RE: UKNM: Three cheers Amazon UK

[Paul Durrant]

Nick Sweeney commented:

	> Whether this practice is of earth-shattering consequence is hard to

> tell, as it would seem that many big publishers are part of a global

> operation (e.g. HarperCollins are part of Murdoch's empire) so in the

> big scheme of things a sale is a sale.


>Since the big publishers were happy to break the NBA, I can't see them

>complaining, since reduced prices generate higher sales. It's an

>interesting policy, if it is deliberate. Because it might be the first

>heave towards realigning the prices of books and CDs with American levels.


I think we are seeing the beginning of a shake up but I'm not sure the

parallel with the NBA quite holds.  The existing book distribution

retailing industry won't give up with out a fight. 


Witness the crazy implanting of area codes in DVD to prevent US film

releases being played in the other areas before the studios would like

it. (Original big selling point of DVD and Video-CDs was the elimination

of NTSC/PAL format differences which dog VHS and videodisks).


Similarily the big publishers want to control the market to maintain

their current (lucrative) distribution business models.


Paul Durrant

Tarnlough Ltd.

pdurrantindigo [dot] ie

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