Quote:
Originally Posted by din155
How is cheaper books for me is a short term individual advantage but harmful for society. For me, a penny saved on a book is a penny available for another book or something else. Please explain how am doing any harm to society if I want cheaper books.
din
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For me, the harm is not in wanting cheaper books. Heck, I'm a utopianist. I think we need get past the money thing altogether. And everyone should have access to the richness of the world's culture.
The harm, as I see it, is focusing solely on pricing as a factor in who to buy from. I won't point fingers, as numerous large corporations' treatment of their workers, consumers, and communities have been pointed out over the years. The current way the game is played, the corporations (retailers and publishers alike) aren't concerned about low prices or access to culture or increasing the number of books in circulation. At the end of the day, they're concerned with their own profits.
It's pretty much impossible to lead life without
some compromises in who you do business with, but in general I try to do business with those I feel are making a long-term contribution to the community.
Often this means not picking the cheapest option in front of me.
Slightly back on the main topic: in theory, I don't have a problem with authors/publishers setting their own price. They just need to do a better job at justifying whatever price they do set, either in content, service, or value. Right now, they are failing to do this, for the most part.
I don't think we should protect outdated or noncompetitive businesses; but some market protections are necessary to prevent deep-pocketed big players from loss-leading for years and driving less capitalized, but otherwise competitive businesses (e.g. selection, service, quality, value), under.
Just my opinion. Like I said, I come from a very idealized mindset.
Others may disagree, and I didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.