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Ugh. The standard argument, normally from a publisher's mouth. Physical shops in prime retail places with appropriately paid staff are more expensive than esse
by nodata 15y ago
Ugh. The standard argument, normally from a publisher's mouth.
Physical shops in prime retail places with appropriately paid staff are more expensive than essentially equivalent staffless operations (I'm talking per unit, retail side only). One of the reasons Borders folded was it overpaid on its leases.
Some numbers: "Retailer (discount, staffing, rent, etc.) – $12.58. That’s 45%."
Taken from: http://ireaderreview.com/2009/05/03/book-cost-analysis-cost-of-physical-book-publishing/ http://ireaderreview.com/2009/05/03/book-cost-analysis-cost-...
Now compare remote physical-book retail (Amazon) with ebooks, and you see the effects of the publishers' new pricing model. Your argument applies here, but doesn't describe the price difference.
- Someone 15y agoI think that is a different comparison: physical shop vs "e-shop", where the post you reply to is about paper book vs e-book. Question is: what is, for the likes of Amazon, the difference in costs between distribution on paper and on bits?
- nodata 15y agoThe difference between (free) digital delivery and physical delivery is massively overshadowed by the publishers' ebook pricing model. That's the problem: the price increase is invented, and as a further kick in the nuts the cost savings from digital delivery aren't passed on.
- roc 15y agoExcept price isn't about cost for anything this side of commodities. Price is set by willingness to pay, and the price-point at which a company believes it can profit off those willing to pay it, is largely what drives costs.