Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
So what you're saying, in effect, is that it's pointless to have or offer an opinion, that only buying behavior matters. Okay, in the final analysis, that's true enough.
But then just why are ANY of these surveys done? The publishers and booksellers are attempting to figure out an emerging market they don't have a handle on. All some of us are saying here is that they seem to be asking the wrong questions.
|
Publishers clearly don't have a firm grasp on the quickly evolving book market. (I don't claim to, either, lol.) They're trying to find their way, it looks to me. Surveys help fill in blanks for them. That doesn't mean that every survey is meaningful or that every piece of info is as good as the next.
Consumers are clearly entitled to their opinions, but opinions won't sway publishers as long as enough readers are buying at current prices. The key thing is, IMO, big publishers are mired in legacy costs and can't change quickly even if they want to. (Legacy businesses in other industries often suffer the same fate, as with automakers, airlines and such.) They have existing bills and overhead to meet, and it will take time for things to shake out. Some might adapt and survive; others will fold. Meanwhile, there's always opportunity for new businesses to emerge and eat their lunch, or at least nibble around the edges.