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Originally Posted by ficbot
This implies an actual free market where people have real choices. Not so in the collusion world of agency prices, for many titles.
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Now you're starting to sound like my nephew, who sits in front of his grandmother's computer a dozen hours or more a week downloading music justifying himself with constant mumblings about perceived price gougings by the music labels.
My answer to him and to you is the same: we always have choices. His problem is that he insists on listening to the expensive stuff while complaining about how expensive the expensive stuff is. There are much cheaper musical alternatives out there (myself, I'm a classical guy, and I rarely pay more than $2-$3 for a CD). If you don't like the price gouging of the major labels, then don't listen to major label music.
Ditto with ebooks: ya don't like the prices the Big Six wanna charge, then don't read their stuff. There are all kinds of alternatives out there, from cheap, indie authors at places like Feedbooks and Smashwords, to more public domain stuff over at Gutenberg and Google Books (all absolutely free) than you could read in a half dozen lifetimes.
If you insist you gotta have all the latest NYT bestsellers, then stop complaining about the prices. Or buy the pbook. Used. Or check it out of your local library. Or borrow it from a friend. You see? Alternatives.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ficbot
Here is a wild though for YOU, Nathanael---don't assume that everyone is coming from the same place of privilege as you are
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My place is no more privileged than yours. The only difference between you and me is I choose not to read the expensive stuff while you insist on it. If you don't like the game the Big Six are playing, then don't play in it. They're not the only game in town. Even for underprivileged Americans.