Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 23:35:41 -0500
Subject: [WSFA] Re: [wsfa-forum] Booksellers and Macmillan and amazon
From: "Elspeth Kovar" <ekovar at panix.com>
To: wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com
Cc: "WSFA members" <wsfalist at keithlynch.net>
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Michael Walsh wrote:
> Some side with Macmillan:
> http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/standing_ovation_for_macmillan_at_aba_conference_for_amazon_standoff_150938.asp
>
> http://tinyurl.com/yfamqdq
>
> mjw

I finally got around to finding a comment I'd written elsewhere --

1.  Right now Amazon is taking an average loss of $5.00 per book.  If they take this
loss long enough -- I've heard that they're planning on five years which is more
than enough -- Kindle will become the industry standard.  And both the format and
the machine are propitiatory to Amazon.

You want to publish an ebook?  You buy Kindle.  (If you're a smaller publisher or
author with one well, the book is only available in hard copy.)  You want to buy an
ebook? You buy Kindle.  You want to read an ebook?  You buy a Kindle.   You want to
make money?  You own Kindle.  It makes very, very good business sense.

["I've heard" meaning that someone I trust got it from someone they trust. I haven't
done the research to see if they're anything in the news along those lines.]

2. Printing and shipping a physical book are small parts of the actual costs of what
you, the reader are holding in your hands or seeing on your screens.  A simple case:
If you write a paper or article on "The Effects of the Taste of Broccoli on Window
Blinds"  buying the printer paper and ink is the cheapest and easiest part.

See point 1: that $9.99 Amazon is charging right now is less than what a book, e or
otherwise, costs.    (Paperbacks cost less than $9.99 -- usually -- but come out a
later. Think the cost of prescription medication and what it costs years later when
you don't need a prescription.)

3. There have been a number of variations on a theme, "I can't resell or give away a
Kindle book the way I could a hard copy so why should I pay more?"

 See points 1 and 2.