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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 1423 Views
Amazon lost me as a customer over all this *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 05:52:53 PM 447 Views
Why's that? Aemon - 01/02/2010 06:55:35 PM 1038 Views
I sum it up here kcf - 01/02/2010 08:42:02 PM 1335 Views
That's an interesting point. And I have an opposite reaction. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:56:16 PM 848 Views
I like that they are public - I dislike that they affect the public so directly kcf - 01/02/2010 08:59:41 PM 1072 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 792 Views
I agree with you. I like what Amazon did. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:45:10 AM 932 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 787 Views
thats a big part of it kcf - 01/02/2010 09:09:15 PM 1176 Views
It's a good tactic. I would have done the same thing. *NM* The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:36:31 PM 415 Views
Is it though - Amazon's stock is way down today. Seems the tactic failed *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 09:53:06 PM 418 Views
Apple stocks have gone down on days after major announcements too. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 10:04:04 PM 758 Views
agreed - short term doesn't mean much *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 10:08:01 PM 410 Views
Still, your overall point stands. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 11:10:25 PM 774 Views
yep - apparently they read the move as a sign of weakness *NM* kcf - 01/02/2010 11:20:04 PM 465 Views
Macmillan will lose out when people like myself choose to find the book elsewhere. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 06:46:10 PM 769 Views
How easy is it to find books now? Rebekah - 01/02/2010 06:53:43 PM 721 Views
Pretty easily, actually. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 07:07:11 PM 1156 Views
That's excellent. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:19:55 PM 938 Views
Screens are good. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:50:08 PM 976 Views
Two words: Leather cover. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 08:54:37 PM 837 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 1006 Views
This is what I have. It sounds like what you have for your Sony. The Shrike - 01/02/2010 09:39:02 PM 1039 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 1170 Views
If you do like a lot of old books ranagrande - 01/02/2010 07:16:20 PM 837 Views
Yep, definitely true. I wasn't thinking quite that old, though. Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:24:49 PM 918 Views
$12.99 to $14.99 for a fiction ebook is ridiculous. *NM* everynametaken - 01/02/2010 07:44:20 PM 465 Views
Agreed. *NM* Legolas - 01/02/2010 07:46:33 PM 379 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 760 Views
That's the thing, it's not. Legolas - 01/02/2010 08:24:08 PM 790 Views
Re: That's the thing, it's not. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:55:35 PM 990 Views
Because, as Aemon says, that's how price discrimination works. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:31:14 PM 746 Views
Not really. I buy new hardcover releases at Borders for around 18 to 20. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 12:34:08 AM 924 Views
I don't know about that. Rebekah - 01/02/2010 08:21:05 PM 823 Views
not really, i buy brand new paperbacks for 6.99 *NM* Apsalar Shadowdancer - 02/02/2010 12:21:16 AM 356 Views
Mass markets, yeah. nossy - 02/02/2010 12:19:25 PM 750 Views
That is bananas. Elaine - 01/02/2010 07:46:28 PM 781 Views
"Most newly released..." Aemon - 01/02/2010 07:55:19 PM 1014 Views
People pay that sort of money for DVd and more for Blue Ray random thoughts - 01/02/2010 08:00:47 PM 806 Views
Physical copy is rather important in that case, you know... at least to me. jh - 01/02/2010 08:54:05 PM 946 Views
I was with you till that last sentence. Aemon - 01/02/2010 08:58:58 PM 1009 Views
I really don't think it is that different random thoughts - 01/02/2010 10:01:20 PM 797 Views
If you have issues with eBook pricing, read this link kcf - 01/02/2010 08:46:47 PM 1155 Views
He makes good points... Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 11:37:22 PM 791 Views
I am unimpressed by his arguments. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 01:06:03 AM 815 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 875 Views
Whaaa? Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 04:08:50 AM 826 Views
Yes, of course. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 04:33:13 AM 920 Views
In ten years you'll have an ebook reader. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:34:57 AM 930 Views
I know. That's the problem. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 12:56:32 PM 404 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 389 Views
The lower prices, the increased profit, or the ecological benefit? *NM* Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:17:13 PM 342 Views
The gradual loss of physical books. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 05:32:39 PM 353 Views
Mmm. I detect an illogical argument. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 05:35:14 PM 724 Views
Obviously they won't disappear completely, or even that fast. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:04:47 PM 770 Views
Why not? It'll spur the growth of used book stores. *NM* Ghavrel - 03/02/2010 01:29:56 AM 338 Views
It will increase the number of books available random thoughts - 02/02/2010 01:55:05 PM 1825 Views
One apt analogy is the widespread use of recording tools like Pro Tools. everynametaken - 02/02/2010 08:07:22 PM 919 Views
There are already comapnies offering editng services random thoughts - 02/02/2010 10:30:28 PM 738 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 873 Views
And again let me add that it's not necessarily one or the other. Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 10:09:20 PM 727 Views
That would be awesome. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:02:42 PM 719 Views
Obviously I'm not dictating anything. I'm stating my view. lord-of-shadow - 02/02/2010 11:01:41 PM 1002 Views
Good Lord! *NM* everynametaken - 02/02/2010 07:58:03 PM 343 Views
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