Trying to shut up, and not doing very well.
I’m trying to keep my head down and keep my opinions to myself today, but if you write or read, you should be scared and watching what’s going on between Amazon and Hachette. It’s not impacting my books yet, but if Hachette caves and allows a major book distributor to dictate the price of literature, be it a newbie (who should be priced accordingly) or a 40 year veteran (who should also be priced accordingly) it will.
Maybe I’ve got it wrong. I’m always trying to take the complex and par it down to the simple, but that’s how I’m seeing the practical aspect of it. One item, one price, is that how it is, Amazon? I’ve heard it said that books are not toothpaste. I’ll agree with that. Books are more like shoes. You don’t expect all the pumps to be a flat rate when you walk in the door. No, you expect to pay more or less depending on who makes them, how well they are crafted, your experience with the brand. Can’t afford the red sparkled ones that have insoles like clouds? You wait for them to go on sale. Boom. Happiness ensues. Fashion is creative, and we reward successful creativity with a higher price tag. I’ll say it again. We reward successful creativity with a higher price tag.
Books are not shoes, obviously, but they are works of creative talent, whether they are genre fiction or literary, or non fiction, or self help. The people creating them have talents varying from newbie to professional. You can’t price them the same. You can’t ask someone who has been working their entire life at crafting words into cohesive stories to be valued equal to someone who has been at it for two years. Would you work at a job for 20 years, then accept a new, forced salary commensurate with the mail room guy? No. Of course not.
I should just shut up. I’m seeing my buy buttons vanishing from Amazon. I’m seeing the good relationship I’ve had with them used as a bargaining tool to my detriment. I’m seeing my future numbers tank because Amazon has become an integral part of getting books to readers–and my algorithm is suddenly not there.
But I’ve never been good at keeping my mouth shut. Just ask my neighbors.
And if you don’t care, here’s a picture of my dog. Everybody likes dogs, right?
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Well said!
So, if I understand this correctly, Amazon wants to be the internet version of Walmart? I really hope Hatchett doesn't cave because I will certainly buy my books from a different online retailer if Amazon chooses this route.
Jessica- not just the internet Walmart. Walmart isn't nearly as dangerous to the market. It doesn't control enough of the sales to dictate how much Hilfiger charges for shirts, for instance. Hilfiger can just say "no" and set up their own store charging what they like. And people will go to that store. But if Holly Black left amazon and set up a web store, how many people would go there? Casual sales would vanish and only die-hard fans would know where to get her stuff. Walmart doesn't have a monopoly, Amazon is getting close. Amazon controls enough of the market that it's dangerous to cross them. And now they're using this monopoly to exert pressure on the market. I think the govt needs to step in.
And they have just bought the book depository in the UK...much to my annoyance at the time. They tried to be sneaky about it by not changing anything, but the devil behind the curtain is beginning to emerge.
I checked out your books on Amazon and so far the BUY and PRE-ORDER buttons (well, Add to Cart button anyway) are still being displayed for me.
Phylicia wrote: "Jessica- not just the internet Walmart. Walmart isn't nearly as dangerous to the market. It doesn't control enough of the sales to dictate how much Hilfiger charges for shirts, for instance. Hil..."Sorry, my point was that Walmart started this business tactic and I won't shop there either. I agree that Amazon has a much broader reach, which is why this is frightening. If Walmart can dictate what manufacturer's can sell their goods for (a strategy that almost sent Rubbermaid into bankruptcy and helped push Kraft Foods to plan the closure of 39 factories and lay off 13,500 workers), then imagine the damage Amazon can do. If they get away with this, then they will start this practice with other items as well.
It's truly sad that this could be happening, but I also believe that authors need to get together and speak out about what Amazon is trying to do. Twitter would be a good outlet. #savemybooks or something more catchy.
Phylicia wrote: "Jessica- not just the internet Walmart. Walmart isn't nearly as dangerous to the market. It doesn't control enough of the sales to dictate how much Hilfiger charges for shirts, for instance. Hil..."Walmart certainly does dictate price to any brand in its stores. Its not as powerful in the book market as amazon though youre right about that.
As long as we can find you on line we can find your books. You always let us know where they are available. I have always hated companies that try to dictate anything concerning my choices. I refuse to own an 'I' anything, or Google. Amazon has gobbled up my audio book site and now I need to find another. The only answer is to refuse to buy from them, unfortunately not enough people will do that. It's all about the Go. Alm..... dollar. You keep writing and I'll keep reading.
Stacey wrote: "Phylicia wrote: "Jessica- not just the internet Walmart. Walmart isn't nearly as dangerous to the market. It doesn't control enough of the sales to dictate how much Hilfiger charges for shirts, f..."I now use downpour dot com for audiobooks. Great site. Just as good as audible has been. Hope that helps
