Comments on: It’s All About Timing

By: rea

rea — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:56:10 +0000

I don’t pretend to be a great expert on the law of antitrust (Hey, I got an “A” in the course in law school–in 1977). But it seems to me that Amazon’s actions are obviously an antitrust violation–an attempt to use market control in one market to force a better price in another market

By: kejia

kejia — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:08:36 +0000

Speaking of timing, I haven’t seen anything about this dispute on the Huffington Post. I thought it would be just their cup of tea, especially as they have a new books section. Perhaps they’ve been drinking whiskey tea and are blurry-eyed as a result.

(I should note that I love huffpost, though the people who write the headlines are creative with the facts.)

By: Jason Block

Jason Block — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:50:19 +0000

Music and books are apples and oranges. People decided that their experience of MP3′s on their portables or in their car was the same as their experience of CD’s except more conventient. Listening to music is more passive and for most people it’s something they do while doing something else. Not so for reading a book, so the interface is more important than it is for music. Books also have a much older and deeper cultural significance than do shiny silver discs or handheld gadgets, for that matter. It seems like ebooks are seen as less valuable than ‘real’ books which isn’t exactly what happened with recorded music.

I could see a lower ebook price if people are willing to wait for eighteen months or so to let the book make money, and they could pay a lower price for less durable goods of a lower quality. If the paperback has had time to sell, even five dollars is not an unreasonable price given that it has the potential to be ‘in print’ indefinitely.

Has anyone ever heard anyone really complain about waiting for a paperback? I always thought the wait was kind of exciting, if I noticed it. What is it that stops people from accepting the wait for a *piece of entertainment* that even in hardback costs less than a delivery from the pizza place? TANSTAAFL.

As for the current situation with Macmillian, maybe it’s time for Hachette or another major publisher to pull their books from Amazon, if they can do it without any legal issues cropping up. It would only take one big house, and it would only be about an hour and a half before Bezos rethought the whole situation.

By: The Gray Area

The Gray Area — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:00:38 +0000

I think there is a problem when dealing with privatly held companies. Some of them would rather sqeeze their authors than take less for themselves. If they were answering to share holders they could almost justify this. Greedists.

By: NiceGuy999

NiceGuy999 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:21:58 +0000

I pirate books. I have 15k books downloaded, though it is unlikely I will ever read them all.

When I find an author I like or am interested in, I try to find all their works. I find the series that sounds coolest and then start reading it.

If it is an ongoing work, after I catch up to live, I buy all the new releases to support the author and try to ensure that more works are available. I know it shouldn’t be up to me to pick and choose which books I buy, if I consume it I should be obligated to pay. I never said I was a nice guy…err..lol. BTW I also find the pirate version of the book I just bought so I can avoid DRM issues…so it really is a “support” thing. I did buy one paper book because I couldn’t find the pirate version, but that was after reading the first 10 books in the series and not wanting a hole.

I can say that personally, I bought a maximum of 2-3 books a year in the 15 years prior to getting an ereader. I have bought closer to 20 books a year with my new system. I am not saying it is right or wrong, just that the amount of money spent by me went up by at least 10 times.

I can also say that if the prices got crazy or the books were not available at the paper release…I wouldn’t bother. I know it is just one data point, but I have to think there are others who do the same.

By: eBook Resistance

eBook Resistance — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:24:54 +0000

[Deleted because this same post was posted in a different thread -- JS]

By: Steve Burnap

Steve Burnap — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:03:12 +0000

It’s long irked me that the Kindle has come to represent eReaders in the public mind when there are many other eInk based models that are entirely competitive. (Again…I work for a competitor but…)

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:32:34 +0000

Amazon has been operating in a delusional state ever since launching the mediocre Kindle (one notes that this week–all these years later–was the first time they ever felt a need to say, sort of, how many units they’d sold). It took Steve Jobs to snap them out of their reverie, briefly, and then their big idea was to delist Macmillan. “Press their advantage?” Sure–for a couple of days, just as you say, John. Then they’re going to be on the defensive, and let’s hope they stay there. Before this skirmish ends, Amazon will undoubtedly try to appeal to those who imagine that all intellectual property gravitates to “free,” pretending that they’re the champions of Everyman (the Republican champions of Everyman . . .). The problem is that when Amazon sells books at loss-leader prices, authors stop eating–or they stop writing and do something else. Culture deflates in the name of “democracy.” All of which is one more reason to shop at your friendly neighborhood indie bookstore–or, if you don’t have one anymore, from indies that compete with Amazon online.

By: rochrist

rochrist — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:22:45 +0000

@Harry Connolly

Am I the only one who thinks the term “darknets” is concentrated dorkiness?

No. No, you’re not. :)

By: Thom

Thom — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:11:53 +0000

I wish I could take back the 2k I spent with Amazon yesterday(new TV), as a protest to this. The publisher has a right to set what they want for their product. If people do not want to pay, then the publisher will have to adjust the price.

It sucks because I order a lot from Amazon, and an average of at least 2 books a week. The UPS mans hates me. He comes to my door and says “another one from Amazon”

But I will not buy anything from them until this is resolved.