Amazon vs. Hachette Update - It's About Price

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Rps

Kobo is in its own dispute over pricing and if their appeal fails to sway the competition bureau it could, potentially and I stress that, leave amazon with a virtual monopoly for ebooks in canada.

So, I don't know what the laws are like in Canada.

But in the US, monopolies are not automatically illegal -- if they became a monopoly merely by out-innovating and offering a better service, it isn't, in fact, illegal. What is the story in Canada?

I think it is a big pity if this happens -- competition is always good. But this really is all Kobo/Sony/B&N's fault, for dropping the ball.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Rps

Kobo is in its own dispute over pricing and if their appeal fails to sway the competition bureau it could, potentially and I stress that, leave amazon with a virtual monopoly for ebooks in canada.

I was under the impression the Kobo had already pulled back from the American market. They still sell in the US, but don't really put any effort into it.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by Rps

Okay, I have read much of this thread, rants included, and really this is all about seeking profit. Amazon needs a ton of it. So, the issue that I see is, what will this do to Kobo in light of the current competition board hearings with the same publishers. Does anyone think Kobo would leave the Canadian market?

As I guess you know, they have threatened it:

http://business.financialpost.com/20..._lsa=2dc8-0fe8

“Impairing this aspect of Kobo’s business may ultimately result in Kobo exiting from the Canadian market or significantly reducing its Canadian operations,” said Indigo chief executive Heather Reisman in her affidavit.

Is it still the case that Kobo sells more eInk readers than Amazon in Canada? If so, Kobo should have some ability to hang on even if Amazon.ca starts adapting loss-leader pricing. It may depend on the extent to which Amazon.ca is willing to lose money on eBook bestsellers to put competitors out of business and/or drive purchasing of their general merchandise.

At some point, you might want to start another thread on the Canadian Competition Bureau rulings.

[Rps]

I see it this way, with the net does it really matter where the books come from or by whom. And with Calibre, it doesn't matter what reader you have, so it is a matter of market viability and profitability.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Rps

I see it this way, with the net does it really matter where the books come from or by whom. And with Calibre, it doesn't matter what reader you have, so it is a matter of market viability and profitability.

I imagine that the vast majority of the ebook customers doesn't have a clue about Calibre and format shifting and would have a lot of trouble trying to use Calibre. Most simply use the ebook store that is associated with their ebook reader.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I imagine that the vast majority of the ebook customers doesn't have a clue about Calibre and format shifting and would have a lot of trouble trying to use Calibre. Most simply use the ebook store that is associated with their ebook reader.

Except most epub devices that support ADE are pretty much open to use any store (other than Amazon). And people who buy them know that, heck some probably bought them because they ADVERTIZED it. Now it is biting them in the ass to be more open than Amazon.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Except most epub devices that support ADE are pretty much open to use any store (other than Amazon). And people who buy them know that, heck some probably bought them because they ADVERTIZED it. Now it is biting them in the ass to be more open than Amazon.

And I imagine there are still a significant number of Nook or Kobo owners who don't know how to do that, and just buy stuff directly from the store.

I know one or two of those people. (Nook owners, not Kobo.) And no, I have not been able to educate them. I tried.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

People will notice less then $10 to $10 or more. An increase that crosses into the double digit range will be noticed.

Not necessarily people who buy 6-12 books per year like a lot of book buyers.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And I imagine there are still a significant number of Nook or Kobo owners who don't know how to do that, and just buy stuff directly from the store.

I know one or two of those people. (Nook owners, not Kobo.) And no, I have not been able to educate them. I tried.

Most people just don't care - they buy a reader, and buy ebooks from that reader's store. I've tried to educate several of my friends about Calibre, Alf, etc, and they just aren't interested.

[tubemonkey]

The publishers' secret weapon - reader apathy

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The publishers' secret weapon - reader apathy

I'm not so sure it's really apathy: more a case that we here at MR are in no sense typical readers. We shouldn't think that our views of book prices are in any way indicative of those out there in the real world. Someone who only buys half a dozen books in a year, and buys it automatically from their reader's bookstore probably isn't going to particularly care what it costs.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not so sure it's really apathy: more a case that we here at MR are in no sense typical readers. We shouldn't think that our views of book prices are in any way indicative of those out there in the real world. Someone who only buys half a dozen books in a year, and buys it automatically from their reader's bookstore probably isn't going to particularly care what it costs.

I fully realize that we're atypical; but when attempts to educate fall upon deaf ears, it's apathy.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I fully realize that we're atypical; but when attempts to educate fall upon deaf ears, it's apathy.

I'm not sure it is apathy as much a it is that they consider other things more important.

We have had FiOS TV service for 5 years and I still don't know how to turn it on even though my son and my wife have tried to "educate" me. The reason is that I don't care. I don't watch TV and have no interest in watching it. The only time I care about turning on FiOS is when my grandchildren ask, and then I prefer to be ignorant and discourage them from watching TV.

I know how to use Calibre and Alf because I thought learning them would be important to me. Turns out, neither is all that important. I'm just as happy buying my books for my Nook from B&N. I don't feel the need to shop around to save a dollar. So even though I have learned to use these tools, I could have saved the effort.

It is a small group (that is small in comparison to the universe of ebook readers) who are passionate about buying from the very least expensive place and being able to strip DRM. For most of us, it simply doesn't matter enough.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I fully realize that we're atypical; but when attempts to educate fall upon deaf ears, it's apathy.

Welcome to High School.

[tubemonkey]

The definition of apathy is not caring, lack of interest, etc.