Quote:
Originally Posted by darryl
Sorry Steve. I was a bit lazy in describing the posters apparent category as non-fiction.
|
And I was lazy in using the word subsidy. More on that later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darryl
I think the actual category the poster seems to prefer is obscure non-fiction which few others want to read and which has few prospects of even breaking even.
|
My category example was Chinese history. To state the obvious, there are a lot of Chinese, and tens of millions of them live in countries where there is freedom to read. That's just one reason why this category repeatedly generates international bestsellers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darryl
In fact, I don't agree with the subsidy argument.
|
Subsidy was the wrong word.
What do we call the benefit Toyota customers get from Lexus? I don't know that Lexus subsidizes Toyota. But Toyota buyers -- including used Toyota buyers -- benefit from getting, some years later, patented features first offered to Lexus buyers.
It seems to me that something similar happens when those who can't wait a few years for the price of the latest bestseller to go down pay a much higher price, and those who can wait pay a lower price.
It also leaves room for new entrants into publishing, including indie authors, to compete by price.
Seems fair to me. And it's a lot better than Amazon decreeing an end to Lexus-type books.