Waterstones - oops........

[carpetmojo]

I just wonder how Waterstone's executives see the progress of their "arrangement" with Amazon ? (And yes, I do maintain the possesive ...)

Satisfied and happy, do you think ?

Was their takeover by Mr. Mamut an enduring life line, and James Daunt's announcement in May 2012 that they would sell Kindles a wise move by a far-sighted businessman ?
[Who said, incidentally,"A world that is totally dominated by Amazon will be a poorer one," Mr Daunt tells the BBC when asked about the decision.
Jeff Bezos and Kindle Paperwhite e-reader Amazon's boss, Jeff Bezos, says his firm sells Kindle e-readers and tablets for break-even prices
"But that is not to say that I don't think that Amazon is - within the limits of what it does - absolutely fantastic."]
Yes, well .... canny soul, isn't he.

I just ask as I was looking for Robin Hobbs "Ship of Destiny" ebook, and started at Amazon - yes, @£5.99, and tried Waterstones - yes, @ £6.70.
Mmmmm........
A little surprised, I then, completely at random, looked up "An Officer and a Spy" by Robert Harris : Amazon - yes, @£6.74, and Waterstones - yes, yes indeedy, @ £8.49 !
Then, "The Back Road" Rachel Abbot - Amazon, £1.57 - Waterstones, £1.99.

Now, I haven't checked anymore titles - yet - but it was quite an eye-opener for me, and confirmed my original feelings that certainly the Kindle move was, well, not necessarily the most brilliant move.
At such price differentials, what the hell chance has Waterstone's got of keeping any share of the market they may have had, let alone increasing it ?

So, in what was presumably seen as a great opportunity to increase profits for one of the best remaining High Street bookshops, has helped Amazon shift a few more Kindles, thereby introducing even more book buyers to the nice and cheap Kindle store.

I think ".....poorer...." world was the phrase used by Mr. Gaunt .

I can't help thinking the "poorer" at least, might apply to a certain bookstore of his close acqaintance.

[fjtorres]

Out of curiosity, what format are the Waterstone's ebooks in? Generic ADEPT EPUB?
(That is, those aren't Kindle or Kobo ebooks. Right?)

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Out of curiosity, what format are the Waterstone's ebooks in? Generic ADEPT EPUB?
(That is, those aren't Kindle or Kobo ebooks. Right?)

Yes, Waterstones sells Adobe Adept ePub's (& PDF's?). I believe they use OverDrive as their distributor.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Yes, Waterstones sells Adobe Adept ePub's (& PDF's?). I believe they use OverDrive as their distributor.

Thanks.
Just checking.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

I just wonder how Waterstone's executives see the progress of their "arrangement" with Amazon ? (And yes, I do maintain the possesive ...)

Satisfied and happy, do you think ?

Was their takeover by Mr. Mamut an enduring life line, and James Daunt's announcement in May 2012 that they would sell Kindles a wise move by a far-sighted businessman ?
[Who said, incidentally,"A world that is totally dominated by Amazon will be a poorer one," Mr Daunt tells the BBC when asked about the decision.
Jeff Bezos and Kindle Paperwhite e-reader Amazon's boss, Jeff Bezos, says his firm sells Kindle e-readers and tablets for break-even prices
"But that is not to say that I don't think that Amazon is - within the limits of what it does - absolutely fantastic."]
Yes, well .... canny soul, isn't he.

I just ask as I was looking for Robin Hobbs "Ship of Destiny" ebook, and started at Amazon - yes, @£5.99, and tried Waterstones - yes, @ £6.70.
Mmmmm........
A little surprised, I then, completely at random, looked up "An Officer and a Spy" by Robert Harris : Amazon - yes, @£6.74, and Waterstones - yes, yes indeedy, @ £8.49 !
Then, "The Back Road" Rachel Abbot - Amazon, £1.57 - Waterstones, £1.99.

Now, I haven't checked anymore titles - yet - but it was quite an eye-opener for me, and confirmed my original feelings that certainly the Kindle move was, well, not necessarily the most brilliant move.
At such price differentials, what the hell chance has Waterstone's got of keeping any share of the market they may have had, let alone increasing it ?

So, in what was presumably seen as a great opportunity to increase profits for one of the best remaining High Street bookshops, has helped Amazon shift a few more Kindles, thereby introducing even more book buyers to the nice and cheap Kindle store.

I think ".....poorer...." world was the phrase used by Mr. Gaunt .

I can't help thinking the "poorer" at least, might apply to a certain bookstore of his close acqaintance.

You don't think this may also have something to do with Amazon having a home VAT rate of 3% from HQ in Luxembourg whereas Waterstones has VAT rate of 20% with UK HQ... not saying that's only explanation but certainly a contributory factor...

[Waylander]

I hope Waterstones keep going as long as possible, as they have a good selection and I have discovered more authors in there than on Amazon. I do think Amazon's tax record is morally reprehensible, however I am not going to stop buying ebooks, because I find it difficult to move around easily and cannot always make it to a Watersones. Luckily, my nearest is only 20 minutes away, so this is not as bad as in the US, where a lot of people have a bookstore 3 hrs away or more if they are lucky. I don't want book shops to disappear, and am not hopeful for the future.. People may bang on about how they are defunct and should be consigned to history, but that doesn't necessarily mean this is a good thing.

[carpetmojo]

Ageed.