Quote:
Originally Posted by stonetools
Since agency, Amazon's share of the ebook market fell from 90 to 60%. The publishers, other booksellers, and vrtually everyone in the business press think that's due to agency pricing , since it prevents Amazon from out discounting everyone else.
Now most folks here dispute that- even as they eagerly anticipate Amazon discounts.
For me, its simple.
If Amazon steeply discounts bestsellers and gains market share raopidly next year, then that will provethatagency pricing was determinative in reducing Amazon's market share. If Amazonm doesnt gain market sghare, then it wasn't agency pricing. I suspect Amazon will rapidly gain market share .
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Agency was introduced at a point where Amazon have finally made ebook readers mainstream. The ebook market as a whole was growing rapidly and other retailers such as sony and waterstones were heavily pushing alternatives to the kindle.
If Amazon had 90% of the market and agency fixed prices across the entire market, why would anyone that's already an amazon customer leave to reduce their market share? They wouldn't, it's more likely the market grew and people didn't just buy the kindle.
The only question is, if agency wasn't in place, would the newers have picked amazon over the other retailers and imo there's no way to know that.
and, all that said, it still doesn't excuse colluding on prices (if proven true).