To pre-order or not to pre-order …

• Posted in About Books, Black Blade series, On Writing

Note: I posted this over at Magical Musings last week and wanted to share it here on my blog as well.

Do you pre-order?

You know what I’m talking about — all those tempting little buttons next to books by your favorite authors. The ones that let you pre-order a new book months in advance.

Cold Burn of MagicWhenever I’m talking about my books on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter pages, I usually include pre-order links to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, iTunes, Kobo, IndieBound, and Audible (audiobooks). For example, on I’ve got several pre-order links up on my website page for Cold Burn of Magic, Black Blade #1, my young adult urban fantasy book that will be out on April 28.

I’ve heard from many folks that when you pre-order a book — especially an e-book — that it’s a nice little surprise when you fire up your e-reader and see the book waiting there for you to start reading any time you want to. The same thing goes for getting an e-mail that the audiobook is available, a package in the mail with a print book, or getting a call from your local bookstore saying that the book has arrived.

But me? I don’t pre-order books too often. Usually, most of my pre-orders are movies or TV shows because it seems like you can get a better deal on those online.

But if there is a book that I want, I will bookmark it on my computer. Then I’ll wait until it comes out, go to the store, and buy a print copy, mainly because I still like to read print books over e-books. Or, if I think that my local stores might not have the book, then I will pre-order a print copy a week or two ahead of the release date. I also make sure that I order enough items to get free shipping. I am all about free shipping. LOL.

What about you guys? Do you pre-order books, movies, or music? Why or why not?

Tags: , , , , ,

10 Responses to “To pre-order or not to pre-order …”

  1. PurpleRanger says:

    I don’t pre-order. More often than not, my local Books A Million and Barnes & Noble will not only get books I’m waiting for in on time, but they will also have them on the shelves a day or two early.

  2. Jen Wadsworth says:

    I’m an ereader convert and I do preorder books for my automatic buy list. Part of my “book” hobby is hunting down books just to pre-order them or at least put them on a watch list if I haven’t decided for sure if I want them. I feel a little sad when my pre-order list gets anemic. 🙂 I have a special wish list on Amazon to help me keep track of my pre-orders and have a special “upcoming” shelf in Goodreads to track pre-orders and “watch” titles. It’s a sickness, I know. 🙂

    • Jennifer+Estep says:

      Believe me, I like lists too. And hey — books are a good kind of sickness to have, right? LOL.

  3. Renee says:

    I preorder a lot and also read most new releases on my Kindle. The reason I got a Kindle was because I got frustrated with going to bookstores and no one having the book in stock. Some of my books I would check multiple stores and even call to see if they had the book in on release day. On many occasions the book was not in and they could not guarantee when they would get it. I love reading release day and rarely work Tuesdays so if a book is going to be released I can read when I get up.

    However, this does not mean that I order as soon as the book appears to be preordered. Instead I usually add to my wish list and wait to see if it goes on sale. I am online most days so at least once a week I will check my wish list to see if any of the books I’m waiting for go on sale, and this is when I preorder,

    I must add that I still prefer a real book and with many of my favorite authors I have both a Kindle and either a paperback or hardcover version.

    • Jennifer+Estep says:

      I still read mostly print books, so it is very frustrating to check at the bookstore on release day, and they don’t have the book you want. Or you’ve heard about a book and want to try it, but they don’t have it in stock either.

      I do like being able to buy an e-book and immediately start reading it on my tablet.

  4. twiser says:

    I buy at midnight(ish) on ebook. If I preorder I don’t get them tell that morning. I’m impatient and hate to dust is why ebook.

    • Jennifer+Estep says:

      That’s weird that they don’t show up at midnight if you pre-order them. You would think it would go straight to your e-reader the second the clock hit midnight.

  5. Marna says:

    I don’t pre order because Barnes & Noble 20% off coupons aren’t good on pre orders.

    • Jennifer+Estep says:

      I didn’t realize you couldn’t use those coupons on the pre-orders. Yeah, I would wait for the book to come out too if it meant saving a few bucks on it.

Back to Top