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In lugnet.robotics, David Schilling writes:
[...]
> I don't really understand how the associates stuff works: if no one collects
> the referal fee, doesn't Amazon just keep it as extra profit for themselves?
From what I understand, Amazon makes no profit when a book is 30% off list and
then grants a 15% referral fee.[1] The 15% is a maximum. A visitor to their
site would need to buy directly through that link and the book must be on
discount of 15-30%(?)I don't remember the numbers. often it's 5% or zero
referal.
> Certainly the authors don't collect a smaller royalty if a referral fee is
> given?
No, I don't think it affects the publisher or author.[2] I guess if LEGO is
helping sell more copies of Dave's and Jonathan's books then that makes me
happy. It is a Good Thing. And it's good for all the users that are helped. It
wasn't seeing their books on the site that disturbed me.
> So I guess I don't see the big deal about that. I'd appreciate it if
> someone could explain why this is a Bad Thing.
I did not say that LEGO was doing a Bad Thing. But I think in this case they are
acting in an unprofessional manner. For such a large company, who is attempting
to appear as strong and worldly, to scrape nickles off books written by others
about their product (ironically in the gaps left by them) looks (to me) sad and
cheap.
Basically: TLC would have looked more respectful (to me) if they, being
originator of the product, were to have linked to the authors' sites or their
publishers' sites. Instead, the way TLC mentions the books seems cold and less
helpful than it could be.
I could see collecting profit from Amazon.com as reasonable if TLC were putting
the funds toward something kind and related. like, I don't know.. donating more
copies of the books to high schools or libraries or something.. but I can find
no evidence of that being the case.
I feel that TLC owes those two authors and their publishers a great thanks, and
I just don't see it coming from TLC. I am personally disapointed.
But I'm sorry that my post here seemed so curious to readers. :-/
LEGO's current "outsider book-on-official site" relationship is understandable
from a certain view out LEGO's windows now, But I wish they had been on the
sidewalk with everyone last fall. I believe there were things they could have
done from the get-go. But that being history, I should be quiet, calm down, and
let what happens happen.
-Suz
[1]
Last I heard, Amazon.com had yet to make a profit as a whole company. Amazon
benefits from associates by exposure and specialty sub-sites.
[2]
I don't know about exact effects, like those on distributors... I forget who
even owns INGRAM now... certainly it hurts retail stores, local bookshops and
the like. The print publishing industry as a whole is changing due to the
internet's growing use -- I don't know how that will affect royalties in future.
Usually publishing is so slow to change -- now they have to be quick on their
toes. but that's another matter.
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: O'Reilly book news
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| (...) I don't really understand how the associates stuff works: if no one collects the referal fee, doesn't Amazon just keep it as extra profit for themselves? Certainly the authors don't collect a smaller royalty if a referal fee is given? So I (...) (24 years ago, 7-Apr-00, to lugnet.robotics, lugnet.dear-lego)
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