[13257] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Library links to chains and Amazon.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dan Lester)
Fri Apr 14 20:33:06 2000
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 07:55:15 -0600
From: Dan Lester <dan@RIVEROFDATA.COM>
In-Reply-To: <38F572FF.F8B7E45F@jhubc.it>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Dan Lester <dan@riverofdata.com>
Message-Id: <13330.000413@riverofdata.com>
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Thursday, April 13, 2000, 1:10:55 AM, you wrote:
>> You may want to look into establishing a web site of your own. I doubt your
>> area libraries would refuse to link to a local bookstore. But I wouldn't
>> count on seeing them remove links to Amazon -- it's too useful a source.
Indeed. Many of my professional colleagues find it a useful source in
acquisitions and in reference. It is an excellent research tool when
a patron comes up with a half-remembered title or some other bit of
information. Yes, one needs to confirm the information found from
Amazon with a more "traditional" tool.
JW> But is it good practice to direct users to a site where they may be
JW> charged more than other similar sites? Especially if part of that extra
JW> charge is being used to reimburse the referer?
In my experience, the site that would charge more would almost always
be the site OTHER than Amazon. I happen to be very fond of the
service and tools and people at fatbrain.com. However, when I can get
the book considerably cheaper at amazon, I'll usually order from
there. It would be quite surprising for a local bookstore to have a
book any cheaper than Amazon on any occasion, even when shipping is
factored in. Mass market paperbacks would be an exception, of course.
As far as the "extra charge" being used to reimburse the referrer,
that assumes two things:
1) that Amazon is actually more expensive
2) that Amazon's price would be different if they weren't tossing a
few cents the way of the referring library.
The first wouldn't usually be true.
The second is definitely not true.
Finally, getting into debates about Amazon is becoming like getting
into debates on Project Gutenberg, Microsoft vs. the government,
Microsoft vs. Apple, Microsoft vs. Linux, with similar chances of
there being any peaceful resolution. Therefore, I'll quit on this
one.
cheers
dan, a strong supporter of all local businesses
--
Dan Lester dan@RiverOfData.com
3577 East Pecan, Boise, ID 83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com www.postcard.org www.gailndan.com
