Date: Fri, 12 Feb 1999 00:32:34 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Re: amazon and anarchism


Justin Marcus wrote:

> For the first one, in terms of pricing for college textbooks, I really
> didn't do my research into other online bookstores, but amazon.com is
> better than any university, mine has a standard 25% markup.  A local
> bookstores would have had to special order the books, meaning a 4-6 week
> wait.  I've heard about other online companies that sell new and used
> textbooks at normal prices, and with the popularity of amazon, I'm
> hoping it might bring the colleges down to a more reasonable level.

Most students are pretty ignorant of how the textbook market works. The
high prices are caused on the publisher end, with help of teachers who
use a new book every year.

I'm pretty certain that students will get suckered by any of these sites
which look like they offer lower prices. It's like cocaine, the first
hit is free. The textbooks may be 25% cheaper this year, but they won't
next year. Textbooks are among the most profitable segment of all
publishing. The idea that online textbook dealers, including resellers,
would forgo easy profits in order to do something nice for students is
simply ridiculous.

Enjoy the free cocaine while it lasts.

-- 
Chuck0

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