I just read about non-book price advantages at Bed, Bath, and Beyond over Amazon, then Tom Gara of the Wall Street Journal added,
“It’s not just physical retailers putting Amazon in their sights — online competitors also seem focused on matching the company’s low prices. Today online retailer Overstock announced it would match all Amazon prices on books, in a move coming just a month after the company said it would undercut Amazon by 10% in the book market — a discount Amazon quickly matched.
“Last month we started a book pricing war with Amazon,” said Patrick Byrne, Overstock.’s chairman, in a statement announcing the price matching. “We’re hoping to continue that battle, in a way that lessens any harm to the mom-and-pop booksellers we consider our comrades in arms.””
Price wars!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we, the consumer, might win – at least in the short term. Companies can lose money forever and stay in business, but like airline price wars, get it while it’s hot!
I do order from Overstock, just not usually books, just household items. I think I’ve bought 6 sheet sets, an end table, comforter set, and a number of other things, all at very good prices. Like Amazon, Overstock is strictly mail order. But Bed, Bath, and Beyond is NOT. It’s a brick and mortar store that seems to be ubiquitous throughout the country. Ranks up there with Pier 1. I never bought much of anything from them, so I have no comment on their goods. I’ve been in a few stores, but they rarely seem to have what I want.
So I did some checking:
- The English Girl (HC Aug 6th) – Overstock – $15.81 +15% on Club O Dollars Amazon, $19.28
- Never Go Back (Jack Reacher) HC (Sept 3) – Overstock – $16.80 + 15% in Club O Dollar Amazon – $16.80
- World War Z (Trade size Oct 2007) – Overstock – $7.86 + 15% on Club O dollars Amazon – $7.86
- Eylsian Fields (HC Aug 13) – Ocerstock – $17.93 + 15% Club O dollars Amazon – $17.93
Translation: Like Amazon Prime, Overstock offers an annual membership for $19.95 (Amazon is $80 but includes lots of other perks) that includes free shipping on all orders AND at LEAST 5% on Club O dollars that can be used toward future purchases. So even where Amazon has matched the price, and obviously they have, they lose in that Overstock members would get an ADDITIONAL $8.75 in discounts on future purchases.
Now Overstock does not have the range or the long pre-order capability of Amazon, and I had much better pricing on Elysian Fields on pre-order at BAM even with the 15% O dollars calculated in. But taken over all, I’d have to say on recent releases, and soon to be released titles, you’d do better at Overstock.
Who knew? I always think of them for bed, bath and household stuff, not books or movies. It’s worth a look and if you’re planning household purchased, you’ll find those O-dollars adding up fast. Not bad for $20/year.
By the way, I got The English Girl the cheapest way possible, through Paperback Swap, for free. Pardon me while I gloat.
Tour's Books Blog
Another Entry in Book Wars – Part IV
Tags: Amazon, Editorial
I just read about non-book price advantages at Bed, Bath, and Beyond over Amazon, then Tom Gara of the Wall Street Journal added,
“It’s not just physical retailers putting Amazon in their sights — online competitors also seem focused on matching the company’s low prices. Today online retailer Overstock announced it would match all Amazon prices on books, in a move coming just a month after the company said it would undercut Amazon by 10% in the book market — a discount Amazon quickly matched.
“Last month we started a book pricing war with Amazon,” said Patrick Byrne, Overstock.’s chairman, in a statement announcing the price matching. “We’re hoping to continue that battle, in a way that lessens any harm to the mom-and-pop booksellers we consider our comrades in arms.””
Price wars!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And we, the consumer, might win – at least in the short term. Companies can lose money forever and stay in business, but like airline price wars, get it while it’s hot!
I do order from Overstock, just not usually books, just household items. I think I’ve bought 6 sheet sets, an end table, comforter set, and a number of other things, all at very good prices. Like Amazon, Overstock is strictly mail order. But Bed, Bath, and Beyond is NOT. It’s a brick and mortar store that seems to be ubiquitous throughout the country. Ranks up there with Pier 1. I never bought much of anything from them, so I have no comment on their goods. I’ve been in a few stores, but they rarely seem to have what I want.
So I did some checking:
Translation: Like Amazon Prime, Overstock offers an annual membership for $19.95 (Amazon is $80 but includes lots of other perks) that includes free shipping on all orders AND at LEAST 5% on Club O dollars that can be used toward future purchases. So even where Amazon has matched the price, and obviously they have, they lose in that Overstock members would get an ADDITIONAL $8.75 in discounts on future purchases.
Now Overstock does not have the range or the long pre-order capability of Amazon, and I had much better pricing on Elysian Fields on pre-order at BAM even with the 15% O dollars calculated in. But taken over all, I’d have to say on recent releases, and soon to be released titles, you’d do better at Overstock.
Who knew? I always think of them for bed, bath and household stuff, not books or movies. It’s worth a look and if you’re planning household purchased, you’ll find those O-dollars adding up fast. Not bad for $20/year.
By the way, I got The English Girl the cheapest way possible, through Paperback Swap, for free. Pardon me while I gloat.