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Just for interest, Karen, we signed only today a contract with the EZread retailer. We did ask for quite some adjustment to their original draft (and our new terms were accepted), but it comes in fair and square like this:
*30% retail commission.
*All books offered DRM-free, text-to-talk authorised, no geographical restrictions.
*No adjustment (upward or downward) of a $5.95 cover price across the board in all countries.
Again, though, we would be in breach of contract ourselves if another retailer decided to slash our price withour consultation (as some do -- even those who have exchanged a similar contract).
Upward adjustment is also in breach of our contracts, but -- as with the main player, Amazon -- it takes so long to put things to rights that, meantime, our reader reputation as publishers and our sales potential in the general marketplace is compromised.
Sure, some publishers aren't exactly white hats and exploit rather than play fair. But it ain't always the publisher's fault when prices go haywire, as some buyers seem to think ... with encouragement from open letters like the latest from Amazon. Often there's equal blame on both sides.
I really am ready to take it on the chin if we make a mistake (and we'll immediately put it right if a single reader/buyer points out our error), but I hate to be herded in as a scapegoat for questionable retail practices.
Slainte. Neil
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