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Re: [off-topic add-on] Re: [mv] minivend and sql, it is not true
On Thu, Oct 28, 1999 at 08:30:18PM -0400, Birgitt Funk wrote:
> ****** message to minivend-users from Birgitt Funk <birgitt@minivend.com> ******
>
> I guess that the only issue remaining is not at all a MiniVend
> question but a general business question. Someone asked me in private
> how, for example, the vertical market of booksites like Amazon.com,
> bibliofind, bibliocity (in Germany libri.de, amazon.de, bol.de etc.)
> affect the business of individual online booksellers. Though I
> certainly feel not to be the right person to answer that with
> any authority I would like to give you my observations.
Yes, that was me, in private because I thought it too off topic. Maybe
not. This issue is a **business** issue, not minivend at all, but the
same people are involved. Gee, I thought you were a book seller!
We have one particular specialty bookstore now doing more than half
its business, both buying and selling, online. $1M+. They have a minivend
site; we update various vertical market sites (bibliocity, bibliofind,
aa-I-forget automatically every day. We are starting that with other
vertical market/portal/aggregate sites. My understanding of Alibris.com
is that it will roll up sellers anonymously and sell everything under
its own name. I've seen the same thing in other industries and
really expect it to become the norm: clothing, biotech and welding
supplies are three others on which we are working right now.
> Bookmarkets in the US and Europe are quite different in structure.
I wonder how long that can be true. Next year will be a very different
picture. How does this affect all of our catalogs/businesses in the
future? What if Alibris (just to pick a name) offers $9.95 a month
or even free catalogs? What does that do to our customers and
their ability to offer valuable and special services? Or will
we all eat at McD's?
> Ironically, if, for example, MV would have been involved in developing
> the Amazon site (hey, who knows, may be it was 8-)), an open
> source and no-cost software would have directly helped to create
> one of the most monopolistic, international book businesses in less
ISPs are already offering complete **free** online catalogs. Amazon is
cheap. I think Lycos and Yahoo have a grade that is free. Once the system
is in place, the marginal cost **seems** low. It does not matter if it is
minivend per se. You can get an online catalog site just as easily and
smoothly as you can get a copy of MS SQL. The problem I see: if the
bottom of the market gets ripped out (too late - already done) how is
the typical small business using those generic freebies going to compete
with Amazon? Or will they just be a kiosk at Amazon, MSN, whatever?
I'll shut up now. If this a topic anyone wants to follow up off list
I'd be happy to set up a mini list.
cfm
--
Christopher F. Miller, Publisher cfm@maine.com
MaineStreet Communications, Inc 208 Portland Road, Gray, ME 04039
1.207.657.5078 http://www.maine.com/
Database publishing, e-commerce, office/internet integration, Debian linux.
