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Clive Keeble - 23 June 2008

Brave move, but certainly not foolhardy ! The booktrade will rapidly move to POD for general monotone perfect binding work : however, there will be a substantial market, and demand for, quality case-bound (full colour) illustrated titles - at least well into the forseeable future. With likely rapid technological advances I envisage *all* successful bookshops, within the next ten years, will boast a POD machine. There is going to be an enormous space in the production chain for quality illustrated work if B&T closes permanently.

Richard Joseph - 23 June 2008

If your readers have been following the Amazon v. publishers fight over their demands for POD rights, they may be aware that although technology now allows this type of book production method to function, the facility ignores some very important issues. How can the publisher be sure of unit sales & therefore royalties? How can the publisher be sure of the quality (if poor then the publisher's image suffers). Are laws are in place to ensure each copy carries the correct information on the title verso because they are not at present? And edition identification: when printed, by whom. And, what happens in a libel suit? All POD printers would be sued.

I'm convinced that technology allows this process to work but other issues may make this doomed to failure.

Clive Keeble - 23 June 2008

Richard, I feel that you are being unduly negative and pessimistic. POD is very much here to stay : I sell many POD titles each trading week.

At the present time the number of traditional hard print publishers prepared to encompass POD is somewhat restricted ; however, it is growing almost daily. I assume that when the technology is adopted that the POD "printer" will request a digital file download from the publishers and more or less instantly print a hard-print copy in store. Since the book file download will presumably be encrypted the opportunity for piracy will be somewhat limited : publishers could instantly charge for each unit download.

New book distribution in this country is still in the dark ages. Books sent out "sale or return", hundreds of delivery "fuel miles" before the book eventually reaches the end buyer.

Such archaic practises have to end - it is only a question of when : the how is already defined by POD. I have great faith that technological advancements will make considerable cost savings - this might not please the secondhand booktrade because providing a digital file exists, any book will be available - more or less instantly - from new booksellers with no hidden storage and distribution costs.

We live in exciting times for the booktrade, at least for those members willing to work with the latest technological advancements and similarly adapt their sales strategies.

Richard Joseph - 23 June 2008

Clive

You completely misunderstand my points. While I agree with you that POD is the next major development of the printing industry - it's clear you have not been following the huge argument in the States over Amazon's diktat. If you had then you wouldn’t have written your response. The anti-trust action that has been brought against may settle this one however.

Whether Amazon wins or not - sane publishers will not allow download to any old printer – quality, and control of copies printed, is fundamental and file encryption is irrelevant.

I hope you continue to sell loads of POD titles but unless the information on the title verso is brought into line with technical advancements - POD will result in the dumbing down of the book industry. And I'm not referring to the - as you stated - archaic methods of selling and distribution - all of which are in the throws of changing anyway.

Your letter is interesting but you don’t really say anything that counters my points – and I’m have bought many books manufactured by POD.

Clive Keeble - 24 June 2008

Richard, I am well aware of the way in which Amazon.com wish to impose BookSurge (rather than Ingrams/Lightning Source) upon all publishers if they are to have their books displayed with the "buy now" button.

It is just one of the many ways in which Amazon are trying to assert their market position (some might say dominance).

I can assure that you most publishers will in the future be willing to allow download to any licensed POD printer - its just a question of sorting the technology and rights ; witness the pressure being exerted by leading publishing executives to ensure that *all* retailers, large and small, encompass the audio digital download revolution.

Publishers have a responsibility to maximise the sales for their authors ; you should speak to the likes of Richard Charkin (Bloomsbury) to understand just how the market is changing.

All this talk of dumbing down speaks as though the booktrade is some sort of elitist world from a (thankfully) bygone era.

In the short term I am far more concerned about the closure at B&T and the void which it is leaving in quality colour illustrated production, which is never likely to be solved by POD. Sadly, few papers or periodicals have been prepared to champion the cause of the 287 ex-workers

Jonno Mann - 07 July 2008

You both make excellent points.