Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
Different tastes.
One understimated side effect of these subscriptions is that people can be more adventurous at zero cost, try unknown authors or genres, risk free. And this often results in added sales atop the rental income. And it substitutes for permafree titles that often get downloaded to be read...some day...
Some authors refer to KU as marketing that pays instead of costing.
Obviously it's meanless for the Pattersons and Kings of the world but for unknown newcomers it's a way to build a fanbase. And for readers it's protection against the "three chapter wonders".
On the gaming side, many game publishers are reporting big increases in sales during and shortly after a stint on MS GAME PASS. Games, of course have variable replay value so subscribers not only get to try a game to see what it's like (which could be achieved with a limited demo) but can play it fully and decide if it's sorth buying to replay multiple times (different protagonists, different tactics, etc). Plus subscription members get a discount on purchases. It's working well for everybody: developers, subscribers, and Microsoft.
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I don't disagree with anything you say. I don't think it's a bad business. I think I just enjoy shopping for cheap books.