TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics
April 1st, 2008

NOT an April Fool’s joke, alas: Amazon’s laughable excuses for its Rockefeller act

By David Rothman

image In the most laughable of ways, Jeff Bezos and friends have tried to justify their Rockefeller-style POD power grab. Check out Amazon’s excuses and a write-up in PaidContent, then watch commenters like Glenn Fleishman and Angel Hoy tear Bezos apart. Amazon claims the new arrangements will result in quicker shipping to customers. But does it really have POD printers set up in all 24 of its distribution centers? If so, then maybe the note isn’t so laughable. But the ethical issues still abound despite Amazon’s new statement saying publishers can sell pre-printed titles for stocking, or that Amazon need be the exclusive POD outlet. Current arrangements are still discriminatory against Amazon’s POD competitors. (Updated 11:57 a.m.)

Related: Amazon: What do we do next?, in ex-Bowker president Michael Cairn’s PersonaNonData blog. Should publishers work with other retailers to develop enhanced content not found on Amazon?

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