Comments on: Amazon Changes POD Tactics, Removes Velvet Gloves http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/ Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:02:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: How to Start Your Own Publishing Company http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-171738 How to Start Your Own Publishing Company Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:28:07 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-171738 [...] books appears higher and profits smaller, and it is exclusive to Amazon.com. In using CreateSpace, Amazon is trying to strongarm other POD companies out of their business. Not very “distributist” of [...] [...] books appears higher and profits smaller, and it is exclusive to Amazon.com. In using CreateSpace, Amazon is trying to strongarm other POD companies out of their business. Not very “distributist” of [...]

]]> By: How to Start Your Own Publishing Company — Eternal Revolution http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-169988 How to Start Your Own Publishing Company — Eternal Revolution Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:16:47 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-169988 [...] books appears higher and profits smaller, and it is exclusive to Amazon.com. In using CreateSpace, Amazon is trying to strongarm other POD companies out of their business. Not very “distributist” of [...] [...] books appears higher and profits smaller, and it is exclusive to Amazon.com. In using CreateSpace, Amazon is trying to strongarm other POD companies out of their business. Not very “distributist” of [...]

]]> By: The Sheriff of Nottingham Works for iUniverse and Amazon These Days | Shireen Jeejeebhoy, Author http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-168598 The Sheriff of Nottingham Works for iUniverse and Amazon These Days | Shireen Jeejeebhoy, Author Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:31:18 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-168598 [...] is thinking about self-publishing. I am extremely disappointed in both iUniverse and Amazon. But as Kassia Krozser on Booksquare wrote, “Businesses are not nice, fuzzy creatures that cuddle with you in the dark of the [...] [...] is thinking about self-publishing. I am extremely disappointed in both iUniverse and Amazon. But as Kassia Krozser on Booksquare wrote, “Businesses are not nice, fuzzy creatures that cuddle with you in the dark of the [...]

]]> By: Amazon dashes the dreams of small publishers « Electric Alphabet http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167715 Amazon dashes the dreams of small publishers « Electric Alphabet Sun, 04 May 2008 03:05:55 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167715 [...] egregious, I agree with Booksquare that this is hardly surprising. Vertical integration is a tried-and-tested method of increasing [...] [...] egregious, I agree with Booksquare that this is hardly surprising. Vertical integration is a tried-and-tested method of increasing [...]

]]> By: Times Emit: Apt’s links for April 16th through April 18th http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167587 Times Emit: Apt’s links for April 16th through April 18th Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:31:21 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167587 [...] Amazon Changes POD Tactics, Removes Velvet Gloves | Booksquare - [...] [...] Amazon Changes POD Tactics, Removes Velvet Gloves | Booksquare – [...]

]]> By: Fiction Scribe » Blog Archive » Give Amazon.com the Bird http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167475 Fiction Scribe » Blog Archive » Give Amazon.com the Bird Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:00:53 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167475 [...] Amazon Changes POD Tactics, Removes Velvet Gloves by Kassia Krozser, Booksquare [...] [...] Amazon Changes POD Tactics, Removes Velvet Gloves by Kassia Krozser, Booksquare [...]

]]> By: Lewis http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167474 Lewis Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:22:41 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167474 To those asking legal questions, here's an entry from someone who previously held a post at the FTC: http://managementrandd.blogspot.com/ To those asking legal questions, here’s an entry from someone who previously held a post at the FTC: http://managementrandd.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Rebecca http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167473 Rebecca Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:58:37 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167473 Ummm…so you all don’t take this part of the statement at face value? I know nothing about this kind of business model. So I ask: What is not being explained that should be if you don’t trust this assurance: (Thanks!) Source: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-printondemand Quote: “Another question we’ve seen: Do I need to switch completely to having my POD titles printed at Amazon? “No, there is no request for exclusivity. **Any publisher can use Amazon’s POD service just for those units that ship from Amazon and continue to use a different POD service provider for distribution through other channels.** “Alternatively, **you can use a different POD service provider for all your units. In that case, we ask that you pre-produce a small number of copies of each title (typically five copies), and send those to us in advance (Amazon Advantage Program-successfully used by thousands of big and small publishers).** “We will inventory those copies. That small cache of inventory allows us to provide the same rapid fulfillment capability to our customers that we would have if we were printing the titles ourselves on POD printing machines located inside our fulfillment centers. Unlike POD, this alternative is not completely “inventoryless.” However, as a practical matter, five copies is a small enough quantity that it is economically close to an inventoryless model.” Ummm…so you all don’t take this part of the statement at face value? I know nothing about this kind of business model. So I ask:

What is not being explained that should be if you don’t trust this assurance: (Thanks!)

Source: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-printondemand

Quote:
“Another question we’ve seen: Do I need to switch completely to having my POD titles printed at Amazon?

“No, there is no request for exclusivity. **Any publisher can use Amazon’s POD service just for those units that ship from Amazon and continue to use a different POD service provider for distribution through other channels.**

“Alternatively, **you can use a different POD service provider for all your units. In that case, we ask that you pre-produce a small number of copies of each title (typically five copies), and send those to us in advance (Amazon Advantage Program-successfully used by thousands of big and small publishers).**

“We will inventory those copies. That small cache of inventory allows us to provide the same rapid fulfillment capability to our customers that we would have if we were printing the titles ourselves on POD printing machines located inside our fulfillment centers. Unlike POD, this alternative is not completely “inventoryless.” However, as a practical matter, five copies is a small enough quantity that it is economically close to an inventoryless model.”

]]> By: Aaron Shepard http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167470 Aaron Shepard Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:35:19 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167470 You might be interested in the post on this issue on my Publishing Blog, "Amazon Declares War on Lightning Source." http://www.aaronshep.com/publishing/blog.html Aaron Shepard Author, Aiming at Amazon Webmaster, Sales Rank Express You might be interested in the post on this issue on my Publishing Blog, “Amazon Declares War on Lightning Source.”

http://www.aaronshep.com/publishing/blog.html

Aaron Shepard
Author, Aiming at Amazon
Webmaster, Sales Rank Express

]]> By: Author http://booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/comment-page-1/#comment-167469 Author Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:01:59 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/amazon-changes-pod-tactics-removes-velvet-gloves/#comment-167469 A good case can be made that what Amazon is attempting to do violates anti-trust laws. Waiting for federal anti-trust action would take many years--years to get the Justice Department to act, years of trials, years of fussing over what the court decision means. Notice how long it took to deal with Microsoft's tactics, despite the fact that the corporations they were bullying were large and powerful. None of us can afford that long a wait. Action at the state level, however, could move much faster, particularly if it involves off-the-record contact and a somber warning from those who can make trouble for Amazon. Amazon is headquartered in Seattle about a ten minute drive from the office of the Antitrust division of the Washington state attorney general. Here's the contact information: Office of the Attorney General Antitrust Division 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000 Seattle, WA 98104-3188 http://www.atg.wa.gov/Antitrust/default.aspx Telephone: 206-587-5510 Fax: 206-464-6338 Note the remark on that web page that "The Antitrust Division only processes complaints that involve either Washington State residents or businesses located in Washington State." Amazon is in Washington state, so it matters not where you are. You might also want to raise the issue with your state attorney general's antitrust office, asking them to get in touch with their colleagues in Seattle. If you're a publisher, encourage your authors to write. If you're an author, encourage other writers to contact them. A good case can be made that what Amazon is attempting to do violates anti-trust laws. Waiting for federal anti-trust action would take many years–years to get the Justice Department to act, years of trials, years of fussing over what the court decision means. Notice how long it took to deal with Microsoft’s tactics, despite the fact that the corporations they were bullying were large and powerful. None of us can afford that long a wait.

Action at the state level, however, could move much faster, particularly if it involves off-the-record contact and a somber warning from those who can make trouble for Amazon. Amazon is headquartered in Seattle about a ten minute drive from the office of the Antitrust division of the Washington state attorney general. Here’s the contact information:

Office of the Attorney General

Antitrust Division

800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000

Seattle, WA 98104-3188

http://www.atg.wa.gov/Antitrust/default.aspx

Telephone: 206-587-5510

Fax: 206-464-6338

Note the remark on that web page that “The Antitrust Division only processes complaints that involve either Washington State residents or businesses located in Washington State.” Amazon is in Washington state, so it matters not where you are. You might also want to raise the issue with your state attorney general’s antitrust office, asking them to get in touch with their colleagues in Seattle. If you’re a publisher, encourage your authors to write. If you’re an author, encourage other writers to contact them.

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