Who's at fault in the FW/BoB/eReader breakdown

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Graham

It has to be said that the deals done by Apple for iBooks gave the publishers the lever that they needed to browbeat Amazon and the other big sellers.

And this means that Fictionwise is increasingly looking like the first casualty of the launch of the iPad.

Graham

Well said. That does not mean the iPad is a bad device. Just that apple gave these publishers the foothold they needed to get in and make this new deal.

[CyGuy]

[flamesuit] Flame Suit Active [/flamesuit]

The people who pull out their credit cards and purchase one of these overpriced books are to blame. It doesn't matter who decided a certain book should be $15, if you fell for it is your fault...


[endflamesuit] Flame Suit Deactivated [/endflamesuit]

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The blame has to lie with Apple. If Apple didn't make the deal(s) they did, things would not be so bad now.

No, I think we have to blame Sony. If they didn't get this whole eBook reader device thing started, then Amazon would never have gotten into ebooks, which mean Apple would never have gotten into ebooks.

So, it is really Sony's fault.

Ok... now can we be frickin serious here Jon? Blaming Apple for the publishers wanted to raise ebook prices is nothing but FUD.

BOb

[riemann42]

You know, what are we talking about? Are we talking about the fact that many books aren't available at our favorite bookstores? I blame the publishers for simultaneously attempting to strong arm all the bookstores on short notice and the bookstores for playing chicken with the *******.

If we are talking about the poor kindle users who now have to pay $14.95 for an book that sells for $19.95 at every bookstore but Amazon's House Of Loss Leaders, then I blame Amazon for selling eBooks for less than they are worth. Yes I said worth, flame me if you disagree. I still think 80% of the value of a book is in the words to my eyeballs. The other 20% is it's value as a projectile weapon, where eBooks, admittedly fall short.

If we are talking about publishers trying to make more money and raise prices everywhere so apple doesn't get under cut, I blame Steve I said I hate DRM but implement it in every aspect of my business Jobs.

Sigh. In two weeks I better be able to buy books for less than two weeks ago, or I will be buying less books. I'll still buy from my favorite authors, heck, I offered Jim Butcher $49.99 for a copy of his new book (which I doubt would happen, but a signed eBook would be worth $49.99, wouldn't it???).

Ok. I'm ranting. Sorry. Ignore my post(s).

[Boston]

Fault/blame implies that someone did something wrong. But I think the possible game-changer (depending on how it plays out) was the deal Apple cut with the publishers.

While I may not agree or like what is happening, they are doing what they believe makes sense. It allowed Apple to market the iPad as a competitor to the Kindle without taking a loss on e-books. Likewise, the Apple deal gave publishers the leverage they needed to force the agency model.

But together this provided mix needed to create a perfect storm for the ebook consumer

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by riemann42

I blame the publishers for simultaneously attempting to strong arm all the bookstores on short notice and the bookstores for playing chicken with the *******.

Has there been any indication that anybody but Amazon was "playing chicken"?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

The iBooks app is closed, it ONLY works on the iPad.

I certainly won't be buying any books from the iBooks store until the books can be saved to a computer and the DRM stripped.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Ok... now can we be frickin serious here Jon? Blaming Apple for the publishers wanted to raise ebook prices is nothing but FUD.

It's only FUD if Apple didn't cut a deal with the publishers guaranteeing minimum prices on the iPad. If they did, providing the lever the publishers needed, then it's reasonable to attach blame to both Apple and the publishers here.

Graham

[theducks]

I believed the Publishers used Apple's clout to finally override the Amazon power house.

[markbond1007]

Personally given most of my problems revolve around geographic restrictions rather than anything else I'm tempted to blame Authors and their agents, given the publishers can't seem to work out who owns the worldwide distribution rights to the ebook versions of their text, then the Agents/Authors need to be getting involved and sorting out a single point of contact for this for all on-line distributors.

Mark

[JSWolf]

The problem is that Apple made the deals. So then the publishers were able to say to Amazon, if you don't go aling with our new deal, we'll just stick with Apple, Apple will sell more iPads and you'll sell less Kindles.

That is how I see it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is that Apple made the deals. So then the publishers were able to say to Amazon, if you don't go aling with our new deal, we'll just stick with Apple, Apple will sell more iPads and you'll sell less Kindles.

That is how I see it.

..and then Amazon just had to say... well, if you don't continue wholesaling ebooks to us, we will just not carry your paper books. I'm pretty sure the big 5 would NOT want that.

It is really Amazon's fault they caved.

Oh... it's funny how you have gone from Amazon is bad for ebooks, not epubs, and exclusive deals to Amazon is good for ebooks while Apple is bad.

But, I'm glad you have something to grumble about Jon.

BOb

[dyrinn45]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

For the most part, blame is a term used by people seeking to absolve themselves of responsibility for a situation by means of finding fault and using that to direct the responsibility elsewhere.

I am concerned about higher prices, but I'll accept higher prices for some books if I can get lower prices for others. It's a trade-off. As to agency, I'm a lot more concerned about the prices of the books I'm buying than how they're arrived at.

The other thing one has to look is how much sense it really makes to cater to 5% of your customer base at the expense of the other 95%. Ebooks are a niche market - and that means publishers have to focus their efforts on paper. Right now, that means a publisher that doubles ebook unit sales at the same time they lose 10% of their hardcover unit sales is taking a net loss even if they're priced equally - let alone if the ebooks are priced at 40% of hardcover.

I find it incredibly hard to believe that ebooks are 5% of the total book market when the kindle is the number 1 best selling item on amazon. Not to mention the nook from B&N, The Sony readers, not to mention all of the used ones sold on ebay and other sites. You cannot honestly believe that with all these brick and mortar stores closing down that ebooks make up 5%.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by dyrinn45

I find it incredibly hard to believe that ebooks are 5% of the total book market when the kindle is the number 1 best selling item on amazon. Not to mention the nook from B&N, The Sony readers, not to mention all of the used ones sold on ebay and other sites. You cannot honestly believe that with all these brick and mortar stores closing down that ebooks make up 5%.

What's so hard to believe? Remember, just because all these B&M local stores are closing does NOT mean the *biggest* of the big-box bookstore locations are threatened nor does it mean that B&N and Amazon have suddenly ceased shipping from their warehouses.

Derek

[dyrinn45]

I am not saying that they are stopping, but the fact that brick and mortar stores are closing, and the kindle is the number 1 selling product on amazon means something.