Keeping Up With Macmillan Ebook Prices
Giant online retailer Amazon.com recently stopped the sale of Macmillan titles. Macmillan considered as one of the top 6 publishers worlwide. Amazon had to resort to this move because of a disagreement on the consumer's cost for Amazon Kindle and ebook users. According to a notice at Amazon.com, the Kindle Team wrote that they might sooner or later have to accept the publisher's conditions which will mean more steeper Macmillan ebook prices, because they want to give the customer the option. Macmillan's titles will range from 5.99 dollars to 14.99 dollars.
The Macmillan group states that they are going to actually make less money while Amazon makes more with the digital agent model. The retailer (Amazon) will receive 30% cut off the titles. The tangible book industry has adopted an agency model that has furnished profit to all involved, and Macmillan states that the digital market needs a standard to follow as well.
It is true that the publisher, retailer, author and/or illustrator is in business to make money. This monopoly, however, will hurt the consumer in the long run.
Amazon's temporary exclusion of Macmillan titles is to express their protest of the higher cost, and according to Macmillan's CEO, the miscommunication is about the long term market. Obviously the retailer and publisher have diverse view points. Amazon hopes that other publishers won't go along with Macmillan's example. But since it is clearly for their gain, what would stop other publishers from doing the same?
If we examine the tangible book market, a consumer who would like to buy the newest and best hard cover books will do so. If the desire can be tamed, then they will watch for the price to take a bit of a dive. The issue is, why should things be any different in the digital book market?
A boycott against Macmillan might be appropriate, however, would it really last? Once a reader is tempted by a new title from one of Macmillan's brilliant writers, the purchase price doesn't matter any longer.
Individuals will still buy what feeds their reading habit. The simple joys of reading a book has become convenient and so accessible by using ebook reader technology. This alone is enticing, and when you add a new Macmillan book, reading enthusiast will take the bait. We haven't been able tofight the urge when it comes to an interesting read.
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