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apnu

(8,717 posts)
65. Yes these things are true but the author gets paid a % of that sale price.
Thu Apr 12, 2012, 12:25 PM
Apr 2012

So when you drop a book to $1, the author only sees a couple of pennies. Most authors are midlist authors, so dropping these prices is, effectively a Amazon ordered pay cut because they're only going to sell a few thousand copies of their book (print and ebook combined).

Not to mention the publishing industry which provides a valuable service in terms of quality of books being published. The general editors, copy editors and proof readers also have to take a pay cut (rather the publisher will take the hit and just fire those people to make up the cost). Not to mention the industry of agents who are the ones who do the discovery of talent and polish it up for consideration by the publishing houses. And then finally there's the publisher's advertising department which makes sure the book is presented to the targeted audience (or genera as its called).

So yeah there are savings with ebooks in terms of running printing presses, shipping and storing mountains of books, but to drop a paperback from $7.99 to $.99 is too big of a slash in cost and doesn't even come close to the production costs of one professional book.

Sure you can self-publish, because there are critical problems with the large publishing houses. And the small houses have trouble getting books to market and can't afford very much advertising. So, the self-published author loses access to a stable of professional editors and proofers plus has to manage all the advertising alone. That's a daunting list of tasks for any author. If you look in the acknowledgements of most books, you'll see authors thanking their editors and agents for the invaluable service they provide. Also, when dropping the price of a self-published book to $1, you can't afford to hire an agent or editor on your own dime. There have been some people who have been very successful with cheap self publishing, but they're few and far between. Most self-publishers don't earn enough to quit their day jobs.

Now, in this whole mess, enter Amazon as a monopoly who will can control the whole process of self-publishing besides the initial content creation. They can then tell the author, "You're book will cost 'x' and you'll get 'y' percentage of 'x.' If you don't like it, piss off." And believe me, given time Amazon will. They have a proven track record for abusing their suppliers, their own warehouse staff and customers.

My point is: Amazon controlling price is very bad for everybody but Amazon. The big house publishers are idiots for colluding against Amazon in such a open and public maner, and that's bad. But they need to do something quick or they'll die out. Already the loss of Borders in the United States has left a moon-sized crater in the industry and B&N just doesn't have the assets to pickup that slack. Thanks to big-box bookstores, all the little stores are long out of business, now more than half of the big-box stores are gone with the loss of Borders. There are whole cities in the US without a bookstore now, so where are people going to buy books? Online, that's where. And they'll buy from Amazon who has the cheapest prices. And these prices are dictated by Amazon, not the publishers.

This is a big problem for the publishing houses. They're dying and they know it. They're trying to figure a way out to survive and they're doing a poor job of it.

Why they have not attempted to sell ebooks from their own websites is beyond me. The Kindle supports all manner of book formats, and the Nook and iPad even more than the Kindle. They could easily publish their books and make them compatible on any and every e-reader that exists today and in the future. Granted they have a piracy problem to overcome, but they have that problem now and its rampant. Breaking Amazon's ebook format it technically trivial if you're Google-fu is decent. So even Amazon's vaunted copy protection isn't all that.

Please don't be offended, I'm not attacking you. I know several people working in the publishing industry and I thought I'd share some of the things they talk about and worry about.

are you serious? naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #1
Amazon has a history of dropping prices to kill off competition, then raise prices back up. onehandle Apr 2012 #3
I've noticed.. naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #4
I'd prefer that to Amazon being the only place to buy books rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #70
Me too naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #71
But they are now well on their way to becoming one rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #73
Amazon was, and probably is still, losing money on Kindles and ebooks simply to... TreasonousBastard Apr 2012 #10
Kindles are sold "at cost." They get 30% of revnue from ebooks. joshcryer Apr 2012 #41
Yup ! It's called "The Walmart Strategy". russspeakeasy Apr 2012 #20
If Amazon raised prices they would be liable to class action. joshcryer Apr 2012 #44
LOL! Amazon = Walmart. Don't trust them. nt onehandle Apr 2012 #84
LOL! Apple = Wal-Mart! Don't trust them for music! joshcryer Apr 2012 #85
good one! :) nt Vehl Apr 2012 #162
Where's the thread about Apple contributing the most CO2? joshcryer Apr 2012 #163
Or the greenpeace protestors protesting on its roof! Vehl Apr 2012 #164
While the saintly Apple would never ever do such a thing, ever. 2ndAmForComputers Apr 2012 #67
But, but....it's no fair when someone else does it!!! IndyJones Apr 2012 #105
What people forget or don't realize is WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #103
Opinion, not fact rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #117
It's a FACT WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #121
You make some pretty big assumptions rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #124
You've got it wrong, your tax dollars WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #128
Amazon can afford to fight their own battles rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #129
Fifty Shades of Gray WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #130
What Amazon is doing should be what is illegal rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #131
Amazon isn't destroying the value of anything WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #132
You aren't even reading what i'm posting rebecca_herman Apr 2012 #133
Amazon is not and never will be a WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #134
For some Apple Fans, Price fixing is ok if Apple does it Vehl Apr 2012 #161
a few years ago they had a price war with etoys and ejpoeta Apr 2012 #2
There go after who they can get away with going after. onehandle Apr 2012 #6
+1000 n/t ProfessionalLeftist Apr 2012 #11
the real issue is the govt telling a business they cannot price their own goods RainDog Apr 2012 #140
Government stopped enforcing Sherman Act violations (except for political enemies & extortion) Egalitarian Thug Apr 2012 #145
In the meantime, government establishes a minimum price for milk. GodlessBiker Apr 2012 #5
I've been saying for the last couple of years that ebook prices are outrageous. obxhead Apr 2012 #7
I agree. But now the Feds have handed the game to Amazon, giving them total control. onehandle Apr 2012 #8
This didn't hand anything to Amazon groundloop Apr 2012 #13
What stops other companies from opening an e-book store? ProgressiveProfessor Apr 2012 #15
nothing naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #26
Who said that? TiberiusB Apr 2012 #43
That's what this Is about naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #49
That's simply how you see it...clearly TiberiusB Apr 2012 #159
The same way Apple cornered the digital music market? joshcryer Apr 2012 #93
What does that prove? TiberiusB Apr 2012 #158
What do you think of all the indie musicians who were saved by iTunes? joshcryer Apr 2012 #160
Amazon allows authors to do the same thing WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #123
This is actually a "free market' analysis. This is what "free marketers" dream about. joshcryer Apr 2012 #45
I don't think so naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #51
Yes I am saying that the cartel is a "free marketers" wet dream. joshcryer Apr 2012 #52
It's making some independent authors a good living, though. sofa king Apr 2012 #12
Several of us are trying to push something like this on college campuses ProgressiveProfessor Apr 2012 #16
That's a completely different animal. obxhead Apr 2012 #21
Yes, I understand. sofa king Apr 2012 #109
There's a guy who watches the list closely, here's a link to a forum posting about it: joshcryer Apr 2012 #46
There's the guy! John Locke. sofa king Apr 2012 #107
My family gave me a Nook for Christmas CRK7376 Apr 2012 #18
Your public library has ebooks for download obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #19
I'll check this out with my library right away goclark Apr 2012 #25
Like print books, ebooks can already be checked out obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #53
Amazon is my public library's pscot Apr 2012 #32
I agree. obxhead Apr 2012 #22
Yes these things are true but the author gets paid a % of that sale price. apnu Apr 2012 #65
How does this make Amazon a monopoly? Orrex Apr 2012 #9
It doesn't ProgressiveProfessor Apr 2012 #14
I chose the Nook Tablet because most reviews rated it higher than the Kindle Fire... BUT... wyldwolf Apr 2012 #17
All of these companies get 30% of the proceeds, with digital the costs are astronomically... joshcryer Apr 2012 #54
Your description of the book publication is accurate. apnu Apr 2012 #78
Yeah I think half what it'd sell for is quite reasonable. joshcryer Apr 2012 #79
This message was self-deleted by its author savalez Apr 2012 #90
Amazon is not the hero you think MelissaMSmith Apr 2012 #23
Yes, it's great. naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #27
It's called supporting your community MelissaMSmith Apr 2012 #29
Why support mom & pop? naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #30
There is no talking with people like you MelissaMSmith Apr 2012 #34
They haven't changed... they have gotten worse naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #35
Maybe you should take into consideration WeekendWarrior Apr 2012 #112
Our local mom & pop used book store is great, wonderful people, selection, prices. uppityperson Apr 2012 #56
My horse and buggy shop always had the best geldings. nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #60
yep, naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #63
Ours is very popular but the town is small and rent rose dramatically. "Outrageous prices, crappy uppityperson Apr 2012 #68
YTes, because the world revolves around you! Odin2005 Apr 2012 #74
no, naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #83
I say f* the people who want to take my friends and neighbor's jobs away by not giving them uppityperson Apr 2012 #95
I don't want to take anybodys jobs away... naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #97
I bet you assume a lot. eom uppityperson Apr 2012 #98
Nope. nt. naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #99
You have proven you do. eom uppityperson Apr 2012 #100
Well naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #102
Let me elaborate naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #31
Good grief, don't you know Walmart online would give you a better deal? Why are you wasting money? uppityperson Apr 2012 #57
Yes, just like Walmart, cheap prices MUST be a universal good TiberiusB Apr 2012 #66
Thanks, i will. Nt naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #69
So, as an aspiring author, kentauros Apr 2012 #101
I think your analysis of paper books versus e/publishing and electronic readers is a bit off.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #106
I guess I'm not "most people." kentauros Apr 2012 #108
Other than flashlights and such we went for a week without electricity winter before last.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #111
I have also spent time in an urban setting without power. kentauros Apr 2012 #113
We couldn't go anywhere, the tree that took out the power blocked the road too.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #115
At least you know about camping, too :) kentauros Apr 2012 #116
The cloud retains everything. joshcryer Apr 2012 #141
We live in an unfriendly universe.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #149
I love KSR, thanks for the (incidential) recommendation. :) joshcryer Apr 2012 #150
I kind of suspect that books are going to move toward an "edited by" strategy to an extent.. Fumesucker Apr 2012 #152
Another nasty Amazon move came after they bought Createspace flamingdem Apr 2012 #28
Agreed. Amazon is the enemy of creativity. No hero there. nt onehandle Apr 2012 #33
I suppose you'd say that Apple iTunes was an enemy of creativity... joshcryer Apr 2012 #47
All I know is my Kindle Fire - however goclark Apr 2012 #24
I suspect naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #37
This mindless seeking of cheap prices regardless of consequences is the CAUSE of our problems... saras Apr 2012 #36
This is not a monopoly naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #38
Do you understand how monopolies come about? Bradical79 Apr 2012 #61
the answer to that, naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #62
Wait... The Walmart model is Not good for America? nt onehandle Apr 2012 #39
Honestly? enlightenment Apr 2012 #42
That is not what is happening here. It's being against price fixing. joshcryer Apr 2012 #48
It's stunning, isn't it. naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #64
Post removed Post removed Apr 2012 #91
If what you were saying was true, naaman fletcher Apr 2012 #92
It's not about price-fixing. It's about undercutting the competition... mainer Apr 2012 #76
Apple did that. Went from $0.99 to $1.29. joshcryer Apr 2012 #81
It's about making Amazon the world's publishing monopoly. They greased the right wheels. onehandle Apr 2012 #88
Amazon is but a blip in technological terms, as is Apple. joshcryer Apr 2012 #89
It's just like iTunes. 99 cents a song killed creativity. Those songs should be 4.99 a piece! nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #59
Haha. :) And what about the record industry? Those poor record execs... they are mom and pops... joshcryer Apr 2012 #80
Exactly. If they had kept songs at 4.99 a piece then maybe the mom and pops would still be around. Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #82
Yep this picture tells the story: joshcryer Apr 2012 #86
That's what they want you to think. Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #87
It's our atomized society, people don't think about the social impications... Odin2005 Apr 2012 #75
The death knell of print books and bookstores mainer Apr 2012 #40
Yeah, but editors will still have a job. joshcryer Apr 2012 #50
True. nt greyl Apr 2012 #104
Based on the awful self-pubbed books I've read... mainer Apr 2012 #137
Because they can't afford them. Amanda Hocking has an editor now. joshcryer Apr 2012 #139
So self-published authors will continue to produce horrible, unedited books mainer Apr 2012 #144
Authors can edit. joshcryer Apr 2012 #147
Then why are so many self-pubbed books so bad? mainer Apr 2012 #154
Because there are more bad authors than good authors. joshcryer Apr 2012 #155
On this, we can agree on. mainer Apr 2012 #156
By the sound of things, kentauros Apr 2012 #148
To be sure, while editing can be as much as half or more of the process... joshcryer Apr 2012 #151
I think I'm going to have to do something like your example kentauros Apr 2012 #157
The outrageous prices of e-books will be coming down? Oh no!!!!!!!!!! nt Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #55
So? How much regulation will be necessary to get Amazon to put people before profits? patrice Apr 2012 #58
Teddy Roosevelt wept! Odin2005 Apr 2012 #72
Get all the 99 cent e-books you want on Amazon! mainer Apr 2012 #77
Welcome to Capitalism American Style. sendero Apr 2012 #94
will Justice ever find time to go after America's greatest monopolists... lanlady Apr 2012 #96
What about the implications for Public Libraries? They_Live Apr 2012 #110
While the paper books last, kentauros Apr 2012 #114
At this time, people still prefer print books for children RainDog Apr 2012 #142
Readers will be the ultimate victims if this suit succeeds mainer Apr 2012 #118
The same shit was said about iTunes. joshcryer Apr 2012 #127
ABA calls lawsuit "baffling" mainer Apr 2012 #119
Godbless Amazon, take it to these fucking greedy publishing rats. Kurska Apr 2012 #120
+1 Marooned Apr 2012 #122
+1! Glad you are getting somewhere! joshcryer Apr 2012 #126
No matter what, authors will be fine mainer Apr 2012 #136
So "quality" should a barrier to the market? Rowling was rejected by TWELVE publishers. joshcryer Apr 2012 #138
Quality was never a barrier to the market mainer Apr 2012 #143
JK Rowling didn't HAVE the self-publishing option that Amazon gives you. joshcryer Apr 2012 #146
$9.99 still means the e-books will be more expensive than paperbacks... PavePusher Apr 2012 #125
But once a book goes into paperback mainer Apr 2012 #135
Ever since Amazon stopped their $9.99 deal and allowed publishers... polichick Apr 2012 #153
The cost difference b/t ebooks and print books is minimal RainDog Apr 2012 #165
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