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Writing

marions ghost

(19,841 posts)

7. This is complicated

Reply to Baitball Blogger (Original post)

Sat Sep 22, 2012, 07:04 AM

Sep 2012

I can't agree with price fixing of ebooks. For one thing price should reflect perceived quality and value of content--as it always has done with books. Ebooks should be cheaper--you don't have a tangible product. You have ephemeral limited use data bits that require a specialized device to read it.

On the other hand publishers are trying to protect their industry as a whole, and the lowering of costs WILL affect benefits to AUTHORS. Already has.

The best books will still be published on paper. I like the option of both --paper for a book I really want to keep, e-version for quick read stuff to carry around easily.

On the other hand Amazon has too much power, but they have done many things well.

Recession is a factor too--books are a luxury item.

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Okay, what does this mean to us as writers. [View all] Baitball Blogger Sep 2012 OP

I think the ruling is a good thing. sybylla Sep 2012 #1

The end result IS limiting of markets. With Amazon as the monopoly. mainer Sep 2012 #2

Don't disagree with you. But the solution shouldn't be illegal price fixing. sybylla Sep 2012 #3

Ridiculous WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #4

Imagine a world with no publishers, no brick and mortar stores, and no print books mainer Sep 2012 #5

I'm going to make an educated guess that you're aware of this blog: kentauros Sep 2012 #6

I'm aware of Joe Konrath's blog. He's a smart guy. mainer Sep 2012 #9

Amazon gets to decide book prices kentauros Sep 2012 #12

Why is it self-published authors can set their prices and publishers can't? mainer Sep 2012 #13

I don't know why there's a difference. kentauros Sep 2012 #14

It's not about the prices set by publishers WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #16

So if there's one other book for 99 cents, Amazon can price all books at 99 cents? mainer Sep 2012 #25

They don't WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #29

Do you think the manufacturer of hammers WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #18

Amazon undercuts prices at a loss... mainer Sep 2012 #20

Yes, they undercut prices WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #27

How will libraries exist if publishers don't exist? mainer Sep 2012 #10

If you ever read Joe Konrath's blog, you'd know the answer to that question. kentauros Sep 2012 #11

Libraries will WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #17

So you're fine with the extinction of print books. mainer Sep 2012 #21

I don think they'll ever be extinct WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #28

Price fixing is illegal WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #15

I never needed a day job. mainer Sep 2012 #24

Exceptions to the Rule WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #26

This is complicated marions ghost Sep 2012 #7

There are plenty of 99 cent books you can buy. mainer Sep 2012 #8

Really? WeekendWarrior Sep 2012 #19

I get the strong feeling that I'm the only traditionally published writer posting here mainer Sep 2012 #22

It sounds like the pulp route is a very difficult process to break into. Baitball Blogger Sep 2012 #23