More Unsettling News In the Book Business

Thanks for the info.

Try Powells; they often have signed editions I am interested in as well as fair prices.

My book is with Powells and at several other sites (a few are listed on my website).

New York is a prime example.My book sales are being taxed someday because amazon has been doing business across state lines w/o paying sales tax.

Farr, apparently Amazon thinks it's above the law. I'm glad to know that publishers are standing up to them.

Thank you, Marta!

Marta, thanks for the link.

I find it interesting that everyone refers to Amazon's "monopoly position."
Not that I am happy with their recent decisions, but I would hardly call them a monopoly.

However I checked that out and while Amazon does not fir the "economic" definition of a monopoly, it is becoming more common to use the term in a "political" sense as a " blanket generalization in criticism of firms with large market share."

So, I stand semi-self-corrected.

This is "it" in a nutshell.

"In a short-term business sense, Amazon is right to use its massive size to gain market share for Booksurge and squeeze out the smaller players, but the problem is this goes against what made it great -- offering the lowest prices and widest selection, basically like an online Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT). To authors and publishers, Booksurge is known for its poor product quality and high cost structure, supremely inferior on both fronts to rival Lightning Source (LS) -- trust me, I did the research and that's why I chose LS -- the POD subsidiary of Ingram Industries, the leading book wholesaler and the company on which Amazon has clearly declared war.

So, by making Booksurge the only POD option, relegating quality-loving publishers and authors to much smaller websites of Borders Group (NYSE: BGP) and Barnes & Noble Inc (NYSE: BKS), Amazon proves it no longer cares about its customers getting the widest selection at the cheapest prices -- oh yes, even publishers that give into Amazon's demands will be forced to raise their prices -- it cares more about its own profits. "

You'll find the entire article written by Timothy Sykes of which this is an excerpt on Blogging Stocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/02/amazon-bullying-raises-monopoly-and-business-concerns/.

You are the only establish writer I know who actually informs budding print authors what to look for as they negotiate book deals.

Thank you for the bold honesty, Marta.

Best wishes on your next and future books.

Hi P.W. I'm not one who goes after causes, but this has the potential to hurt a great many people. Sure Amazon has every right to conduct business as they see fit, but not at the expense of thier competitors and ultimately their customers.

Of course millions of uninformed (or indifferent) people will continue to line Amazon's pockets, heaven knows I have, but I won't after this. Thanks so much for your kind words and good wishes! :)