Quote:
Originally Posted by OtterBooks
The only time I consider high prices an ethical issue is when it involves a company intentionally taking advantage of a customer base that has no other reasonable options. This obviously is not the case with ebooks, and don't toss out some special-needs anecdote because you know that isn't typical and you're probably making it up anyway. For most people the ereader is a luxury electronic toy that only adds to their options, so cry me a river about the price of your fancy robo-novels, little lord fauntleroy. You're so oppressed.
How's everyone doin' this fine evening/day/morning?
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That is what I have been saying all along. The idea of a user saying "you don't charge me the price I want to pay, therefore I will get it from the darknet" seems ludicrous to me. What if the employers of those persons did the same thing and said "either you work for me for 2 bucks an hour or I will get an illegal worker to replace you"?
Nobody has a right to buy something at the price he or she wants to pay for the item. You have the right to refuse to buy, buy something else, and to tell everybody why.
Obviously I agree that publishers are making a big mistake by pricing books too high, however, I don't see how anyone can get angry about it. I also agree with the argument, that for most buyers, an ebook represents less value than a pbook (can't be resold or given to others). But what does that matter to the publishers? If they really are making a mistake with their prices and their books aren't selling the market will shake them down soon enough. There is plenty of reasonably priced or free stuff to read while we wait this out. And if ebooks are selling well at higher prices, then we will just have to suck it up.