MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

rhadin · 03-13-2012, 06:45 AM

I guess, once again, I'm the outcast. First, I think the marketing surveys are accurate. They certainly reflect my habits and those of people I know. More importantly, as large as the online bookselling marketplace is, more books are still bought at b&m stores. That may be changing, but it hasn't changed yet.

Second, every naysayer (and me, too, as a non-naysayer) regarding the marketing surveys isn't buttressing the contrary view with any fact, just anecdotal evidence or personal experience. Which leads me to one of the failings in MR discussions: too many of us take as established fact that represents the views of the majority (or even a plurality) of book buyers and readers both anecdotal evidence that supports our perspective or our own personal experience -- and we become adamant that our "facts" are the only true "facts". Perhaps we are deluding ourselves.

The other thing that needs considering is what is meant by "bought," "buying," and similar terms. Have we "bought" a book that we obtained for free? And if our to-be-read pile grows geometrically, especially with free ebooks, is that an indication that we are broadening our searches or does it indicate that we simply think a book might someday interest us and so we grab it while it is free?

As for Scott Turow and the Author's Guild, I am of two minds. First, I abhor agency pricing because I think the ebooks are overpriced when I consider the limitations imposed, especially DRM. OTOH, I think in the absence of agency pricing, Amazon's competition would rapidly disappear. Apple and Google may have deep pockets but they are unwilling, historically, to run at a loss, especially in peripheral businesses. I think once Amazon effectively controls the ebook market, ebookers will be shocked by the sudden price increases as Amazon tries to change loss to profit virtually over night. There is no reason to think Amazon would act unlike any other monopolist has acted when it comes to pricing.

Finally, to point at some books that I like and say I couldn't find them in my local b&m store is a red herring argument. No intelligent consumer expects a local b&m store to carry 100% of everything. More importantly, local b&m stores have to cater to the people who buy there, not to those who simply browse and then buy online.

03-13-2012, 06:45 AM	#27
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I guess, once again, I'm the outcast. First, I think the marketing surveys are accurate. They certainly reflect my habits and those of people I know. More importantly, as large as the online bookselling marketplace is, more books are still bought at b&m stores. That may be changing, but it hasn't changed yet. Second, every naysayer (and me, too, as a non-naysayer) regarding the marketing surveys isn't buttressing the contrary view with any fact, just anecdotal evidence or personal experience. Which leads me to one of the failings in MR discussions: too many of us take as established fact that represents the views of the majority (or even a plurality) of book buyers and readers both anecdotal evidence that supports our perspective or our own personal experience -- and we become adamant that our "facts" are the only true "facts". Perhaps we are deluding ourselves. The other thing that needs considering is what is meant by "bought," "buying," and similar terms. Have we "bought" a book that we obtained for free? And if our to-be-read pile grows geometrically, especially with free ebooks, is that an indication that we are broadening our searches or does it indicate that we simply think a book might someday interest us and so we grab it while it is free? As for Scott Turow and the Author's Guild, I am of two minds. First, I abhor agency pricing because I think the ebooks are overpriced when I consider the limitations imposed, especially DRM. OTOH, I think in the absence of agency pricing, Amazon's competition would rapidly disappear. Apple and Google may have deep pockets but they are unwilling, historically, to run at a loss, especially in peripheral businesses. I think once Amazon effectively controls the ebook market, ebookers will be shocked by the sudden price increases as Amazon tries to change loss to profit virtually over night. There is no reason to think Amazon would act unlike any other monopolist has acted when it comes to pricing. Finally, to point at some books that I like and say I couldn't find them in my local b&m store is a red herring argument. No intelligent consumer expects a local b&m store to carry 100% of everything. More importantly, local b&m stores have to cater to the people who buy there, not to those who simply browse and then buy online.