The Price of Exclusivity

L.J. Sellers · 10-07-2011, 01:16 PM

B&N pulled graphic novels from shelves in response to DC Comic’s exclusive deal with Amazon's Kindle Fire. We've seen this from indie bookstores too, in response to authors' deals with Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer. This isn't good for readers, and it might be enough to keep me from ever signing a publishing deal with Amazon.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/...dle-fire-deal/

L.J.
[Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR]

frahse · 10-07-2011, 01:25 PM

L.J.

you have to follow your own star. I respect you for doing that.

I on the other hand like the slogan, "Show me the money!"
I can thoroughly respect myself for doing that.

kjk · 10-07-2011, 01:27 PM

I expect Amazon to cut more of these types of deals in the future-really could give them an edge.

Abtacha · 10-07-2011, 01:29 PM

So Brick&Mortar stores that are already struggling to stay in business in the USA (as far as I've read) are handing Customers over to Amazon because they don't want to stock Books published by Amazon?

I can understand B&Ns decision somewhat, they have the Nook Color and they'd sure like to sell those DC Comics for those too. Besides exclusivity to one store is a bad thing for consumers as well.

cHex · 10-07-2011, 02:06 PM

I see this as a possible way for B&N to leverage their strength--their very brick-and-mortarness.

Amazon's strength is pricing, thanks to such things as economies of scale, inventory control (/nonexistence), etc. Perhaps the world is moving toward a time when everybody on the Internet buys their books at amazon.com. This makes a compelling case for publishers to deal with Amazon.

However, there are large numbers of people that don't buy stuff online. They don't hear about new books from online bookstores or social networking sites. They primarily hear about new books by looking around bookstores. Or perhaps they just want instant gratification. This should also be compelling for publishers.

If Amazon gets to leverage their strength, I see no reason for B&N not to leverage their own.

OtterBooks · 10-07-2011, 04:53 PM

The exclusivity lasts for four months. Yeah it's hardball but it's not permanent, and it makes sense for them to make short term deals like that to boost the launch. I'm not sure how "bad for readers" it is, since it's available on pretty much every device that can run K4PC (and rooted Nooks). Bad for B&N, yeah.

Didn't Barnes and Noble just get exclusive rights to the Peanuts comic collection for Nook Color? Did Amazon pull those books from sale?

Ken Maltby · 10-07-2011, 05:18 PM

What I would find more ominous about this development, is that it fits in with the
scenario where Amazon uses Topaz and its DRM to actually make it so the book can
only be read on the devices they authorize and under their control.

As it stands now, most all the books are also available, from other retailers, without
the more difficult DRM and the consumer can obtain the book in a format that can be
used on devices other than Kindles. Failing that the DRM can be easily removed and
the book converted to the needed format/s.

The exclusive deals make it more practical for the attempt to have it so that you can
only buy the book from Amazon and only read it on devices they control.

Luck;
Ken

murraypaul · 10-07-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

The exclusive deals make it more practical for the attempt to have it so that you can only buy the book from Amazon and only read it on devices they control.

Well that is sort of the point of being exclusive.

Ken Maltby · 10-07-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well that is sort of the point of being exclusive.

And a valid reason for all who own any eReader, other than a Kindle, to
avoid Amazon as a source for ebooks.

(Perhaps also for Kindle Owners to wonder how tight the shackles will get?)

Luck;
Ken

mr ploppy · 10-07-2011, 06:28 PM

I don't know which is the daftest, the idea that people will want to read comics on a tiny screen, or some corporate suit getting in a strop and forcing their customers to buy from a competitor instead.

OtterBooks · 10-07-2011, 06:35 PM

I guess people will just have to buy the paper versions from their local comic store instead, or, more likely, from Amazon.

Phogg · 10-07-2011, 07:01 PM

DC's next movie:
The Darknet Returns

teh603 · 10-07-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

B&N pulled graphic novels from shelves in response to DC Comic’s exclusive deal with Amazon's Kindle Fire. We've seen this from indie bookstores too, in response to authors' deals with Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer. This isn't good for readers, and it might be enough to keep me from ever signing a publishing deal with Amazon.

Agreed, I wasn't planning on putting anything up there either since I don't like the Kindle's DRM "features"- particularly the one that can shut off its text-to-speech chip. This is just going to be another nail in the coffin.

xg4bx · 10-07-2011, 07:18 PM

i'm a long time veteran of the video game wars so exclusivity is old hat to me and really no big deal.

imo this is childish as hell of b&n. they took their toys and went home so their customers get nothing now. feel how you want about amazon but the b&n response was utterly juvenile, especially over a deal with an expiration date.

maybe i'm just a weirdo, i refuse to hate amazon. they're successful because they're smart businessmen and broker deals to benefit their customers and brand. any one of us would be cutting the same deals in their position. they're a business, not a charity. i don't know why people are so eager to tear down one of the last american companies that does right by their customers and isn't involved in shenanigans.

RDaneel54 · 10-07-2011, 07:30 PM

I'm not sure which book chain it was, but when I was travelling the only comic books in the airport bookstores were Marvel.

Somebody probably had an exclusive deal there...

Is it time to start the Monopoly game again?

10-07-2011, 01:16 PM	#1
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	The Price of Exclusivity B&N pulled graphic novels from shelves in response to DC Comic’s exclusive deal with Amazon's Kindle Fire. We've seen this from indie bookstores too, in response to authors' deals with Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer. This isn't good for readers, and it might be enough to keep me from ever signing a publishing deal with Amazon. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/10/...dle-fire-deal/ L.J. [Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR] Last edited by Dr. Drib; 02-26-2012 at 06:33 AM.

10-07-2011, 04:53 PM	#6
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	The exclusivity lasts for four months. Yeah it's hardball but it's not permanent, and it makes sense for them to make short term deals like that to boost the launch. I'm not sure how "bad for readers" it is, since it's available on pretty much every device that can run K4PC (and rooted Nooks). Bad for B&N, yeah. Didn't Barnes and Noble just get exclusive rights to the Peanuts comic collection for Nook Color? Did Amazon pull those books from sale? Last edited by OtterBooks; 10-07-2011 at 04:58 PM.

10-07-2011, 07:18 PM	#14
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	i'm a long time veteran of the video game wars so exclusivity is old hat to me and really no big deal. imo this is childish as hell of b&n. they took their toys and went home so their customers get nothing now. feel how you want about amazon but the b&n response was utterly juvenile, especially over a deal with an expiration date. maybe i'm just a weirdo, i refuse to hate amazon. they're successful because they're smart businessmen and broker deals to benefit their customers and brand. any one of us would be cutting the same deals in their position. they're a business, not a charity. i don't know why people are so eager to tear down one of the last american companies that does right by their customers and isn't involved in shenanigans. Last edited by xg4bx; 10-07-2011 at 07:20 PM.

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10-07-2011, 01:25 PM	#2
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,314 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	L.J. you have to follow your own star. I respect you for doing that. I on the other hand like the slogan, "Show me the money!" I can thoroughly respect myself for doing that.

10-07-2011, 01:27 PM	#3
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	I expect Amazon to cut more of these types of deals in the future-really could give them an edge.

10-07-2011, 01:29 PM	#4
Abtacha Addict Posts: 332 Karma: 6220000 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Germany Device: Kobo Aura HD	So Brick&Mortar stores that are already struggling to stay in business in the USA (as far as I've read) are handing Customers over to Amazon because they don't want to stock Books published by Amazon? I can understand B&Ns decision somewhat, they have the Nook Color and they'd sure like to sell those DC Comics for those too. Besides exclusivity to one store is a bad thing for consumers as well.

10-07-2011, 02:06 PM	#5
cHex Zealot Posts: 127 Karma: 2843950 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle Keyboard (K3)	I see this as a possible way for B&N to leverage their strength--their very brick-and-mortarness. Amazon's strength is pricing, thanks to such things as economies of scale, inventory control (/nonexistence), etc. Perhaps the world is moving toward a time when everybody on the Internet buys their books at amazon.com. This makes a compelling case for publishers to deal with Amazon. However, there are large numbers of people that don't buy stuff online. They don't hear about new books from online bookstores or social networking sites. They primarily hear about new books by looking around bookstores. Or perhaps they just want instant gratification. This should also be compelling for publishers. If Amazon gets to leverage their strength, I see no reason for B&N not to leverage their own.

10-07-2011, 05:18 PM	#7
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	What I would find more ominous about this development, is that it fits in with the scenario where Amazon uses Topaz and its DRM to actually make it so the book can only be read on the devices they authorize and under their control. As it stands now, most all the books are also available, from other retailers, without the more difficult DRM and the consumer can obtain the book in a format that can be used on devices other than Kindles. Failing that the DRM can be easily removed and the book converted to the needed format/s. The exclusive deals make it more practical for the attempt to have it so that you can only buy the book from Amazon and only read it on devices they control. Luck; Ken

10-07-2011, 06:28 PM	#10
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	I don't know which is the daftest, the idea that people will want to read comics on a tiny screen, or some corporate suit getting in a strop and forcing their customers to buy from a competitor instead.

10-07-2011, 06:35 PM	#11
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	I guess people will just have to buy the paper versions from their local comic store instead, or, more likely, from Amazon.

10-07-2011, 07:01 PM	#12
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	DC's next movie: The Darknet Returns

10-07-2011, 07:30 PM	#15
RDaneel54 Aging Positronic Brain Posts: 633 Karma: 2155452 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora (when off-Earth) Device: Amazon Oasis; iPhone, iPad Mini	I'm not sure which book chain it was, but when I was travelling the only comic books in the airport bookstores were Marvel. Somebody probably had an exclusive deal there... Is it time to start the Monopoly game again?