I was reading the other day in the paper that Amazon and the .com versions of Walmart and Target are going to offer what they hope will become best sellers for $9/hard cover books. Local independent stores were interviewed for their opinions, and most are not threatened by this move, as most will probably not be carrying Sarah Palins crayon scribbles or some of the other tripe that they hope to push.
On one hand, I would like to see people reading. On the other hand, and yes, I do understand that this is only a few books and that they are not best sellers yet, but what a slap to the independent book store and the national chains alike! If, and most likely it will, this works, will they stop at this, or move on to current best sellers as well?
Barnes and Noble fared better than Borders when banks freaked out and froze loans. Can either survive this mess? Borders already is trying to get their employees to push certain books in the hopes of making them best sellers, can they compete with this mess?
I know the economy is bad. I've been out of work for 3 years, so maybe $9 books may help people who wish to make them gifts (note: anyone who gives me Sarah Palins' crayon scribbles will need it surgically removed from their anatomy) and maybe it might make it easier for some to buy more gifts, but at what cost to all of us in the end?
As one book store owner explained, these books will be sold well below the publishing cost. Guess who will have to pay for that? Those of us who purchase the other regular priced books, that's who. Even if you buy them used, somebody will be paying more for that book in the end. This may even push already cash strapped libraries to not purchase materials due to publisher increases. Yes, I know that they get a discount, but that discount may be less if publishers are not willing to eat the profit loss on a $9 book.
So, do you think this will help the economy or cost us more job loses as stores go out of business and Sprawl Mart takes over? As one store owner put it, "I hope they have fun losing money in their price war."
On one hand, I would like to see people reading. On the other hand, and yes, I do understand that this is only a few books and that they are not best sellers yet, but what a slap to the independent book store and the national chains alike! If, and most likely it will, this works, will they stop at this, or move on to current best sellers as well?
Barnes and Noble fared better than Borders when banks freaked out and froze loans. Can either survive this mess? Borders already is trying to get their employees to push certain books in the hopes of making them best sellers, can they compete with this mess?
I know the economy is bad. I've been out of work for 3 years, so maybe $9 books may help people who wish to make them gifts (note: anyone who gives me Sarah Palins' crayon scribbles will need it surgically removed from their anatomy) and maybe it might make it easier for some to buy more gifts, but at what cost to all of us in the end?
As one book store owner explained, these books will be sold well below the publishing cost. Guess who will have to pay for that? Those of us who purchase the other regular priced books, that's who. Even if you buy them used, somebody will be paying more for that book in the end. This may even push already cash strapped libraries to not purchase materials due to publisher increases. Yes, I know that they get a discount, but that discount may be less if publishers are not willing to eat the profit loss on a $9 book.
So, do you think this will help the economy or cost us more job loses as stores go out of business and Sprawl Mart takes over? As one store owner put it, "I hope they have fun losing money in their price war."