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

Lemurion · 02-06-2010, 03:46 PM

I think one reason people are getting so worked up over this is because there are several things happening simultaneously, and different people are focusing on different aspects.

We have Macmillan wanting an agency model
We have Macmillan wanting to raise Kindle prices of new release hardcover bestsellers.
We have Amazon delisting almost all Macmillan books (both paper and electronic) as part of the negotiations.

Note that I consider the agency model a separate issue from price, because Macmillan could have chosen to go with $9.99 best seller pricing with the agency model if they had wanted to. They would never want to, but they could have done so.

Different people are taking their stance based on which aspect is most important to them, and as most people on this site are ebook buyers, many are focusing on the increase in Kindle prices. It's important to note though, that for people who don't own Kindles, $14.99 for the ebook of a new hardcover bestseller may actually be less than they currently pay; or at least very close to the current price.

These people may find it hard to get worked up about the intrinsic evil of making someone else pay the same as they do for a given product.

As for the agency model, that moves pricing out of the retailer's hands and does decrease the ability for consumers to comparison shop. Having said that, with the current closed shop model where one has to own a Kindle to shop at the Kindle Store, and by doing so lose the ability to buy most bestsellers anywhere else; or have to have a Nook to shop at Barnes and Noble. Only people with ePub compatible devices can really shop around, and they are cut out of both the Kindle and Nook stores.

Finally we have the people who are primarily concerned with Amazon's tactic of delisting books. They are more concerned about the effect on authors, especially the long term effect.

All these concerns are valid, and not everyone agrees on what is going to be best for the industry in the long term. Everyone can agree that lower prices for consumers are better from a consumer perspective, but they may not agree with how low the price can go and still be sustainable.

02-06-2010, 03:46 PM	#303
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I think one reason people are getting so worked up over this is because there are several things happening simultaneously, and different people are focusing on different aspects. We have Macmillan wanting an agency model We have Macmillan wanting to raise Kindle prices of new release hardcover bestsellers. We have Amazon delisting almost all Macmillan books (both paper and electronic) as part of the negotiations. Note that I consider the agency model a separate issue from price, because Macmillan could have chosen to go with $9.99 best seller pricing with the agency model if they had wanted to. They would never want to, but they could have done so. Different people are taking their stance based on which aspect is most important to them, and as most people on this site are ebook buyers, many are focusing on the increase in Kindle prices. It's important to note though, that for people who don't own Kindles, $14.99 for the ebook of a new hardcover bestseller may actually be less than they currently pay; or at least very close to the current price. These people may find it hard to get worked up about the intrinsic evil of making someone else pay the same as they do for a given product. As for the agency model, that moves pricing out of the retailer's hands and does decrease the ability for consumers to comparison shop. Having said that, with the current closed shop model where one has to own a Kindle to shop at the Kindle Store, and by doing so lose the ability to buy most bestsellers anywhere else; or have to have a Nook to shop at Barnes and Noble. Only people with ePub compatible devices can really shop around, and they are cut out of both the Kindle and Nook stores. Finally we have the people who are primarily concerned with Amazon's tactic of delisting books. They are more concerned about the effect on authors, especially the long term effect. All these concerns are valid, and not everyone agrees on what is going to be best for the industry in the long term. Everyone can agree that lower prices for consumers are better from a consumer perspective, but they may not agree with how low the price can go and still be sustainable.