Quote:
Originally Posted by Skydog
Speaking as a mere observer, to what sign would you be referring? I would like to see comparative results of actual ebook sales prior and post-agency model pricing. It might prove to be interesting.
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Well, every time I look at the boycott thread at the Amazon forums, I see the same 20 or 30 people posting. Also, no significant media attention, no real action outside not buying to call attention to the "cause" (protests, op-ed campaigns, etc.). Is any of this required? No, but it does help a boycott's cause if more than a relatively insular group are even aware of it. I doubt that most Kindle users who don't visit the forums even know it exists.
I have no doubt that a small group of people -- maybe 100, heck, maybe even 500 -- take this very seriously. But Amazon has sold tens of thousands of Kindles by the most conservative estimates. Do the die-hards have some effect on the publisher's sales? Sure. Some effect. But personally, I see no critical mass that would force publishers to lower prices.
Also, it helps a boycott along if you are sure the sellers of the product really want to sell it. I'm not sure that's true here. I think at least one of the big six would be happy to see ebooks wither and die.