Re: eBooks on Apple - Only From Apple?

On 12/05/2011 14:52, chris_smith_canada wrote:
> People should probably go and read this...
>
> https://www.iflowreader.com/Closing.aspx
>
> ... but the essence is that BeamItDown Software which produced the iFlowReader for the iPod and iPad has found itself in the position where it controls neither its prices nor its costs.
>
> The essence of that somewhat long page is that they get a 30% commission against the price on the sale of books through an agency model - and Apple requires a 30% fee against the price. Their entire commission goes to Apple, leaving them ... nothing.
>
> The failure of one company would hardly be news. But given that neither the agency model nor the Apple fee structure are unique to this company, this situation appears to apply to anyone attempting to sell ebooks from the majors on the iOS platform. I see only two ways out at this point -- either Apple has all the big names and only independents with either a commission higher than 30% or no agency model survive, or an anti-trust suit forces Apple to change.
>
> I'm curious to know how this is perceived by authors and sellers of ebooks. As a software developer, it makes me nervous when the rules of the game permanently place someone else between me and my customers. "Go it alone" should always be an option - but then, maybe I'm just being overly anarchic.
>
> ... Chris
>    
Chris,

I cannot speak for authors and small publishers in general, but the 
majority of those I have any kind of contact with are somewhat resigned 
to the misbehaviour of the gorillas. The problem is always that fighting 
back takes too much energy out of a small business; so it becomes a 
matter of marketing choices.

An examination of the conditions small publishers face against Apple, 
Amazon and Google in particular show that it is a bit like the school 
bully taking lunch money from first formers. From a business point of 
view the size of take is in any case not justified even under the best 
terms [though finding anything to define that way is hard enough].

For obvious reasons the portals of the gorillas are the *mass* business 
opportunites, and so desireable in one way. But alternatives can offer 
much better percentages. It becomes a matter of calculation as to which 
mix makes sense for each individual.  There are increasing numbers that 
do ebook only publishing. But for most the print side remains very 
important, often the major part of the business. POD opportunities have 
magnified that importance.

While major publishers are cashing in on their long tails the gorillas 
hardly notice the small players . Over the next decade there will almost 
certainly be many changes; one will be the economic effects on all of 
the end of the digitising process of back catalogues. Gorillas 
concentrate on the accounts - when sales drop significantly it will 
concentrate their minds, and then 'good men' will come into their own. 
Hopefully :-) .

I don't know if you feel this is an answer to the question you posed. If 
I were to offer a direct sentence it would be this: With dismay as what 
looked like a valuable addition to each business is to become a loss 
line that cannot be calculated in advance.

Joseph


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