I posted this on a small bookseller e-mail list I'm part of:
If Chrislands doesn't fit into Amazon's business strategies, maybe Lance can buy it back for a relatively small portion of his buy-out. He's probably a rich man right now, I believe that part of his buyout was ABE stock. Of course, Amazon may feel that it's in their best interest to just pull the plug on both Bookfinder and Chrislands like they did with Biblofind.
I wonder what they want out of ABE --I think it's used and rare book business expertise --think of all the data that ABE has, it's now Amazon's. But, I really wonder if they want competition in the long run. I wouldn't be surprised if they're buying it for the expertise (personnel and data) and eventually plan on shutting down ABE.
I doubt this will affect me much. ABE is now a peripheral player (I like the sales, but if it goes away the same sales will come from somewhere else) and Chrislands is only marginally worth it for me.
I also don't think we're going to have monopoly problems. There are still too many players (eBay, Alibris, B&N, etc.) and the internet is efficient, so I doubt any player could maintain monopoly profits for too long --someone else will just enter the field and create competition. Also, I think commissions are currently near their optimal point --any increasing of commissions will decrease sales --I think eBay found that out when they went over the optimal line and had to step back (thus some reduced prices and free gallery, etc.).
If Chrislands doesn't fit into Amazon's business strategies, maybe
Lance can buy it back for a relatively small portion of his buy-out.
He's probably a rich man right now, I believe that part of his
buyout was ABE stock. Of course, Amazon may feel that it's in their
best interest to just pull the plug on both Bookfinder and Chrislands
like they did with Biblofind.
I wonder what they want out of ABE --I think it's used and rare book
business expertise --think of all the data that ABE has, it's now
Amazon's. But, I really wonder if they want competition in the long
run. I wouldn't be surprised if they're buying it for the expertise
(personnel and data) and eventually plan on shutting down ABE.
I doubt this will affect me much. ABE is now a peripheral player (I
like the sales, but if it goes away the same sales will come from
somewhere else) and Chrislands is only marginally worth it for me.
I also don't think we're going to have monopoly problems. There are
still too many players (eBay, Alibris, B&N, etc.) and the internet is
efficient, so I doubt any player could maintain monopoly profits for
too long --someone else will just enter the field and create
competition. Also, I think commissions are currently near their
optimal point --any increasing of commissions will decrease sales --I
think eBay found that out when they went over the optimal line and
had to step back (thus some reduced prices and free gallery, etc.).
Reply
Leave a comment