Book People Archive

!@[redacted] Re: Re: More On Book Price Inflation




On Mon, 8 Oct 2007, willadams@[redacted] wrote:

>
> Okay, Michael Hart has presented what seems to be a single 
> datapoint:
>
> * the occasional, limited and random availability of blank 
> books for $3.99 at Barnes & Noble or Borders

False:  this is TWO data points, not "a single datapoint."

Doubly false for TWO MORE reasons:

1.  Two different major outlets.

2.  Two different products.

[As far as I could tell, B&N make their own, or at least order
enough of them to have their trademark put on them.]

[Borders has a completely different product]

The reports of recent visits have all been from Borders.

I have not been to Barnes & Noble for a while, and tried to send 
a reminder that my previous B&N report was from a year or so ago
and perhaps it was even longer, sorry, I just don't remember.

> and has indicated that he believes this shows that 
> traditionally printed books could be made available markedly 
> less expensively.
>
> I don't see that this single datapoint supports this thesis, 
> and would be interested in any others which might be put forth.

I asked Borders about their sales of these books, and was told
they are well into their top 10%, a significant datapoint with
high numbers of sales, not just remainders and overstocks.

I suggest that those who would challenge this simply go to the
Borders nearest them and do their own research, rather than do
the plainly obvious armchair quarterbacking we see here.


[snip]



Michael S. Hart
Founder
Project Gutenberg