An interesting article here about the ongoing Kindle Readers’ $9.99 Amazon Boycott. Amazon misled Kindle first-adopters by saying that New eBook Releases would be priced at $9.99. Well, that didn’t last long. Readers revolted.
Caution: THE FOLLOWING IS SNAKE OIL MEANT TO FRIGHTEN CONSUMERS INTO SUBMISSION.
Quote from the article: “How Much Should an E-Book Cost?” by Motoko Rich, New York Times, May 16, 2009
‘Publishers and authors say it is much more complicated than the cost of paper and shipping. The lower e-book price “is not sustainable,†said Mr. Baldacci, [a writer] whose novels regularly rise to the top of hardcover best seller lists. If readers insist on cut-rate electronic books, he said, “unfortunately there won’t be anyone selling it anymore because you just can’t make any money.‒
Never trust a writer who says things like that. Writers rarely make any money, and they continue writing anyway. Readers love reading so there will always be a demand for books and eBooks. Where there is a demand, there will be a supply. Baldacci’s statement is alarmist balderdash. The truth is publishers will have to provide informed consumers with fairly priced products.
Never trust a newspaper that inked a distribution deal with the company in question, Amazon. Never believe a newspaper that is about to make the shift to digital by offering a low-priced Kindle to subscribers. Read that here.
The whole story sounds like collusion by two big companies, yah? They’re ganging up on the consumer to force high-prices down our throats.
Amateur Hour on Planet Earth goes into overtime!
