Quote:
Originally Posted by DuckieTigger
I am wrong because why?
The publishers say: 43% of reads (library) generate only 15% of revenue.
Who is to blame? The libraries, because they make it too easy to borrow ebooks?
I fail to see the reason of that conundrum? Here is my reasoning of why ebooks have this discrepancy: Ebook only readers read ebooks, because they are no longer willing or capable to read paper. A typical ebook only reader is no longer willing to pay for expensive new release publisher ebooks for the majority of their reading. So ebook sales from those ebook only readers declined a lot for publishers. The reason for that decline is is not that the library got all of a sudden more attractive due to frictionless convenience, but that cheaper ebooks get bought instead. Simple demand and supply.
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You're wrong for the reasons I gave in the post.
You're now arguing the topic of the thread, the efficacy of the embargo on licenses to libraries.
And while I agree with the embargo, because I trust Macmillan has people with degrees in the subject matter, and way more access to sales information than you or I have, I do not agree that it's the only reason for the decline in sales.
I agree with you that some ebook only readers, especially those on this forum, insist that ebooks should be prices lower than the publishers seem to want. Personally I think these people are short sighted and are going to do much more harm to the reader side of the book industry than they intend. Notably because the slimmer and slimmer you cut the profit margins the less and less authors you're going to inspire. To say nothing of the cover artists, the editors, etc. I'll leave the quality of the ebooks aside, because one mans trash is another mans treasure, however as you decrease editors you're going to start having more continuity errors in series, and grammatical errors in books. That's not a judgement on the ability of authors, it's just how it is.