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Originally Posted by Barcey
If everyone does disagree with you it's wise to reconsider the facts. In this case it's not everyone and the people who disagree have no facts.
The district court ruled that Apple had conspired with five book publishers to increase the price of e-books for consumers. The opinion pieces never mention this or the fact that Macmillan was one of the five publishers when they talk about the horror of Amazon removing the buy buttons. Any real journalist would at least consider that criminal conspiracy is a bigger story then removing a buy button. Also that Macmillan admitted telling Amazon that if they don't accept being an agent they would window books to Amazon. That seems to be as powerful of a threat and negotiating tactic, especially when Macmillan has an unquestionable monopoly on their author's books.
Two of the NY Times articles were written by the same two people and neither of them are journalism. The third is at least clearly called out as an opinion piece.
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This is probably one of the articles you referenced
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/31/op...=15417582&_r=0
The author claims that Amazon is a monopsony and is improperly driving book prices down to benefit consumers. He claims many books are being sold at a loss by Amazon and taking away rightful profits of the publishers.
This is a quote from that article: "If Amazon bought an e-book from Hachette for $13, it resold it to a consumer for $9.99, losing $3.01 per e-book. It should come as no surprise that under these circumstances, e-book buyers flocked to Amazon."
The author's recommendation: "Perhaps the best solution would be an online marketplace controlled by the publishers — with the 30 percent commission being split 50-50 with the authors in addition to the author’s royalty."
I sincerely doubt any eBook consumer is going to run to a new competitor of Amazon and really want to pay higher prices for eBooks.
Frankly, that tendency of Amazon to drive down ALL consumer prices, is why I ONLY buy ALL products now from their Prime list. I wouldn't dream of buying anything from the Amazon Marketplace or anywhere else if Amazon sells it at Prime.
The fact that Apple has held consumer prices up since 1979 is why I've never purchased any Apple products. I purchased PC's from Radio Shack, IBM and Dell and now only buy PC's from Dell and everything else from Amazon.
Its also the reason why Android phones are swamping the iOS phones lately with Google and Samsung leading the charge against Apple. If some folks prefer paying higher prices thinking they are getting better products, that is their privilege. However, I've found the lower price competitors have just as good or BETTER products than the higher price products.
Its not really a question if book publishers deserve higher profits or consumers deserve lower prices, its really selfishness on the consumer's part. If Amazon will represent the consumer's interests, then that is where the consumer will park.