Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfCrash
And that is why you should back up all of your ebooks on your computer.
|
We had some contracts with a big company that was expanding several equipment lines in a small city. We worked on that job steady for about 2 1/2 years, so everyone in my company was in and out of that city during that time.
Anyway, the city had several big Gyms of the kind that you pay by the month or the year. At that time it was fairly cheap, usually about $150/year or $20/month. at any of the Gyms. There was heavy head to head competing between the different Gyms, all the time they were running specials. Either cost reductions or when you signed up, you got merchandise or coupons for restaurants. Sometimes they had a drawing for a free membership or a mountain bike. Those kinds of things. Of course the customers were benefiting though I think the owners weren't. Finally after about 6 months there, one the guys that we were working with at the company, not for us, came in one morning and said he had signed up for a "lifetime" membership at one of the Gyms, a local outfit. $350 up front. The Gym had 3 locations in the area, and the membership was good at any of them.
Everyone thought it was a good deal for that guy because he lived in that city and was likely to stay.
In another year that local Gym closed, the building and equipment was sold, and one of the big national chains that already had 1 location in the city took it over, closing 1 of the local Gym's 3 locations
The lifetime memberships were worthless. They did offer 25% to 50% off for the next year's membership which immediately went to $200/year for those who had one of those lifetime memberships.
The point is when you are looking at the book business, you have to look not only at the companies you like, and the companies that give you the best deal, but also the company that is most likely to stay in business.
My bet is on AMAZON, as a reader and an "occasional author."