MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Borders Suspends Payments to Some Publishers

fjtorres · 01-08-2011, 10:45 AM

Amazon is more of an online shopping Mall than anything else since a lot of their revenue comes from hosting other stores and providing backend services to entirely unrelated businesses.

The main distinction between Amazon (which is thriving, like other online retailers) and B&N/Borders is the B&M portion of the business, not breadth of product. Books are a key to Amazon's visibility but they're not key to their survival. That means they're not subject to the vagaries of the book business; one of the reasons for all the vitriol generally heaped upon them. Unlike other booksellers not named Walmart and Target, they are *not* subject to the whims of the BPHs and they're not shy about pushing back when they think its appropriate. *Their* share of the consumer book business is in no danger. *Their* business model works.

It's B&M retailing that is at risk today.

01-08-2011, 10:45 AM	#40
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Amazon is more of an online shopping Mall than anything else since a lot of their revenue comes from hosting other stores and providing backend services to entirely unrelated businesses. The main distinction between Amazon (which is thriving, like other online retailers) and B&N/Borders is the B&M portion of the business, not breadth of product. Books are a key to Amazon's visibility but they're not key to their survival. That means they're not subject to the vagaries of the book business; one of the reasons for all the vitriol generally heaped upon them. Unlike other booksellers not named Walmart and Target, they are not subject to the whims of the BPHs and they're not shy about pushing back when they think its appropriate. Their share of the consumer book business is in no danger. Their business model works. It's B&M retailing that is at risk today.