What's the deal with the new paperback format?
#1
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What's the deal with the new paperback format?
I've seen a number of mass market paperbacks in a new format. They're the same width as regular paperbacks, but about 3/4" taller. In addition to not fitting nicely on the shelf with the rest of your collection, they cost $2 more than regular paperbacks ($9.99) and seem to have no better quality paper or binding.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
I've seen a number of mass market paperbacks in a new format. They're the same width as regular paperbacks, but about 3/4" taller. In addition to not fitting nicely on the shelf with the rest of your collection, they cost $2 more than regular paperbacks ($9.99) and seem to have no better quality paper or binding.
Last edited by movielib; 09-08-09 at 10:14 AM.
#3
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
Yeah, its not new. Been going for at least two years, probably more. I hate them and refuse to buy them except from Half Price Books.
#4
Moderator
Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
Also not a fan of the taller format paperbacks. If only the core reader audience were younger w/ better vision, we wouldn't have these.
![Wink](/images/smilies/wink.gif)
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
As mentioned, there have been a couple of threads already:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/5...ack-books.html
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/4...did-start.html
I really hate them, and it makes me that much more happy with my purchase of the e-reader so I don't have to try to find space for the odd-shaped books.
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/5...ack-books.html
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/book-talk/4...did-start.html
I really hate them, and it makes me that much more happy with my purchase of the e-reader so I don't have to try to find space for the odd-shaped books.
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Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
There are two kinds of paperbacks, mass-market and trade.
MMPBs are the normal sized ones, and retailers can "return" them if they don't sell. Since it's expensive to ship books around, publishers accept "stripped" returns -- that is, the retailer tears the covers off and sends them to the publisher, then throws out the book. This is why you'll sometimes see a notice in the front of the book that if it's sold without a cover, it's stolen merchandise.
Trade-paperbacks are anything other than the standard size, and they're treated like hardcovers, meaning they're non-returnable. It's a format often used for non-fiction and novels that won't have a wide-audience.
For obvious reasons, publishers prefer trade-paperbacks, and in recent years they've shifted even popular novels to the format. The new trades are slightly larger than MMPBs, just enough that it's easy to tell them apart.
MMPBs are the normal sized ones, and retailers can "return" them if they don't sell. Since it's expensive to ship books around, publishers accept "stripped" returns -- that is, the retailer tears the covers off and sends them to the publisher, then throws out the book. This is why you'll sometimes see a notice in the front of the book that if it's sold without a cover, it's stolen merchandise.
Trade-paperbacks are anything other than the standard size, and they're treated like hardcovers, meaning they're non-returnable. It's a format often used for non-fiction and novels that won't have a wide-audience.
For obvious reasons, publishers prefer trade-paperbacks, and in recent years they've shifted even popular novels to the format. The new trades are slightly larger than MMPBs, just enough that it's easy to tell them apart.
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Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
Sorry, I just didn't notice them before in regular bookstores. I saw some in airport bookshops, but I figured they were special format versions of regular-sized paperbacks to rip off captive travelers. I'm with the other posts, I don't like them.
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#9
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Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
Thanks for the info Sean!
Also, like the OP, i'm almost ashamed to say I didn't know the new...ok not so new taller paperbacks until just recently when I saw an endcap of popular titles at Barnes & Noble.
Also, like the OP, i'm almost ashamed to say I didn't know the new...ok not so new taller paperbacks until just recently when I saw an endcap of popular titles at Barnes & Noble.
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Re: What's the deal with the new paperback format?
These slightly larger mass market paperbacks are not trade paperbacks. They are "premium mass market." Also, trade pbs and hardcovers are both returnable. Not sure where that poster got his info, but it's incorrect.