Last week's request for opinions on whether I should stick with Amazon as an affiliate when selling books via the newsletter, or switch to a solution kinder to local retailers, produced a torrent of response. Thanks to all...Love the magazine. From where I live on Anglesey, there are 2 or 3 book stores within a 30 mile radius providing mostly Welsh books with a small offering of English language books. Bangor, 20 miles away has a small WH Smiths. So, for me, Amazon is a godsend. It’s where I buy my books though I would happily support a bookshop if I didn’t have to travel 50 miles to the nearest Waterstones in Llandudno with associated travel and parking costs. Looking forward to the next edition landing on my doormat. Passed on a copy to my next door neighbour who then also took out a subscription.
Rose H.For fear of sounding like a Craig David song; read your newsletter on a Sunday. Book of the Week delivered on a Monday. Poking it in my eyes right now when I shouldn’t be. And well, let’s face it, if we'd danced this merry jig with a charming independent bookshop, chances are they'd still be waiting for their drip coffee to finish its glacial descent into their handleless mug before reaching for the on switch of their computer to pick up my order.
And for that alone, I love them.
However. Amazon ship shit fast. I know it comes at a cost to both the mental health and bladder elasticity of the workers and drivers but I frankly don’t have it in me this week to go and enjoy a bookshop. I just wanted the book. Not an experience.
I will leave it there. There is so much more to say. But inbox is filling up. Book is sitting there, looking at me. And so is the dog.
You keep going, please.
Claire S.
Hello Ed. Definitely amazon.ca for me. Delivery is free with my Prime account, usually within a day or two and most importantly, no duty fees to my Canadian address. If I want to purchase at an independent, which I do on occasion, I’ll go shop at a local one myself.
Carrie R.
Hi Ed, I reckon go with Amazon if they give you the best deal. If people want to buy from a local bookstore, that's their business.
While I'm here, I'm so glad I discovered
Strong Words, love it and have enjoyed a good few books I wouldn't have found otherwise, so thanks a lot.
Sarah T.Hello Ed, Thank you for the weekly newsletter, entertaining as always. The Lisa St Aubin de Teran memoir looks fantastic, and if your affiliate link went somewhere other than Amazon I'd have clicked and spent yet more money that I shouldn't on books...
I stopped using Amazon in 2014, mainly because of how they treat their workforce, but if their affiliate scheme works best for you of course you should keep doing it. I use Wordery and Waterstones (I understand they're under the same ownership anyway), Foyles occasionally, and I'm succumbing more and more frequently to the purchase links I receive from bookshop.org.
I understand that Blackwells has an affiliate scheme. I often overlook Blackwells for some reason, but their prices are almost always cheaper than the sites I use most regularly, so I'd definitely be up for using any links to them.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Lee S.You say that most people buy their books from Amazon and that may be true. However, as someone who has blacklisted the devil Amazon for years and not bought anything from them for over a decade and been none the worse for it, please can I put a call out for supporting local (or even chain) bookshops.I realise that as I am lucky enough to live within 30 minutes walk from all the lovely bookshops in Bath I have no need to shop online, but please can we not just default to Amazon all the time. I would like to recommend the wonderful Toppings - newly installed in the old Quaker Reading Rooms and possibly the most beautiful bookshop in the world.
These places will not survive if Amazon have their way.
I will still love
Strong Words whatever you decide in spite of my contempt for Bezos and all he stands for.
Sarah M.Amazon please – good price and no drama with overseas shipping. Bookshops are still selling at the jacket price and have to change their marketing.
Ian Q.Do what's best for you. If it’s not Jeff on his silly yacht, it’ll be some other entrepreneur. I reckon you’ve got enough to do without faffing around with affiliate links.
Elizabeth C.Please do not deal with Amazon. One day you may need a business affiliate who cares. That won't be Amazon will it.
Kath P.Hi Ed, I feel your pain but this ship has sailed. Amazon please. And keep up the good work!
Isabelle F.So – a full zodiac of opinion. That's book readers for you. I'm going to stick with Amazon for now, but as many of you say, if you prefer a local bookshop, there's nothing stopping you from taking your business there instead. Ed. If you'd like to say more on this subject, make your point politely but firmly at info@strong-words.co.ukAnd on the recaptured macaque...Ed, FYI: McCacque (as we call them up here ) coda...
The macaque that was on the run was lured back into captivity by the judicious use of a Yorkshire Pudding. A small but I feel interesting piece of information. Admittedly exotic fruit and veg are hard to come by in Scotland in the winter but even so…
Jane C.Good to know Jane, good to know. Climate change is likely to make local fauna so much more unusual, so knowledge on how to tempt it into a cage is not to be sniffed at. Ed. Thoughts on how to capture other species of escaped animal please, to info@strong-words.co.uk