Quote:
Originally Posted by Joykins
A person who pirates an ebook could just as well have checked the book out of the library or bought it used if they are that frugal. Especially for bestsellers like the Harry Potter books--these generally turn up all over used book sales and libraries after a short time. I find I have to purchase the more midlist type books more often if I want to read them, because I cannot rely on them turning up at used book sales or the library--and now some aren't even in print at all, just digital.
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The difference is in the "all". I was merely objecting to the notion that piracy doesn't affect sales. I don't have to believe "all pirated copies reflect lost sales" to believe that "piracy affects sales". It need only be SOME sales lost to be true for my position.
Even your scenario can be shown to support the notion that piracy affects sales. As a kid, all my books came from the library, as gifts or from garage sales. When I became an adult with money of my own, I started buying books because it's a LOT more convenient to walk into a book store and buy a book, the specific book I want.
Piracy gives folks all the benefits of buying new. Quick, convenient, get exactly the book you want. Such that SOME purchasing will stop.
Lee