Amazon pulls MacMillan?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Now if the big fish are willing to give up DRM for that extra cash, maybe we can talk...but not when the content is tied to one device.

I'd talk (with my wallet) for sure if that were the case.

I see pricing as something that can go up and down. I see removing DRM as a one way street-once they remove it, they won't be able to go back. So maybe paying more for DRM free books would be painful at first, but there would always be competition and pricing pressures in the future.

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't recall there being rioting in the streets when Baen increased their "Webscriptions" price from $10 to $15 .

Indeed, it was driven by people telling them it was too cheap. But, that's more than one book, Harry. Unfair comparison.


brecklundin - "Gimmick", really? No, it's a very smart move on Baen's part. An early access premium. It's far from uncommon as a move in other content industries too. (For example, I bought Sins of a Solar Empire about a year before it was released, and got beta access...)

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by kacir

Disable the Whispernet RIGHT NOW!
And backup the book to the CD.
You never know what software glitch or a misguided rouge employee might do. Like delete your book remotely

As of 12:47am EST January 30, 2010 you can still download it from your account. That's what I just did.

[Barcey]

I see. The publishers think that competition is used to raise prices.

I actually think that $14 is a reasonable list price for a new release ebook. What it actually sells for is another matter and isn't the publishers authority to decide.

I also agree that there is too much focus on the new release price and not enough on the 2 year old ebooks that they're still trying to sell for $14.

[TallMomof2]

Why would I pay $15 for a restricted ebook when I could probably walk in to Costco and buy a hardback for the same or less? If it's not available as an ebook I won't buy it and if it's available at, IMO, artificially inflated prices I won't buy it either.

IANAL but it's my understanding that a wholesaler in the US can't dictate retail prices but only restrict the retailer from advertising items at less than the suggested retail price.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by BWhite

Okay, I remember seeing this headline in the news and did not read the article - my mistake.

Are you saying that Amazon is acting as a publisher? I really have no idea (but should). Amazon deals directly with authors?

Sorry, I used the wrong word. What I meant was that Amazon had offered a new split of the retail price. They used to take 65%; with the new deal Amaozn now takes 30%. The new split is also optional.

[CleverClothe]

It seems likely to me that MacMillan asked for the ebooks to come down (to try and stop the erosion of "value"), but Amazon took everything down (for leverage). But we will have to see.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Barcey

I see. The publishers think that competition is used to raise prices.

But the current situation is because of a lack of competition. Amazon is so big that they can blackmail the publishers to give them a better price.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by thinkpadx

Would people start buying less books if the prices went up to $15? In the beginning I think so. Then people would get used to it. The fact is that Amazon has set the standard so for anyone to be able to increase the prices and pull it off they would have to be really big say like Apple.

Well, I'd one that probably wouldn't just get used to it. I don't even buy the ebooks at 9.99, but I do buy them when they are cheaper than the paperback. I pretty much look for the cheapest version and if it isn't cheap enough for my budget (my budget often includes the 4 for 3 free shipping at amazon) I get the book used or interlibrary loan. So they can raise the prices if they are able, but I already avoid trade paperback because it's simply too expensive. Yes, I have purchased trade paperback because there was no other option, but I can think of only two instances when I was too impatient to wait for a used copy to come down under the 10 dollar range--with shipping included.

The more I'm online, the more I find I can just go select a different book in the same category. I can sample most of them before I buy so I've become more selective.

[HarryT]

Is it legal in the US for a manufacturer to dictate the price at which a retailer can sell their product? It's specifically illegal in the UK (and, I believe, throughout the EU) to do so here.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it legal in the US for a manufacturer to dictate the price at which a retailer can sell their product? It's specifically illegal in the UK (and, I believe, throughout the EU) to do so here.

Harry, they definitely do here for some products, like videogame consoles. Are the Xbox, Wii, and PS3 prices set by the market, not the manufacturers over there?

[SpiderMatt]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it legal in the US for a manufacturer to dictate the price at which a retailer can sell their product? It's specifically illegal in the UK (and, I believe, throughout the EU) to do so here.

No, the manufacturer can't dictate prices for a retailer but I know there have been lawsuits in the past between retailers about selling below cost being anti-competitive. I don't know if any such lawsuits have been won on the side of the plaintiff.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by kjk

Harry, they definitely do here for some products, like videogame consoles. Are the Xbox, Wii, and PS3 prices set by the market, not the manufacturers over there?

Absolutely. Eg, recommended retail price for the XBox 360 "Arcade" edition is £159.99; Amazon (UK) sell it for £114.99.

[SpiderMatt]

Originally Posted by kjk

Harry, they definitely do here for some products, like videogame consoles. Are the Xbox, Wii, and PS3 prices set by the market, not the manufacturers over there?

Manufacturers can choose whatever price they want to sell to retailers but I don't think they can't tell retailers what to sell at. However, if a retailer wants to make a profit, he's going to sell at the suggest retail price. And when other retailers are selling at close to the same price, they may not want to lower the price too much because it will cut into profits.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Absolutely. Eg, recommended retail price for the XBox 360 "Arcade" edition is £159.99; Amazon (UK) sell it for £114.99.

Interesting..I just looked up Amazon's policy. They said the manufacturer (Microsoft) can't dictate prices, but does not let them show their discounted price until the product is put into a shopping basket. So here its just an advertising limitation?

edit: from Amazon:

Because our price on this item is lower than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the manufacturer does not allow us to show you our price until you place the item in your shopping cart. Retailers like Amazon have the legal right to set their own prices independently. Adding the item to your cart allows Amazon to show you our price consistent with our goal of always offering you the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of products.