As an avid reader, it was quite shocking for me when I read about the Amazon-Hachette controversy.
Hachette is one of the top 5 publishing companies for English language books whereas; Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer. So does it make sense that Amazon decided to stop selling books by Hachette?
Hachette publishes books by 2 very famous authors - J.K. Rowling (a.k.a. Robert Galbraith) and James Patterson. Amazon’s decision also resulted in certain readers saying it's time for a total boycott of Amazon.
The reader in me is able to relate to the feelings of these people. I, being a huge J.K. Rowling fan, could never support this decision by Amazon. I have practically grown up reading the Harry Potter series and I was one of the many people who were eager to get their hands on “The Casual Vacancy” when it was released. At present, I am nose deep in “The Cuckoo’s Calling” and eagerly waiting for the book Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith.
Amazon's main concern is prices for e-books; Amazon wants them lower than what Hachette will agree to. Demands not being met, Amazon stopped taking pre-orders for Hachette books altogether. This step by Amazon has lead to many of its customers running to competitors.
Although this has disappointed the reader in me, the digital marketer in me can somehow sympathize with Amazon. After all, the following statement by Amazon does make some sense:
"Negotiating with suppliers for equitable terms and making stocking and assortment decisions based on those terms is one of a bookseller’s, or any retailer’s, most important jobs. Suppliers get to decide the terms under which they are willing to sell to a retailer. It’s reciprocally the right of a retailer to determine whether the terms on offer are acceptable and to stock items accordingly. A retailer can feature a supplier’s items in its advertising and promotional circulars, “stack it high” in the front of the store, keep small quantities on hand in the back aisle, or not carry the item at all, and bookstores and other retailers do these every day. When we negotiate with suppliers, we are doing so on behalf of customers. Negotiating for acceptable terms is an essential business practice that is critical to keeping service and value high for customers in the medium and long term.”
They also said that they will be informing their customers once the matter is resolved and they start selling Hachette books again.
Hopefully, Amazon is aware that readers are not at its mercy. It doesn’t really matter which retailer we buy from and at what price as long as we get to read our favourite book at the right time. And there are tons of retailers out there who are ready to take advantage of this Amazon-Hachette dispute.
Hachette is one of the top 5 publishing companies for English language books whereas; Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer. So does it make sense that Amazon decided to stop selling books by Hachette?
Hachette publishes books by 2 very famous authors - J.K. Rowling (a.k.a. Robert Galbraith) and James Patterson. Amazon’s decision also resulted in certain readers saying it's time for a total boycott of Amazon.
The reader in me is able to relate to the feelings of these people. I, being a huge J.K. Rowling fan, could never support this decision by Amazon. I have practically grown up reading the Harry Potter series and I was one of the many people who were eager to get their hands on “The Casual Vacancy” when it was released. At present, I am nose deep in “The Cuckoo’s Calling” and eagerly waiting for the book Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith.
Amazon's main concern is prices for e-books; Amazon wants them lower than what Hachette will agree to. Demands not being met, Amazon stopped taking pre-orders for Hachette books altogether. This step by Amazon has lead to many of its customers running to competitors.
Although this has disappointed the reader in me, the digital marketer in me can somehow sympathize with Amazon. After all, the following statement by Amazon does make some sense:
"Negotiating with suppliers for equitable terms and making stocking and assortment decisions based on those terms is one of a bookseller’s, or any retailer’s, most important jobs. Suppliers get to decide the terms under which they are willing to sell to a retailer. It’s reciprocally the right of a retailer to determine whether the terms on offer are acceptable and to stock items accordingly. A retailer can feature a supplier’s items in its advertising and promotional circulars, “stack it high” in the front of the store, keep small quantities on hand in the back aisle, or not carry the item at all, and bookstores and other retailers do these every day. When we negotiate with suppliers, we are doing so on behalf of customers. Negotiating for acceptable terms is an essential business practice that is critical to keeping service and value high for customers in the medium and long term.”
They also said that they will be informing their customers once the matter is resolved and they start selling Hachette books again.
Hopefully, Amazon is aware that readers are not at its mercy. It doesn’t really matter which retailer we buy from and at what price as long as we get to read our favourite book at the right time. And there are tons of retailers out there who are ready to take advantage of this Amazon-Hachette dispute.
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