Quote:
Originally Posted by shalym
But see, I would bet that Overdrive (and thus, the libraries) have some sort of a contract with Hachette (and other publishers) so that they can guarantee that the book will be available upon publication. Amazon doesn't have that with Hachette.
Shari
|
And I am sure Overdrive charges my library for that. Every book I have on hold is a preorder.
You aren't going to get me to compare a library with a for-profit company. But I will compare Amazon's "lists" with bookstore product placement. About as useful as the library's Most Popular Collection. I discuss books with my friends, watch the shows the authors go on (Mahr, Colbert), read book reviews in Chicago Tribune, NYT and Wall Street Journal. The last time I bought a book just because it was on a bestseller list was 50 Shades of Gray, and DON'T get me started on that piece of cr*p. I'm currently reading A Presumption of Guilt by Charles Olgletree, and I learned about that through an alumni mailing. I have NEVER paid any attention to Amazon's book recommendations, except to check out if that book is available at the library, because I certainly wouldn't buy a book based on any for-profit company recommendation.
I realize this makes it really hard for independent authors to get their voice heard. But this is not due to any failure on my part, it is due to the historical position of publishers as gatekeepers.
Amazon is not a special snowflake. But between Hatchette and Amazon--Amazon wants to bring more books in front of me, Hatchette wants to restrict the books I see. Amazon wants to sell more at a lower price, Hatchette wants to charge me more. Arguments on worth are useless--what is the right price? Is Ogletree worth less because I borrowed it from the library? All I do know is I cannot loan or resell or donate ebooks. So they should be quite a bit less than pbooks. I don't know what the thought process was behind releasing ebooks at the same time as hardcovers. I am sure Amazon wanted it, to create interest for the kindle. But what did the publishers think was going to happen when they released two competing products at the same time? They must have been betting ebooks would fail. But they didn't count on Amazon and Oprah.