Quote:
Originally Posted by starrigger
If you read this entire thread, you may discover that the reality is far more complex than you've indicated above. It's not just a matter of acquiring some software and raking in the money, unfortunately. Tor has been working for the better part of a year to put together an ebook system, and it's still not ready. (Much to my personal displeasure, I might add.) It's just not as easy as many people think it is.
As for Walmart, most likely they're not selling overstock, unless they're marked as remainders. They may have gotten a special discount from the publisher, or they may just be taking a lower profit margin.
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I regret to say, after several years in the web site business, I cannot buy into this analysis. Tor's problems could be caused by many reasons such as inadequate investment, inadequate motivation, inadequate knowledge etc. at any rate imho it is self evident to anyone with any commercial knowledge that the costs of distribution and retail margins of ebooks will be far far less than p-books.
I sense a huge amount of fear in the publishing business. They have seen the chaotic response of the music industry, and despite the logical expectation that they would react to this by being proactive and far seeing - it seems that fear, instead, is paralyzing their actions.
In a way I sympathise with them.
The business model for the publishing industry in 10 years time will be massively different from the model as it stands today. The cosy nature of the book distribution and local bookstore model will be disintegrating. The ability by those motivated to do so, to copy and distribute illegal copies of books will be rife. The potential ability of authors to bypass publishers altogether will be real.
The publishing industry will, in my opinion, have to completely reorganise and restructure their business model over the next decade to become smaller and leaner in order to remain functional on thinner margins and remain relevant.
Saoir