[darryl]

@fjtorres. What you say in your last post is largely correct. But the more I look at the situation the more I think Amazon has predicted what is likely to happen well in advance and has positioned itself to take full advantage. That is not to say that good management adopting some of the tactics you have outlined and others could not frustrate Amazon to some extent. However, if Amazon's competitors do not do much better than they have in the past Amazon will likely come out the big winner. Whatever happens, it seems, Amazon will gain something. And, anti-trust concerns aside, Amazon is cashed-up.

I would add that Chris and Dean are excellent and realistic operators, as are Baen. I expect these types of businesses will always have a niche. The real challenge seems to be to the large publishers, Ingram Spark and Baker and Taylor. I just don't see B&N getting a sufficiently talented and visionary management team together, especially under Chapter i1. Jeff Bezos would struggle with this challenge. What they need is a miracle.