The Times this weekend (Amazon loses plot in battle with authors, Alexandra Frean, Sat August 16 2014), writes that Amazon, the online retailing giant may have misjudged the strength of feeling out there in its bid to underprice its competitors in the book market.
It has been engaged in a stand-off with Hachette, who have authors such as Donna Tartt and Stephen King in their stable, refusing to let customers pre-order many of their books online, and imposing artificial delivery delays. This apparently stems from a disagreement on how prices for e books should be set. Amazon has a similar dispute with Disney over the pricing of its DVDs.
Frean writes that if we were dealing in everyday commodities here, no-one would bat an eyelid. We are all used to the big supermarkets undercutting the smaller players. However, "Books are not regarded by their consumers as just any other commodity. They are things of beauty to be cherished."
So, we need to ask, what price convenience? One unnamed New York Literary agent told the newspaper:"As a business partner it's like dealing with the mob, but as a consumer, it's hard not to love Amazon."
Everyone loathes a bully, but we all love a bargain, especially when we can have it delivered to our front door.
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