Quote:
Originally Posted by stonetools
Frankly , I don't think that there is any way in the long run that small ebook stores can compete with Amazon or BN. The people the DoJ might have the most sympathy for is the small independent B&M booksellers who complain, rightly, that they were showplaces for Amazon: people would browse thir stores, accept advice from their staff, and then go home and buy from Amazon.
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I don't really buy the showcase aspect when it comes to bookstores. A book is a book is a book. You don't need to compare its physical qualities to others. And the main advantages besides price of the online retailers is the reviews, recommendation engine, people who bought this bough this, and of course the much deeper selection. All those things largely obviate the need to travel to the bookstore to ask an employee about certain books that they likely didn't read and may well not be in stock. Specialty bookstores may be a different story.