Comments on: Parallel import restrictions—it’s not just about price http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/ Reading (mostly) romance books down under Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:17:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The 7.30 Report segment on the parallel importation of books - Book Thingo http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/#comment-1842 The 7.30 Report segment on the parallel importation of books - Book Thingo Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:26:36 +0000 http://bookthingo.com.au/?p=2051#comment-1842 [...] What we have to fear is that change might actually harm the industry, and specifically local authors. Which is why I find it strange that the Productivity Commission would recommend removing restrictions while acknowledging that there’s not enough information about book prices and consumer behaviour. [...] [...] What we have to fear is that change might actually harm the industry, and specifically local authors. Which is why I find it strange that the Productivity Commission would recommend removing restrictions while acknowledging that there’s not enough information about book prices and consumer behaviour. [...]

]]> By: Book Bizzo #20 Bits ‘n’ pieces here and there - Book Thingo http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/#comment-1691 Book Bizzo #20 Bits ‘n’ pieces here and there - Book Thingo Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:06:44 +0000 http://bookthingo.com.au/?p=2051#comment-1691 [...] in which digital rights are segmented by language rather than geographic location. In my post about parallel importation last week I talked a bit about digital rights and distribution territories and my belief that ebook [...] [...] in which digital rights are segmented by language rather than geographic location. In my post about parallel importation last week I talked a bit about digital rights and distribution territories and my belief that ebook [...]

]]> By: Australian Online Bookshop http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/#comment-1670 Australian Online Bookshop Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:23:57 +0000 http://bookthingo.com.au/?p=2051#comment-1670 Once again Kat you have managed to capture the essence of the issue without all the emotional rhetoric I seem to display when talking about PIR's and the productivity commission. I have to agree with you regarding ebooks. It seems to me that the sale of ebooks really trancend traditional boundries. Its too easy to buy quality ebooks from international distributors. Australian distributors simply don't have the range, price or sevice. Regarding book prices, Australians have not had to pay full retail price for book for quite some time. there are ample online bookstore that have standing discount structures on their entire range. Stores like Booktopia, Seek, The Nile, Fishpond etc. Some of these stores offer free delivery on sales over certain amounts so it can work out quite cheap. On top of this, Big W, Target and K Mart discount the limited range they keep on their shelves. The issue here is the underhanded way in which Dymocks had manipulated their booklover database to further their cause. To me, this is all about market control and profit. If the coalition for cheaper books really cared about australian book prices, they would be lobbying the federal government to remove GST from books in Australia. This would have an imediate impact on book prices as well as bringing stores like Amazon, who dont charge GST on books shipped to Australia, into line with local online retailers. But in my opinion, this wouldn't achieve the ultimate aim of The coalition for cheaper books, that being market domination. Once again Kat you have managed to capture the essence of the issue without all the emotional rhetoric I seem to display when talking about PIR’s and the productivity commission.

I have to agree with you regarding ebooks. It seems to me that the sale of ebooks really trancend traditional boundries. Its too easy to buy quality ebooks from international distributors. Australian distributors simply don’t have the range, price or sevice.

Regarding book prices, Australians have not had to pay full retail price for book for quite some time. there are ample online bookstore that have standing discount structures on their entire range. Stores like Booktopia, Seek, The Nile, Fishpond etc. Some of these stores offer free delivery on sales over certain amounts so it can work out quite cheap. On top of this, Big W, Target and K Mart discount the limited range they keep on their shelves.

The issue here is the underhanded way in which Dymocks had manipulated their booklover database to further their cause. To me, this is all about market control and profit. If the coalition for cheaper books really cared about australian book prices, they would be lobbying the federal government to remove GST from books in Australia. This would have an imediate impact on book prices as well as bringing stores like Amazon, who dont charge GST on books shipped to Australia, into line with local online retailers. But in my opinion, this wouldn’t achieve the ultimate aim of The coalition for cheaper books, that being market domination.

]]> By: Kat http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/#comment-1669 Kat Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:21:47 +0000 http://bookthingo.com.au/?p=2051#comment-1669 azteclady, that's so disappointing to hear. As Darkness Falls was sold to the UK, if I recall correctly, so at least it's been picked up overseas. Here, it's marketed as romance, crime and general fiction. I've seen it shelved in 2 places at my local bookstore. I guess that enables people to find the book, but I wonder if that's part of the reason why it won't sell in the US? Too Australian and not genre-specific enough? azteclady, that’s so disappointing to hear. As Darkness Falls was sold to the UK, if I recall correctly, so at least it’s been picked up overseas. Here, it’s marketed as romance, crime and general fiction. I’ve seen it shelved in 2 places at my local bookstore. I guess that enables people to find the book, but I wonder if that’s part of the reason why it won’t sell in the US? Too Australian and not genre-specific enough?

]]> By: azteclady http://bookthingo.com.au/parallel-import-restrictions-its-not-just-about-price/#comment-1666 azteclady Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:10:20 +0000 http://bookthingo.com.au/?p=2051#comment-1666 Kat, just a quick foray out of lurkerdom to say: indeed, you still cannot get <em>As Darkness Falls</em> in the US, which sucks big hairy ones. When <em>Dark Country</em> comes out, I'll have to order it from the Book Depository. Kat, just a quick foray out of lurkerdom to say: indeed, you still cannot get As Darkness Falls in the US, which sucks big hairy ones. When Dark Country comes out, I’ll have to order it from the Book Depository.

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