Quote:
Originally Posted by issybird
It's not my personal responsibility to make sure a business model does what we need it to do; it's up to the business/industry to find viable parameters that work for all the participants, both providers and consumers. If Audible created unrealistic expectations regarding the price of audiobooks, I'm not obligated to dig into my pocket to make up the shortfall. It seems to me, all they can do is wait it out in the anticipation that people will change their expectations over time and work off their cheaper inventory.
I think an exact analogy is Kobo and the unlimited 90% coupons (well, OK, that's more extreme). In the immediate aftermath, once the coupons and contests dried up, they had to be selling fewer units and for less gross revenues. Presumably their gross profit margins went up. Where they stand in terms of their net profit, I have no idea, but I suspect they haven't got past the bubble yet. I know I've still got lots of cheep inventory that depresses what I'm willing to spend on an ebook.
I'm going to note that wee contradiction where you have a better deal than is available to us cheapskates who aren't willing to pay authors a living wage.
|
No, it's not your responsibility, however, as the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Thus, you can't really expect a deeply discounted deal to continue indefinitely. Eventually, they either have to make money or go out of business. I prefer to support a business with a good business model that will enable it to continue for a long time. I like ebooks and audiobooks. People make both because they expect to make money at it. If they don't, then they stop.