France Calls Amazon "Destroyer of Bookshops" - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T08:24:17Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/france-calls-amazon-destroyer-of-bookshops?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A373023&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIn other words, traditional p…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-06:537324:Comment:3732472013-06-06T18:36:52.132ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
<p><em>In other words, traditional publishing still works. </em></p>
<p>France is probably a lot like Canada where a domestic bestseller doesn't make an author anywhere near what an American bestseller makes for an American author. The US market is so much bigger than any other domestic market (except, I guess China and maybe Germany) that it's very tough to make these kinds of comparisons.</p>
<p>Traditional publishing in France has probably relied on distributing American bestsellers for a…</p>
<p><em>In other words, traditional publishing still works. </em></p>
<p>France is probably a lot like Canada where a domestic bestseller doesn't make an author anywhere near what an American bestseller makes for an American author. The US market is so much bigger than any other domestic market (except, I guess China and maybe Germany) that it's very tough to make these kinds of comparisons.</p>
<p>Traditional publishing in France has probably relied on distributing American bestsellers for a big part of its income for quite a while. That distribution pays for a lot of the infrastructure that the domestic industry relies on.</p>
<p>Sometimes I don't think Americans realize how dominant their corporations are in other countries and what effects that has.</p>
<p> </p> I see the UK is following sui…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-06:537324:Comment:3733462013-06-06T17:18:57.273ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>I see the UK is following suit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Actually, from our point of view, paying the middleman isn't a good thing. And in the book industry there are far too many middlemen taking a cut before a book passes from store to customer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, the biggest threat in the U.S. is that the whole shebang is run by mega companies that end up squeezing out authors whose books do not sell in the millions. Amazon does give preferential treatment to big sellers, but they haven't…</p>
<p>I see the UK is following suit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Actually, from our point of view, paying the middleman isn't a good thing. And in the book industry there are far too many middlemen taking a cut before a book passes from store to customer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still, the biggest threat in the U.S. is that the whole shebang is run by mega companies that end up squeezing out authors whose books do not sell in the millions. Amazon does give preferential treatment to big sellers, but they haven't quite forbidden us yet to upload. </p> Well, this is what I mean. Li…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-06:537324:Comment:3731752013-06-06T15:32:26.306ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
<p>Well, this is what I mean. Likely the owners of buggy shops became franchisees. In many cases it was likely the same indivuals involved and there was still some local ownership.</p>
<p>That may be the biggest change here. You may not notice it as much in the US because one American company (Amazon) is replacing another American company (say, Barnes and Noble or indie bookstores) but for most of the rest of the world it means the American company is replacing the locally-owned one.</p>
<p>And…</p>
<p>Well, this is what I mean. Likely the owners of buggy shops became franchisees. In many cases it was likely the same indivuals involved and there was still some local ownership.</p>
<p>That may be the biggest change here. You may not notice it as much in the US because one American company (Amazon) is replacing another American company (say, Barnes and Noble or indie bookstores) but for most of the rest of the world it means the American company is replacing the locally-owned one.</p>
<p>And maybe that's fine. But there may be some consequences that haven't been considered. It may be part of a larger change as we move from owners to renters. We're seeing a lot more subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime and Spotify and less owning. It's early days yet.</p>
<p> </p> Actually, though, the buggy s…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-06:537324:Comment:3730402013-06-06T15:22:19.243ZLinton Robinsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LintonRobinson
<p>Actually, though, the buggy shops didn't become auto dealers. Like gas stations, those were placed by the manufacturors.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Probably not analogous--unless amazon starts opening stores. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Not impossible, I guess. In Mexico mail order catalogs are non-existent. But there are stores where you go in and order shoes and things from catalogs, then pick them up at a later date.</p>
<p>Thus a tiny storefront can offer huge lines of goods without capital outlay for…</p>
<p>Actually, though, the buggy shops didn't become auto dealers. Like gas stations, those were placed by the manufacturors.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Probably not analogous--unless amazon starts opening stores. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Not impossible, I guess. In Mexico mail order catalogs are non-existent. But there are stores where you go in and order shoes and things from catalogs, then pick them up at a later date.</p>
<p>Thus a tiny storefront can offer huge lines of goods without capital outlay for flooring.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Probably wouldn't fly in France... but what's the mail like in Nairobi?</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> Well, no, buggy shops would h…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-06:537324:Comment:3729352013-06-06T15:01:20.047ZJohn McFetridgehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
<p>Well, no, buggy shops would have just become car dealerships. This is different - maybe not bad, but different.</p>
<p>And, as Jack points out, the whole distribution of goods is going to change a lot. I see it these days with many, many empty store fronts and the only new businesses coming in franchised fast food restaurants.</p>
<p>It does seem good for customers to have direct contact with the manufacturers without the locally-owned middle-men, but only time will tell.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, no, buggy shops would have just become car dealerships. This is different - maybe not bad, but different.</p>
<p>And, as Jack points out, the whole distribution of goods is going to change a lot. I see it these days with many, many empty store fronts and the only new businesses coming in franchised fast food restaurants.</p>
<p>It does seem good for customers to have direct contact with the manufacturers without the locally-owned middle-men, but only time will tell.</p>
<p> </p> Maybe they'll call them repli…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-05:537324:Comment:3730332013-06-05T18:33:51.269ZJack Getzehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
<p>Maybe they'll call them replicators?</p>
<p>Maybe they'll call them replicators?</p> Glad to see you back and a tr…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-05:537324:Comment:3731662013-06-05T17:23:41.055ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
<p>Glad to see you back and a trickle of activity. :)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I suspect that in France publishing has not declined to supporting nothing except bestsellers. That also means that readers have had a variety of books available through bookstores. In other words, traditional publishing still works. </p>
<p>Glad to see you back and a trickle of activity. :)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I suspect that in France publishing has not declined to supporting nothing except bestsellers. That also means that readers have had a variety of books available through bookstores. In other words, traditional publishing still works. </p> Is France concerned about boo…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-05:537324:Comment:3729172013-06-05T16:03:20.482ZBenjamin Sobieckhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
<p>Is France concerned about bookstores or physical books in bookstores?</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p><span>"This is an unprecedented effort in favour of the book and reading because without independent bookshops there will be fewer publishers and authors, less choice for the reader and fewer social networks in towns," she said.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><span>Also, how is it that I've not been on CrimeSpace in 6 months? What the hell happened? Ah well, back again, and good to see the…</span></p>
<p>Is France concerned about bookstores or physical books in bookstores?</p>
<p></p>
<blockquote><p><span>"This is an unprecedented effort in favour of the book and reading because without independent bookshops there will be fewer publishers and authors, less choice for the reader and fewer social networks in towns," she said.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><span>Also, how is it that I've not been on CrimeSpace in 6 months? What the hell happened? Ah well, back again, and good to see the place didn't burn down. Thanks for minding the till, guys.</span></p> Or produced at home with 3-D…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-05:537324:Comment:3730262013-06-05T14:01:06.845ZLinton Robinsonhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/LintonRobinson
<p>Or produced at home with 3-D printers?</p>
<p>Or produced at home with 3-D printers?</p> Clearly, it's not just Amazon…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-06-05:537324:Comment:3730232013-06-05T12:08:16.191ZJack Getzehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JGetze
<p>Clearly, it's not just Amazon. Retail industry has been flipped upside down by the internet. Books, music, movies, clothes, travel, appliances, hard goods of all kinds, almost everything is bought online.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Twenty years from now, isn't it possible that almost EVERYTHING will by purchased by mobil phone and delivered?</p>
<p>Clearly, it's not just Amazon. Retail industry has been flipped upside down by the internet. Books, music, movies, clothes, travel, appliances, hard goods of all kinds, almost everything is bought online.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Twenty years from now, isn't it possible that almost EVERYTHING will by purchased by mobil phone and delivered?</p>