Implications for Amazons Book Sales

[gordo12]

Apple just lost a major point in its app stores where the court decision went against them for refusing to allow developers alternative links to their products for sales.

The similarity in Amazon's book sales channel to these app stores is striking! If you can lead a buyer to your own website and avoid Amazon's high fees that would be a gamechanger.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/oth...s-in-epic-games-case/ar-AAOiSlQ?ocid=msedgntp

 

[lovecraft68]

Apple just lost a major point in its app stores where the court decision went against them for refusing to allow developers alternative links to their products for sales.

The similarity in Amazon's book sales channel to these app stores is striking! If you can lead a buyer to your own website and avoid Amazon's high fees that would be a gamechanger.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/oth...s-in-epic-games-case/ar-AAOiSlQ?ocid=msedgntp

Here's the issue, will your website have a shopping cart? They run $300+ for a zen cart. Also, if you're selling erotica and paypal catches wind of it? They can shut you down. Smashwords gets away with it because Coker threatened to sue them into oblivion a few years back, but small sites? I already lost a PP account on one.

The CC providers can be the same way and hooking up with a CC processor not the easiest thing to do.

What I did do was on my site link my page at SW which only takes 15% compared to amazon's 35% and who also deserves the money a lot more, all indy authors should be promoting Smashwords not unethical amazon

 

[gordo12]

Here's the issue, will your website have a shopping cart? They run $300+ for a zen cart. Also, if you're selling erotica and paypal catches wind of it? They can shut you down. Smashwords gets away with it because Coker threatened to sue them into oblivion a few years back, but small sites? I already lost a PP account on one.

The CC providers can be the same way and hooking up with a CC processor not the easiest thing to do.

What I did do was on my site link my page at SW which only takes 15% compared to amazon's 35% and who also deserves the money a lot more, all indy authors should be promoting Smashwords not unethical amazon

Couldn't agree more. The current credit card policies of redlining certain genres of books and porn would not survive a restraint of trade lawsuit. Decades ago the banks lost on similar issues because they were redlining certain housing areas and races for lending purposes. Or should I say NOT lending purposes!

But I like the idea of redirecting them to Smash if they only take 15%. I didn't know that. I haven't set up an account there yet.

 

[gordo12]

Actually, when I think about it, there are some interesting legal implications when credit processors allow Amazon and Smash to sell a book but refuse smaller websites. It would be hard to defend that stance.

 

[lovecraft68]

Actually, when I think about it, there are some interesting legal implications when credit processors allow Amazon and Smash to sell a book but refuse smaller websites. It would be hard to defend that stance.

They know people like us can't afford the legal fees on something they'd drag out forever. It would take a civil suit with as many indy authors as possible getting behind an attorney and also getting some attention with a change.org petition social media and maybe a go fund me.

As you can tell, this isn't the first time I've thought on this.

On a similar note Only fans trying to ban porn has now been put on hold because of not only backlash, but thousands of people threatening to cancel their accounts

Money talks, morals walk, especially when they don't have any to begin with

 

[gordo12]

They know people like us can't afford the legal fees on something they'd drag out forever. It would take a civil suit with as many indy authors as possible getting behind an attorney and also getting some attention with a change.org petition social media and maybe a go fund me.

As you can tell, this isn't the first time I've thought on this.

On a similar note Only fans trying to ban porn has now been put on hold because of not only backlash, but thousands of people threatening to cancel their accounts

Money talks, morals walk, especially when they don't have any to begin with

Better to focus the attention on Gov regulatory organizations. They have the $$$ and clout to bring big companies to heel.

 

[lovecraft68]

Better to focus the attention on Gov regulatory organizations. They have the $$$ and clout to bring big companies to heel.

Issue is they're getting $$$ from all the lobbyists.

The only thing bi-partisan in this country is corruption. On that they can all agree on.

 

[MillieDynamite]

If I remember this right, Apples issues were brought about by pressure's applied on the regulators from Jeff Bezos. I could be mistaken, but I remember reading how this benefited Amazon, how it did so I can't remember.

 

[gordo12]

If I remember this right, Apples issues were brought about by pressure's applied on the regulators from Jeff Bezos. I could be mistaken, but I remember reading how this benefited Amazon, how it did so I can't remember.

I'm not sure, but if it was Bezos, it would be so Amazon could sell the apps too.

 

[lovecraft68]

If I remember this right, Apples issues were brought about by pressure's applied on the regulators from Jeff Bezos. I could be mistaken, but I remember reading how this benefited Amazon, how it did so I can't remember.

Everything benefits amazon which is now pretty much a monopoly but the Gov is getting so many kick backs from him, they don't care to dissolve him as they should.

 

[PennameWombat]

If I remember this right, Apples issues were brought about by pressure's applied on the regulators from Jeff Bezos. I could be mistaken, but I remember reading how this benefited Amazon, how it did so I can't remember.

Um, this decision is directly tied to the lawsuit from Epic Games, the company who owns Fortnite (maybe you’ve heard of it). It’s the first sub-headline in the article.

The decision has nothing to do with regulators. In fact, the judge decided that Apple is not a monopolist and is not violating anti-trust laws. The decision rests solely around restraint of trade specific to California, not federal, law, in forcing developers to use Apple’s payment processing. In addition, Epic is getting dinged as well, for various contract breaches.

Apple just lost a major point in its app stores where the court decision went against them for refusing to allow developers alternative links to their products for sales.

The similarity in Amazon's book sales channel to these app stores is striking! If you can lead a buyer to your own website and avoid Amazon's high fees that would be a gamechanger.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/oth...s-in-epic-games-case/ar-AAOiSlQ?ocid=msedgntp

Amazon’s not a party to this suit, not mentioned. Epic is also pursuing legal action against Google, for the same claimed reason as why they’re suing Apple - forcing payments through their App Store to get your game into the IOS / Android ecosystems to reach Apple / Android device users. The Google suit is proceeding separately and the judge felt that Apple and Google are a duopoly but that’s enough to prevent her deciding Apple is a monopolist.

The headline is a bit breathless but the decision is more nuanced. The order does potentially free games and others to bypass Apple’s (and presumably Google’s) payments system. But not because they’re prima facie monopolist. That’s not the decision.

Could someone use this precedent against Amazon? I’m nowhere near enough of a legal beagle to know that, but it seems sketchy. It (IMHO) rests on the fact that Apple (and Google) control the conduits to end users. Amazon does and doesn’t do that, but it’s not to a platform. Amazon insists upon exclusivity for certain things, i.e., post book only here, post book at lowest price here, etc. But again, this is a restraint of trade decision, not anti-trust/monopoly.

In addition, the still pending Epic vs. Google suit also touches on monopoly and has some additional issues (search, etc.) Also, the fact that Google farms out some Android stores to the various phone companies brings up different issues.

In any case, Amazon isn’t a party to these lawsuits and any possible fallout that might affect them will require someone else bringing new suits, using these decisions as a basis.

 

[gordo12]

Um, this decision is directly tied to the lawsuit from Epic Games, the company who owns Fortnite (maybe you’ve heard of it). It’s the first sub-headline in the article.

The decision has nothing to do with regulators. In fact, the judge decided that Apple is not a monopolist and is not violating anti-trust laws. The decision rests solely around restraint of trade specific to California, not federal, law, in forcing developers to use Apple’s payment processing. In addition, Epic is getting dinged as well, for various contract breaches.



Amazon’s not a party to this suit, not mentioned. Epic is also pursuing legal action against Google, for the same claimed reason as why they’re suing Apple - forcing payments through their App Store to get your game into the IOS / Android ecosystems to reach Apple / Android device users. The Google suit is proceeding separately and the judge felt that Apple and Google are a duopoly but that’s enough to prevent her deciding Apple is a monopolist.

The headline is a bit breathless but the decision is more nuanced. The order does potentially free games and others to bypass Apple’s (and presumably Google’s) payments system. But not because they’re prima facie monopolist. That’s not the decision.

Could someone use this precedent against Amazon? I’m nowhere near enough of a legal beagle to know that, but it seems sketchy. It (IMHO) rests on the fact that Apple (and Google) control the conduits to end users. Amazon does and doesn’t do that, but it’s not to a platform. Amazon insists upon exclusivity for certain things, i.e., post book only here, post book at lowest price here, etc. But again, this is a restraint of trade decision, not anti-trust/monopoly.

In addition, the still pending Epic vs. Google suit also touches on monopoly and has some additional issues (search, etc.) Also, the fact that Google farms out some Android stores to the various phone companies brings up different issues.

In any case, Amazon isn’t a party to these lawsuits and any possible fallout that might affect them will require someone else bringing new suits, using these decisions as a basis.

I was only pointing out that the similarity of the app stores with Amazon book sales. Especially the Kindle unlimited. And there it goes deeper than just the payment system. When you redline books or genres of books there's an anticompetitive vein there.

You couldn't get away with 30% and more commissions if there wasn't a virtual monopoly.

Shops within Amazon are already fighting this issue. Along with Amazon using the sales stats for their own usage. Sourcing similar products and putting them in front of the shops when a consumer searches. Frontrunning!

 

[MillieDynamite]

If you can lead a buyer to your own website and avoid Amazon's high fees that would be a gamechanger.

Have you every check out the cost of driving people to a website in mass? It boggles the mind, and robs the pocket book. I know everyone thinks you put up a website and everyone just rushes to it. Truth is that isn't true. It cost cabbage, bread, dough, and lettuce galore to get people from here to there.

 

[gordo12]

Have you every check out the cost of driving people to a website in mass? It boggles the mind, and robs the pocket book. I know everyone thinks you put up a website and everyone just rushes to it. Truth is that isn't true. It cost cabbage, bread, dough, and lettuce galore to get people from here to there.

LOL, I run close to 1500 websites Millie, for the last 23 years. I'm well acquainted with the problems. Two books I'm publishing had websites up & ranking in the top 10 for their primary adult terms two years ago, even though the books weren't written yet. I own around 350 of the primary adult terms on the internet. I can match books and websites till the cows come home. Unfortunately, since I retired in 2012, I've really relaxed into retirement and spend far more time reading than writing or building websites. I guess I've gotten lazy!