Some Final Thoughts on AmazonFail
A friend at one of the other Big Six Publishing Conglomerates says her firm is proposing the same pricing to Amazon and is not sure why MacMillan was singled out.
I think more than a few readers are going to take Amazon’s side because of the lower pricing Amazon proposed. Many readers don’t care whether an author makes a living - American consumers want what they want as cheaply as possible, whether it’s books or golf balls. There’s a reason media started referring to American citizens as ‘consumers’ in the seventies and it’s not a pretty one. Amazon certainly attempted to spin the issue this way in their unattributed statement on the Kindle forum.
It will be interesting to see how the media spin the story. Will they take Amazon’s side and portray the retailer as the Defender of the Consumer? Will they take MacMillan’s side and portray Amazon as the internet bully? Will they take no one’s side? Taking no one’s side is probably the same as taking Amazon’s side, if today’s NYTimes piece is any indication. The article took no position, but it did quote the Amazon line about MacMillan’s monopoly on its own books with a straight face.
I know pricing matters,but with few exceptions, people don’t choose which books or music to buy based on the publishers or retail channels. The music industry had a heyday that is now pretty much gone because they did not adapt to the new landscape in a timely fashion. Maybe I’m odd man out here but my relationship with authors and musicians that I like supercedes any base need I might have for spending less. The relationship I have as audience to the artist has as a by product the desire to support future endeavors and development of those whose work I follow. I think this way of thinking is something that defines probably only a small proportion of the “consumer” class but it is a loyal and artist centered following that is more interested in the quality of the work than the price of the product or it’s persuasive promotional presence. Looks like we’re working towards a dual strata system where we will have “Blockbuster” level and “Independents”. I’m not sure I’m gonna like it…
Comment by vlecomer — February 1, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
I think the strata system is definitely on the way, though I’m not sure it will be limited to dual. I picture something more akin to the old minor league baseball system, with levels encompassing everything from the majors to class D. There will be gatekeepers of some sort, bloggers or publishers or something to move folks up from one stratum to the next. It will be crazy.
Comment by Administrator — February 1, 2010 @ 2:29 pm