Colbert Gives Amazon the Finger For Shady Book Selling Tactics

[onehandle]

In the wake of Amazon's questionable tactics in dealing with publishing house Hatchette, many Amazon shoppers are questioning their loyalty to the mega-seller. Stephen Colbert, not one to hide his anger, unleashed on Amazon in a less-than-subtle way last night.

A big reason for the anger in this case is that Colbert's own books are published by Hatchette, and it probably feels pretty crappy seeing your creation pushed to the back of the line. He was so impassioned, he revealed a sticker design reading, "I didn't buy it on Amazon," meant to be placed on any book you purchase that didn't come from Amazon.

http://gizmodo.com/colbert-gives-amazon-the-finger-for-shady-book-selling-1586495170

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I was rather shocked to hear Amazon was selling 50% of books sold.

I don't think I've ever bought a book from Amazon, and only ever gotten one as a gift.

I don't tend to buy books online, but if I do, I use 'The Book Depository', because they ship international cheaply, and carry a large selection in many languages.

[Nye Bevan]

2. Here's Colbert's book available on Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0076DER4O/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1401977108&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40

available for immediate download.

[onehandle]

5. Here it is on iTunes...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/america-again/id500976377

available for immediate download.

[DetlefK]

3. Simple cure: a fixed book price agreement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_book_price_agreement

A publisher sets a price for the book and all book-selllers are obligated by law to sell the book at that price. No dumping. Stores compete solely in the amount and type of service they offer. Whether it's amazon, or a major chain of book-stores, or that small bookstore around the corner, the book always costs the same.

[mainer]

6. That's actually the law in Holland.

No discounting, all copies of the book cost the same everywhere. Bookstores there are alive and well.

[valerief]

4. 'California' is number 1 at powells.com (at the time of this post)

so it looks like it got the Colbert bump.

[dilby]

7. Well people are not obligated to buy from Amazon.

Hatchette knows this and it's why they did not negotiate with Amazon. If Colbert is worried about his book selling he should either trust his current publisher or look at moving to another one that is not in contract disputes with Amazon for his next one.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. BAM offers Hachette pre-orders online ...

http://www.booksamillion.com/hbg?&mobile=no&ad=AD01405303

This "David vs Goliath" story may be more a "Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla" ....