if one can safely assume you're talking about something like NLA).

Apparently consumed by mistrust for individuals but enamored with the fictive person of a corporation, I chose Amazon without hesitation.

Posted by: Dan on July 9, 2009 at 12:34 PM

I don't like buying things from Amazon, which influenced my decision.

I recommend that said author contact public librarians and offer the book to them for free. I would always rather check out a book from the library than any other way.

Relatedly, if you want to sell it, I recommend adding some kind of charitable contribution to sales - i.e. for every ten books sold, one will be given to a library.

Amazon ships things to me in two days, from anywhere, for free. However, if it were Amazon Marketplace rather than Amazon itself, then I think I'd switch my answer.

My answer's pretty much the same as Tim's.

depends on the price difference.

Posted by: JC on July 9, 2009 at 04:20 PM

Hey, that Google form thing is quite excellent. I'm definitely going to be using that to capture some data for data visualization purposes.

Amazon's a pain to buy from if you're from outside the US and you're not inclined to credit cards.

I picked Paypal.

My answer depends on which site has up-to-date credit card info.

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