Spanish Booksellers' Assoc. suing Amazon for not respecting the fixed price of books

[Top100EbooksRank]

http://latinalista.com/2012/05/spain...e-online-giant

Pilar Gallego, chairwoman of the book fair, admitted that Spain’s bookshops are experiencing “significant” sales declines and foretold that final sales figures for the first half of 2012 would be “dire.” Others are reporting that from March to May there was a 30 percent decline in book sales. Bookshop owners are reporting less people visiting their shops and fingers are pointing to one culprit, and it’s not the economy.

“Amazon is enemy number one of booksellers,” declared Fernando Valverde, president of CEGAL, the Spanish Booksellers’ Association, and secretary of the fair. “They don’t respect the fixed price of books and because of that we are suing them."

[andreabc]

I also (like some publishers mentioned in the article) haven't seen any examples of Amazon.es disrespecting fixed prices...

I guess some booksellers are just unhappy with the competition. Spanish booksellers aren't really known for providing a great online shopping experience. They had several years to get the market going before Amazon came in and didn't really take advantage of that.

[sabredog]

Originally Posted by andreabc

I guess some booksellers are just unhappy with the competition. Spanish booksellers aren't really known for providing a great online shopping experience. They had several years to get the market going before Amazon came in and didn't really take advantage of that.

Precisely correct. Australian booksellers are not a great deal different either.

This is simply another "woe is us" rearguard action because Amazon has out competed and out innovated..

[HansTWN]

Fixed book prices in Spain? I thought they were running out of money?

[cfrizz]

Yup, you should always blame the competition when you don't want to change your outmoded way of doing business. They can all go to *ell!

[andreabc]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Fixed book prices in Spain?

Oh yes, many books are very expensive over here. That also means that the ebook (if available) is actually "cheaper".

One (extreme) example: A Dance with Dragons is going to cost 46€ in hardcover and 38€ in paperback (coming out 3 weeks later).

[teh603]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Fixed book prices in Spain? I thought they were running out of money?

A book sold for a higher price commands more tax revenue, which can be used by the government to pay off debt. At least in theory.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by andreabc

Oh yes, many books are very expensive over here. That also means that the ebook (if available) is actually "cheaper".

One (extreme) example: A Dance with Dragons is going to cost 46€ in hardcover and 38€ in paperback (coming out 3 weeks later).

That would definitely cause me to cut down on my book purchases - no wonder sales are down!

[afv011]

Pilar Gallego, chairwoman of the book fair, admitted that Spain’s bookshops are experiencing “significant” sales declines and foretold that final sales figures for the first half of 2012 would be “dire.”

The country is going through a severe crisis, with 1 in 4 people out of work; books and all other non-essentials are going to take a hit, whether Amazon is there or not.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by andreabc

Oh yes, many books are very expensive over here. That also means that the ebook (if available) is actually "cheaper".

One (extreme) example: A Dance with Dragons is going to cost 46€ in hardcover and 38€ in paperback (coming out 3 weeks later).

Spain is also one of the top countries when it comes to ebook piracy.
Not too shocking: the higher the cost of the legal edition, the more valuable the "unofficial" release.
With those prices the only surprise is that anybody buys any.

[stonetools]

Independent booksellers all over the world are in the same vise. I'm not sure there's ANY solution. Pricing the books below what's necessary to keep the book store profitable is NOT the solution, btw.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by stonetools

Independent booksellers all over the world are in the same vise. I'm not sure there's ANY solution. Pricing the books below what's necessary to keep the book store profitable is NOT the solution, btw.

Your absolutely correct. There is no solution. If you can't survive in the current climate, it's probably time for you to find another business you *can* survive in. Blaming Amazon for your troubles isn't going to solve anything.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by andreabc

Oh yes, many books are very expensive over here. That also means that the ebook (if available) is actually "cheaper".

One (extreme) example: A Dance with Dragons is going to cost 46€ in hardcover and 38€ in paperback (coming out 3 weeks later).

Although, the English Kindle edition in Spain is only 6.58€ considerably less than the US one.

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

Your absolutely correct. There is no solution. If you can't survive in the current climate, it's probably time for you to find another business you *can* survive in. Blaming Amazon for your troubles isn't going to solve anything.

Apparently there is no room in your thinking for the idea that the playing field is unfairly tilted in favor of Amazon, but let that pass.
Suppose the independent book sellers take your suggestion and just go out of business, is that a better world for everyone?
Sure if you are one of the entitled folks who can afford a computer, an Internet connection , and (multiple) reading devices. What if you don't have any of that , but just want to buy a book from a local bookstore? Sucks then, doesn't it?
Try to think beyond the Mobile Read bubble just a little bit, please.

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by stonetools

Apparently there is no room in your thinking for the idea that the playing field is unfairly tilted in favor of Amazon, but let that pass.
Suppose the independent book sellers take your suggestion and just go out of business, is that a better world for everyone?
Sure if you are one of the entitled folks who can afford a computer, an Internet connection , and (multiple) reading devices. What if you don't have any of that , but just want to buy a book from a local bookstore? Sucks then, doesn't it?
Try to think beyond the Mobile Read bubble just a little bit, please.

First off, the *good* independent booksellers aren't going out of business. Here in Portland, Oregon we have Powells Books. Huge independent bookseller who's doing good business. Amazon doesn't seem to be hurting them.

And I love your "entitled folks" slam. Pretty good. My nearest city's public library (population less than 1,000) has about 10 computers available to all patrons for free. Amazon sells paper books too, so no need for a reading device. Are those folks not *entitled* to the cheapest books (paper and digital) they can find?

You seem to be implying that a business *shouldn't be allowed* to underprice his competition because somehow that isn't fair. Pretty naive. Should me mandate bookstores in every little town because it's unfair that the big towns have them and they don't? Should be outlaw Walmart because sometimes small local business are closing?

If you can't compete, you don't survive. It *really* is that simple.