MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Amazon says 'will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan's terms'

Rob G. · 01-31-2010, 09:50 PM

Some random thoughts:

I find it very interesting that the music industry ran to Amazon as a way to escape Apple's perceived tyranny and now the publishing industry is running to Apple to escape Amazon's. Something about that just doesn't add up.

Now, maybe someone can explain this to me, because I'm not sure I understand what's happening here. Amazon is paying everyone's wholesale price but then they're choosing to sell at $9.99, which would seem to be a loss. Is this correct? If this is the case than I don't understand how someone can legally say Amazon has to sell at a certain price. Isn't that price fixing and illegal? And it seems to me that this must have less to do with eBooks than it does undercutting the price of hardcovers. I'm pretty sure the industry has been equally unhappy with the near universal $9.99 discount for new HC books, so logically wouldn't they be next on the hit list?

Also, someone above said Amazon pulling Macmillian product was "playing dirty pool." I guess I don't see it that way. Amazon isn't required to sell Macmillian's stuff any more than Macmillian is required to sell to Amazon at a certain price or at all. Seems to me that's a two way street.

And I guess in the end, I could support this if I felt it was going to mean more money in the author's pockets. I'm willing to bet money it won't.

01-31-2010, 09:50 PM	#67
Rob G. Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 160 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Some random thoughts: I find it very interesting that the music industry ran to Amazon as a way to escape Apple's perceived tyranny and now the publishing industry is running to Apple to escape Amazon's. Something about that just doesn't add up. Now, maybe someone can explain this to me, because I'm not sure I understand what's happening here. Amazon is paying everyone's wholesale price but then they're choosing to sell at $9.99, which would seem to be a loss. Is this correct? If this is the case than I don't understand how someone can legally say Amazon has to sell at a certain price. Isn't that price fixing and illegal? And it seems to me that this must have less to do with eBooks than it does undercutting the price of hardcovers. I'm pretty sure the industry has been equally unhappy with the near universal $9.99 discount for new HC books, so logically wouldn't they be next on the hit list? Also, someone above said Amazon pulling Macmillian product was "playing dirty pool." I guess I don't see it that way. Amazon isn't required to sell Macmillian's stuff any more than Macmillian is required to sell to Amazon at a certain price or at all. Seems to me that's a two way street. And I guess in the end, I could support this if I felt it was going to mean more money in the author's pockets. I'm willing to bet money it won't.