Amazon lately stopped the sale of Macmillan titles. Macmillan considered as one of the top 6 publishers in the world. Amazon had to resort to this move due to a disagreement on the consumer’s price for Amazon Kindle and ebook users. Announced via a post at Amazon.com, the Kindle Team wrote that they would sooner or later have to go with the publisher’s conditions which will mean more more expensive Macmillan ebook prices, because they want to give the Kindle owner the option. Macmillan’s titles will be priced from $5.99 to $14.99.
The Macmillan group claims that they will actually generate less profit while Amazon makes more using the digital agent model. The retailer (Amazon) will receive 30% commission off the titles. The tangible book market has followed an agency model that has provided considerable gains to all involved, and Macmillan states that the digital market needs a standard to follow too.
It can’t be denied that the publisher, retailer, author and/or illustrator is in business to generate money. This monopoly, however, will hurt the customer in the long run.
Amazon’s temporary exclusion of Macmillan titles is to show their protest of the higher cost, and according to Macmillan’s CEO, the miscommunication is more on the long term market. Obviously the retailer and publisher have different view points. Amazon hopes that other publishers won’t follow Macmillan’s example. But since it is clearly for their benefit, what would hold other publishers back?
If we look at the tangible book market, a consumer who wants to buy the latest and best hard cover books will do so. If the desire can be tamed, then they will watch for the price to take a bit of a dive. The issue is, why should it be any different for the digital book market?
A boycott against Macmillan is perhaps appropriate, however, would it really last? Once a reader is tempted by the most current title from one of Macmillan’s brilliant writers, the price doesn’t make a difference any longer.
The Kindle owner will continue to buy what feeds their reading habit. The simple pleasures of reading a book has become convenient and so simple by using ebook reader technology. This alone is enticing, and when you add a new Macmillan title, the consumer will take the bait. We haven’t been able tofight the urge when it comes to an interesting read.