Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
One (minor) benefit for Amazon of this deal is they get 300 B&M stores to carry their pbooks in the UK.
If nobody else wants them, they'll be by default Waterstone's exclusives.
It'll be interesting if they'll be doing other B&M deals elsewhere...
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But there would, presumably, be a reason nobody else wants them ?
Like, "that'll never sell", perhaps?
To have something to sell that nobody else wants, (therefore "exclusive" to Waterstones) doesn't sound like a desperately sure-fire recipe for success....
Without knowing what exactly in this deal convinced the confirmed anti-Amazon Daunt to roll over with his paws in the air, with a big soppy smile, we're whistling in the dark, aren't we.
But, as an early Waterstones supporter, who saw them slowly become more like the competition - and them more like Waterstones, don't forget - I just cannot see the plus here.
It certainly will baffle many who still stuck with Waterstones, because they saw it as an independent, and I'm sure they'll lose some of those.
But obviously this embracing of digital is seen as a way to bring back the glory days with a new client base. Trouble is, I think the new prospective client base they aim for, is a little more clued up than it's more traditional lot - a lot of 'em will of 'em belong to MR for a start !
No, for me something just doesn't add up, somehow....
But, let's face it, the "monster's" money has spoken, simple as that.
Whether Waterstones will regret it, we shall see.