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I sum it up here kcf Send a noteboard - 01/02/2010 08:42:02 PM
The link below sums it up, but the supporting links in the article tell the real story. The three links in the best of section are links that I recommend everyone reads. And if you want a better handle on some of the pricing aspects I strongly recommend the Tobias Buckell link.


It sounds to me like just a typical business fight. Amazon wants to make money by selling ebooks for cheap, so that it can popularize ebooks, sell its reader hardware, etc. Macmillan wants to profit by keeping ebooks expensive, in a "status quo" type move.

Neither company seems to be doing anything particularly underhanded or slimy, as far as I can tell. If anything, Macmillan seems to be the one in the wrong. Amazon already pays them wholesale prices per-copy, so why shouldn't Amazon be able to set their own prices and lose money if they want?


I think that your thoughts on the pricing issue is a bit too simplistic - it's rather complicated. I don't think that Macmillan is clean on the issue, but I like their thinking on pricing much more that Amazon's.

But my main beef is in the way Amazon handled it - they went public - this affected authors and customers when the negotiations should have been kept behind closed doors. As a customer it makes me feel like Amazon cares much more about retaining power in the industry rather than actually serving their customers. Plus it was the last straw in a series of issues I have with Amazon.
Need a good book to read? Visit Neth Space - a SFF review and discussion blog.

http://nethspace.blogspot.com/
Goodbye Amazon
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Amazon Accepts Macmillan’s Demand for Higher E-Book Prices mapthis - 01/02/2010 04:21:35 PM 1334 Views
Amazon lost me as a customer over all this *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 05:52:53 PM 389 Views
Why's that? Aemon - 01/02/2010 06:55:35 PM 944 Views
I sum it up here kcf - 01/02/2010 08:42:02 PM 1211 Views
That's an interesting point. And I have an opposite reaction. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:56:16 PM 793 Views
I like that they are public - I dislike that they affect the public so directly kcf - 01/02/2010 08:59:41 PM 962 Views
To each his own. I come away with the opposite reaction and like Amazon even more. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:35:10 PM 707 Views
I agree with you. I like what Amazon did. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:45:10 AM 843 Views
I think his complaint is that he feels Amazon is using public opinion to pressure suppliers. Aemon - 01/02/2010 09:04:16 PM 691 Views
thats a big part of it kcf - 01/02/2010 09:09:15 PM 1057 Views
It's a good tactic. I would have done the same thing. *NM* The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:36:31 PM 381 Views
Is it though - Amazon's stock is way down today. Seems the tactic failed *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 09:53:06 PM 365 Views
Apple stocks have gone down on days after major announcements too. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 10:04:04 PM 667 Views
agreed - short term doesn't mean much *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 10:08:01 PM 357 Views
Still, your overall point stands. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 11:10:25 PM 680 Views
yep - apparently they read the move as a sign of weakness *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 11:20:04 PM 409 Views
Macmillan will lose out when people like myself choose to find the book elsewhere. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 06:46:10 PM 679 Views
How easy is it to find books now? Rebekah - 01/02/2010 06:53:43 PM 632 Views
Pretty easily, actually. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 07:07:11 PM 1059 Views
That's excellent. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:19:55 PM 850 Views
Screens are good. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:50:08 PM 894 Views
Two words: Leather cover. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:54:37 PM 740 Views
True, I do remember liking the cover. It's much nicer than what comes with the Sony. Aemon - 01/02/2010 09:02:56 PM 911 Views
This is what I have. It sounds like what you have for your Sony. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:39:02 PM 938 Views
Unless you like a lot of old books, or have fairly eclectic tastes, you should be all set. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:11:30 PM 1084 Views
If you do like a lot of old books ranagrande - 01/02/2010 07:16:20 PM 727 Views
Yep, definitely true. I wasn't thinking quite that old, though. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:24:49 PM 826 Views
$12.99 to $14.99 for a fiction ebook is ridiculous. *NM* everynametaken - 01/02/2010 07:44:20 PM 429 Views
Agreed. *NM* Legolas - 01/02/2010 07:46:33 PM 335 Views
Then again, it's half the price of a print version, for essentially the same product / experience. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:50:29 PM 668 Views
That's the thing, it's not. Legolas - 01/02/2010 08:24:08 PM 693 Views
Re: That's the thing, it's not. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:55:35 PM 902 Views
Because, as Aemon says, that's how price discrimination works. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:31:14 PM 649 Views
Not really. I buy new hardcover releases at Borders for around 18 to 20. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:34:08 AM 830 Views
I don't know about that. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:21:05 PM 721 Views
not really, i buy brand new paperbacks for 6.99 *NM* Apsalar Shadowdancer - 02/02/2010 12:21:16 AM 323 Views
Mass markets, yeah. nossy - 02/02/2010 12:19:25 PM 689 Views
That is bananas. Elaine - 01/02/2010 07:46:28 PM 686 Views
"Most newly released..." Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:55:19 PM 913 Views
People pay that sort of money for DVd and more for Blue Ray random thoughts - 01/02/2010 08:00:47 PM 713 Views
Physical copy is rather important in that case, you know... at least to me. jh - 01/02/2010 08:54:05 PM 856 Views
I was with you till that last sentence. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:58:58 PM 930 Views
I really don't think it is that different random thoughts - 01/02/2010 10:01:20 PM 706 Views
If you have issues with eBook pricing, read this link kcf - 01/02/2010 08:46:47 PM 1043 Views
He makes good points... Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:37:22 PM 694 Views
I am unimpressed by his arguments. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 01:06:03 AM 714 Views
Good for MacMillan. I'll cheer on anyone who takes a stab against e-books. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 04:00:05 AM 777 Views
Whaaa? Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 04:08:50 AM 729 Views
Yes, of course. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 04:33:13 AM 827 Views
In ten years you'll have an ebook reader. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:34:57 AM 848 Views
I know. That's the problem. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 12:56:32 PM 362 Views
Oh, hush. Go sit in the corner and listen to your 8-track while the rest of us enjoy The Future. *NM* Aemon - 02/02/2010 02:37:33 PM 333 Views
The lower prices, the increased profit, or the ecological benefit? *NM* Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:17:13 PM 306 Views
The gradual loss of physical books. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 05:32:39 PM 313 Views
Mmm. I detect an illogical argument. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:35:14 PM 630 Views
Obviously they won't disappear completely, or even that fast. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:04:47 PM 682 Views
Why not? It'll spur the growth of used book stores. *NM* Ghavrel - 03/02/2010 01:29:56 AM 300 Views
It will increase the number of books available random thoughts - 02/02/2010 01:55:05 PM 845 Views
One apt analogy is the widespread use of recording tools like Pro Tools. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 08:07:22 PM 822 Views
There are already comapnies offering editng services random thoughts - 02/02/2010 10:30:28 PM 653 Views
Uh, so what you want to dictate is the medium by which people read? You have no right. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 08:01:09 PM 785 Views
And again let me add that it's not necessarily one or the other. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 10:09:20 PM 626 Views
That would be awesome. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:02:42 PM 621 Views
Obviously I'm not dictating anything. I'm stating my view. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:01:41 PM 906 Views
Good Lord! *NM* everynametaken - 02/02/2010 07:58:03 PM 308 Views
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