Writing

kentauros

(29,414 posts)

12. Amazon gets to decide book prices

Sat Sep 22, 2012, 01:40 PM

Sep 2012

as a reseller in the same way that Barnes & Noble (or any other brick and mortar bookstore) gets to sell a paper book at 40% off. Seems like a rather simple concept to me.

When someone self-pubs their book through Amazon, I suppose they're still a reseller, just without the middleman of the publisher. I'm not privy to the contracts between publishers and Amazon, so I don't know what deals they've made. But really, Amazon is nothing more than a reseller, a platform by which authors, whether backed by a traditional publisher or not, can sell their books to a wider audience.

Now what you seem to be missing from this legal decision is the fact that it was about collusion between publishers and Apple. It wasn't about Amazon doing something "wrong" by reselling books at a price lower than the publishers wanted.

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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