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Originally Posted by TCSimpson
Um, isn't that the gist of the press release in the OP in Amazon's statement? That they want ebooks priced at $9.99 or less except in specialized cases?
"Any author who's trying to get on one of the national bestseller lists should insist to their publisher that their e-book be priced at $9.99 or lower."
"Is it Amazon's position that all e-books should be $9.99 or less? No, we accept that there will be legitimate reasons for a small number of specialized titles to be above $9.99."
All I'm saying to those who say Amazon shouldn't be able to dictate the price is that isn't Amazon's retail site to do with what they will? As it is Hachette's right to say, no, we want $14.99?
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Oh course Amazon has a right to insist on being able to set prices in their own store, just as the publishers have a right to insist on being able to set prices for their own products. That's what the contract negotiation is about. Both sides have valid business reasons for preferring their method of selling. That doesn't make one side evil and the other side good.
Just as a side note, I saw an article, I think in the WSJ, about a small publisher who finally signed a one year contract with Amazon after a year and a half long contract negotiation. This negotiation may go on for a long time and I don't think it will be because Hachette is dragging their feet like Amazon says. Amazon, like Walmart, has a reputation for playing extreme hardball when it comes to contract negotiations.