Ran's site is just an amazing outlet for enthralling discussions about golf-course architecture, but what an unexpected bonus to learn a few things about retailing, marketing models, plus gaining insight into consumer motivations. One is always on the lookout to learn and, in matters pertaining to business and making it pay, I must admit that I'm no Einstein. I'd have jumped in sooner to the thread but was unaware of the enveloping furnace.
Lou D and Brian P have laid out compelling and well-thought out arguments. I do, however, feel a little like the Year 12 schoolgirl with the upcoming prom: flattered but worried over two guys fighting over her. I'm not used to this type of care; rest assured 'ol PD is blushing just a tad.
Yes, I am the publisher of my books. I take all the financial risks, and if deemed suitable, an overseas company will approach me to sell book rights in a particular territory. In
the past, Pelican Publishing (Gretna, Louisiana) has gained rights and then produced copies with its label on the spine and imprint. As is Pelican's right, it no doubt has contacted Amazon and sold large quantities of books at a massive discount. Those who buy via Amazon are well familiar with the trend of books being "slashed" several times until it is "throw out material". In the trade, we call it "remaindered" stock, and it has a smelly connotation. I'm all for market forces enabling things to find their own water-level. In my case, though, the problem with this scenario is that when GAV-1 and 2 are promoted at the normal price around the globe (and even at a helathy discount), I'm not infrequently accused of grossly inflating the price of the book. Now that pill is a bit hard to swallow, when you know that it is not inflated but horribly underpriced when compared to the "turf" books that appeal to the turfie nuts. Frequently, these are $150-300 apiece. And why? Because they operate in a niche market, just like mine. So how can Pelican afford to shuffle books to Amazon for quick sales? Easy, the recipient publishing house is spared all research costs, set-up fees, design fees, scanning fees, indexing fees, and crippling photographic fees. My colleagues at Pelican simply receive 10 DVDs (around 300MG of files), then organise a printer. In a bizarre way, Pelican is my competition, although I'm always eager to learn that my/our title is selling well. Tyler Kearns accurately pointed out the disincentive of the hefty freight charge associated with a sale through my Australian-based company. Hard to argue: it is wickedly dear. Sean Walsh perceptively mentioned the scenario of 'The Da Vinci Code'. Here, of course, you would want Amazon to be flogging the pants off the book, because the print-run is in the millions, not the measly 4,000 I produce. Anyhow I'm not the bleating type, and I never expect favours from anyone. It's best to adopt the philosophy of the great Robert Tyre Jones Jr when putting: "line it up; decide what you are going to do; then let the whole thing go hang itself if it wants to".