tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post8460470487959477367..comments2024-01-20T00:59:08.689+00:00Comments on Brave New World: Agency Pricing: Amazon UK Tells its Customers Who Is To Blame For Higher PricesMartyn Danielshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134633193540004531noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-18609288049205795212010-10-16T17:42:05.414+00:002010-10-16T17:42:05.414+00:00we have to be careful what we are talking about an...we have to be careful what we are talking about and respect that the agency model relates to ebooks only and that pbooks still operate under the wholesale model. <br /><br />Many authors are now tied to net sales deals which means they get x% of whatever it sells at. Most ebook deals are similar but the question is what is in the best in the best of the author and what is in the best interest of the consumer?<br /><br />OK book has a RRP of £20 sells to reseller at 50% discont and he sells it to the consumer at £14. The author is paid on net sales of £10. Take the same book under agency and the publisher sets the price at £15 acording to the rates of comissiion the retail still make 30% or so and the publisher still has the same net sales. So explain how the author is better off?<br /><br />In the case of Amazon selling at a loss (as they were on some etitles) they stood the loss and the publisher still got paid the same now they get commission whatever they sell at. Even on those promo titles tripping out at 3.99<br /><br />Seriously the maths can be twisted many ways but if you think this is good for authors I suggest you think about mid and back list ones and do the maths. <br /><br />I would seriously like to be to convinced as I have many author friends and ones also in the family. <br /><br />Agency pricing is flawed on many counts and i believe is ill-conceived. <br /><br />If authors want to make more money from digital they should negotiate the % up with publishers and if back list revert rights at first opportunity and look to do it DIY where they get a greater percentage with the likes of Amazon and B&NMartyn Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134633193540004531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-47228560170686373042010-10-16T15:11:29.808+00:002010-10-16T15:11:29.808+00:00That's very interesting.
But tell me, if a wr...That's very interesting.<br /><br />But tell me, if a writer is getting a % commission on the sale of his/her book, is that commission cut to satisfy the marketing needs of the seller?<br /><br />You see, I have been told, on pretty good authority, (a writer whose 'best-seller' was heavily discounted by Amazon, that she ended up getting a pennies for every book sold instead over £1.20 or so.<br /><br />From which one could argue, could one not, that the writer, most of whom have to keep a full time job, is being forced to subsidize retailing powers like Amazon and Tesco?<br /><br />And whilst the retailer might have a motive,i.e. bringing in customer who might then buy more, higher priced and thus more profitable books/goods the writer, who has no such benefit suffers. A writer has no economies of scale.<br /><br />No you may think this is good, and fair, and the wonderful movement of market forces. <br /><br />I think it's a crock of shit to make a few rich people even richer at the expense of those who frequently have very little.<br /><br />Long live the new 'Agency Model' I say.David Powellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-5933483913295540452010-10-15T11:46:14.619+00:002010-10-15T11:46:14.619+00:00You may conclude that I couldn't possibly comm...You may conclude that I couldn't possibly comment... But<br /><br />The net book agreement was an industry wide state which itself had some interesting aspects see http://bookseller-association.blogspot.com/2010/06/sorry-no-case-for-nba.html or type in Net book agreement into our search.<br /><br />This is an contract between individual publishers and resellers but the contract agreement carries a clause which states that the price is set by the publisher and can't be undersold by anyone. <br /><br />The issue in the US is a different set of statute and also includes tax collection implications. This is under investigation by two state attorneys. Different countries different issues.<br /><br />The real stupidity is that it was a reaction to Amazon trying to sell at 9.99 and at a loss in some cases. Amazon lost under the wholesaler model they win under this one. <br /><br />Many think this provides a level playing field for resellers which is utter crap as some may find themselves in a beauty contest in an unattractive one piece next to an Amazonian in a revealing and attractive bikini.Martyn Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134633193540004531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35428618.post-68777631196685400892010-10-15T11:00:21.129+00:002010-10-15T11:00:21.129+00:00So, 'Agency model' is the another name for...So, 'Agency model' is the another name for Net Book Agreement that was removed from books years ago?j purdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07141166257366384474noreply@blogger.com