HarperCollins Tries Direct Sales

[AnemicOak]

HarperCollins has launched a redesigned website that features a direct sales component. The new website, announced Tuesday morning, allows the publisher to sell print books, e-books and physical audiobooks directly to consumers. While HC has sold e-books from its own site in the past, it has never directly sold print books.

All HarperCollins U.S. e-books can be purchased from the site by consumers globally wherever the publisher holds rights. Print books and audio books are currently available only to U.S. consumers. HC said the capability to sell direct "will enable the company to better understand consumer preferences and, most importantly, further extend the global reach of its authors." The publisher also noted that its authors will be able to use the technology to sell direct from their own websites.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/b...ect-sales.html


They could make the ebook component of this very appealing if they'd drop DRM (not that it will happen).

[Apache]

And the price.
Apache

[eschwartz]

The thing I like most about HarperCollins' awesome new store is the clarity. There is only one format offered, "DRM ebook", so you know exactly what devices it works on.



Also, I am pretty sure their books work flawlessly with the number-one ereader, Kindle.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

The thing I like most about HarperCollins' awesome new store is the clarity. There is only one format offered, "DRM ebook", so you know exactly what devices it works on.



Also, I am pretty sure their books work flawlessly with the number-one ereader, Kindle.

Don't know about that, but they have their own reading app now, for iPhone and Android. Because the world needed another reading app.

[AnemicOak]

I guess I was surprised to learn they had never directly sold print books before. Most publishers don't go out of there way to do direct pbook sales, but do offer it as an option.

[CWatkinsNash]

Okay, so in addition to their app, the books work with ADE. I had to actually sign up and get a free book before I was directed an area with a link to this faq page:

https://store.digitalriver.com/store...nformationPage

[AnemicOak]

So they're using Digital River for fulfillment. Kind of surprised they didn't set up their own Adobe Content Server like S&S did instead of paying a distributor/middle man.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Okay, so in addition to their app, the books work with ADE. I had to actually sign up and get a free book before I was directed an area with a link to this faq page:

https://store.digitalriver.com/store...nformationPage

I'm shocked.

Course, that leaves me "out".

[TCSimpson]

Amazon made a new offer to Hachette.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/8/588...ut-ebook-sales
They already denied it.
http://www.teleread.com/chris-meadow...-book-revenue/

What is interesting is what Amazon themselves had to say about the negotiations.
"Our first choice would be to resolve a dispute like this through discussion only. We tried that already. We reached out to Hachette for the first time to discuss terms at the beginning of January for our contract which terminated in March. We heard nothing from them for three full months. We extended the contract into April under existing terms. Still nothing. In fact we got no conversation at all from Hachette until we started reducing our on-hand print inventory and reducing the discounts we offer customers off their list prices. Even since then, weeks have gone by while we waited for them to get back to us. After our last proposal to them on June 5th, they waited a week to respond at all, promising a counteroffer the following week. We are still waiting a month later."

[TCSimpson]

Originally Posted by Apache

And the price.
Apache

Yes that price. Agency. They can keep those books at those prices. Wouldn't touch 'em.

[fjtorres]

Great move: they no longer need to wait for Apple to be able to do Agency again.
And now everybody will see how much pull the HC brand has.

Also, I'm sure Kobo is going to be thrilled.

[Barcey]

It's interesting that they're selling paper books too and competing directly with the brick and mortar book stores. A few years ago they would have been up in arms about that.

[Barcey]

Originally Posted by TCSimpson

Amazon made a new offer to Hachette.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/8/588...ut-ebook-sales
They already denied it.
http://www.teleread.com/chris-meadow...-book-revenue/

What is interesting is what Amazon themselves had to say about the negotiations.
"Our first choice would be to resolve a dispute like this through discussion only. We tried that already. We reached out to Hachette for the first time to discuss terms at the beginning of January for our contract which terminated in March. We heard nothing from them for three full months. We extended the contract into April under existing terms. Still nothing. In fact we got no conversation at all from Hachette until we started reducing our on-hand print inventory and reducing the discounts we offer customers off their list prices. Even since then, weeks have gone by while we waited for them to get back to us. After our last proposal to them on June 5th, they waited a week to respond at all, promising a counteroffer the following week. We are still waiting a month later."

That was a good move by Amazon. It makes hot air out of the Hachette author's public complaints about Amazon hurting them in the negotiations. Now it's time for the spinmeisters to begin discrediting it as an obvious media ploy. (It is an obvious media ploy but it works to discredit the author's obvious media ploy.)

[AnemicOak]

A nice gesture on HC's part would be to restore all the ebooks that went away when they dropped their old ebook store a couple of years ago.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by TCSimpson

Amazon made a new offer to Hachette.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/8/588...ut-ebook-sales
They already denied it.
http://www.teleread.com/chris-meadow...-book-revenue/

What is interesting is what Amazon themselves had to say about the negotiations.
"Our first choice would be to resolve a dispute like this through discussion only. We tried that already. We reached out to Hachette for the first time to discuss terms at the beginning of January for our contract which terminated in March. We heard nothing from them for three full months. We extended the contract into April under existing terms. Still nothing. In fact we got no conversation at all from Hachette until we started reducing our on-hand print inventory and reducing the discounts we offer customers off their list prices. Even since then, weeks have gone by while we waited for them to get back to us. After our last proposal to them on June 5th, they waited a week to respond at all, promising a counteroffer the following week. We are still waiting a month later."

Wrong thread?