|
Daithi makes some interesting calculations. I just feel like the readers keep telling publishers that it makes no sense to not get a break on the ebook prices due to the lack of physical materials needed to manufacture, ship, store etc. them and the publishers keep saying 'but here's what you don't understand.' Wouldn't it make more sense for the publishers to instead focus their energies on how to reduce the costs to a level that the customer can comfortably pay, and then they can sell and the customers can buy and everyone will be happy? It reminds me of the times when the Canadian dollar has gotten at par with the American dollar and Canadian book buyers have complained about our higher list prices. Rather than work to lower the list prices so they matched, the Canadian publishers instead printed editorials in the newspapers about why the prices were higher and why we should be patriotic and pay them. And the customers responded by buying the books across the border in America, or on-line. Why pay a higher price if you don't have to? Why would they think people would willingly do that?
As for industries, all industries change with the times. I read a historical fiction novel recently where the professions of the characters included one guy who was the town water carrier. He would go to the well and pick up water and carry it around to people. We sure don't have that job anymore! Those people would all be unemployed. Or how about the town washer-woman? Or the town blacksmith? Or the people who used to manufacture the oil lamps, hand-crank washing machines, corsets and other items we don't use now?
Or to use a more recent example, I have a knowledge-based job (teaching) and urbanization has changed MY career. People in my area who have kids cannot afford to live in the city, so the public school board is crumbling. One's choices as a teacher now are either a) move to the burbs and work there or b) acquire a specialization in an in-demand area where there are still jobs in the city. I chose option B and got the French certification. Such teachers are always in demand because not just anyone can get this qualification (i.e. you have to have good enough French and not everyone has that capability) and because you are not allowed to teach this subject without the qualification. I have still been able to find a job in the city. But that was because I accepted the reality that for just plain old regular teachers, there were no jobs and these were my choices if I didn't want to starve.
|