Quote:
Originally Posted by Davimee
Today I received an email from Barnes & Noble saying they have drastically dropped the price of the Nook. With 3G it is $199, with wi-fi only it is $149. That's amazing. I guess now Amazon is dropping the Kindle down to $189. This is great, as it will make it easier for more people to purchase ebook readers... but what will it do to smaller companies like Astak? I love my Pocket Pro and would hate to see Astak become a casualty of this type of price war. I know Robertb has said in the past Astak makes very little money on their readers. I really hope this doesn't take them out of the ereader game.
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Dear Davimee:
Great question and I am glad you brought it up. I am not allowed to talk bad about a competitor so I have to talk nice.
Yes, it is depressing for Astak to see B&N and Amazon firing guns at each other. Astak is a rowboat caught between battleships. Reportedly, BOTH Kindle and Nook were already selling for less than they cost to manufacture. Now they are eatiing up even more loss. BUT... they can withstand this. IREX already declared bankruptcy and others are rumoured. Low-balling is illegal.
So... where does this leave Astak. We cannot lower our device prices as we need to remain viable now. We cannot afford to lose money. We will instead dwell on our eBook Store (
www.EZread.com) and there we CAN and WILL compete. Our first shot there is an all new website-redesign by a professional firm with experience. The contract was signed!! We will continue to push hard to have more innovation on that site: PayPal, Wish List, Forum, Author Interviews, contests, and more.
Yes, but what about devices? We have at least two models in the pipeline: the EZ Reader PLUS and a PROPOSED new Keyboard Touchscreen Wi-Fi Note-Taker that I am not allowed to detail at all. Please do not ask yet!! Both are 6 inch!! Our MID 7 inch is still firmly planned and will knock the stuffing out of tablets. We will not get in the price war. We will have to compete on value alone!
So, are these price wars beneficial to the end user! Well, as most innovation comes for small to mid-sized makers and this price war could put them out of the business... leaving the Big Two to then RAISE prices... I argue that point!! In the long-run it will hurt end users! In the short-run it may be illegal!
We are anything but fretting and remain full of enthusiasm. We will continue to be here; and we will continue providing the best in service and value.