Quote:
Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom
Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL....
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No, it isn't.
Countless companies figure out how to reduce their costs, and use the savings to increase their profit margins rather than reduce the price. This is downright common-place behavior -- especially during a recession.
So what, exactly, is the "principle" upon which you are standing? Does no one have the right to maximize profits from a cost savings? Are companies that are not monopolies, and produce goods that are not critical to human survival, obligated to stay within a specific profit margin? If so, what's the magic number -- is it OK for Harlequin to make a 15% profit from a paper book, but not a 16% profit from an ebook? Does it only apply to books? If they save 3¢ per paper book and don't pass the cost on to the consumers, is that equally wrong? Does this moral standard only apply to digital books?
There also isn't any real reason for price to be fixed to costs. Prices are complicated and based on numerous factors, including demand and what people are willing to pay. They could charge $5 for paper and $50 for the ebook, and it still isn't a moral failing.
Sorry, but I'm not really seeing any genuine moral principles at stake here, let alone consistently applied. Perhaps you should reconsider what's really going on here?
