Re: [off-topic add-on] Re: [mv] minivend and sql, it is not true

[Karl <friend@forfree.at>]

On 29-Oct-99 Birgitt Funk wrote:
> ******    message to minivend-users from Birgitt Funk <birgitt@minivend.com> 
> ******
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, 28 Oct 1999, Mr. Christopher F. Miller wrote:
> 
>> ******    message to minivend-users from "Mr. Christopher F. Miller"
>> <cfm@maine.com>     ******
>> 
>> 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!
>> 
> 
> I think it is an off topic issue.
> 
>> 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. 
> 
> It is changing as we speak, rapidly.

i think that the book market is in a situation other branches was already in
the past. because of the fixed prices for most of the companies involved in
books it was not neccecary to work in a way like it is usual in this branches.

> 
>> 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? 
> 
> They won't.

i won´t agree to this with only 2 words. everybody has a chance to survive.
simply depends on hs speed and ideas.

> 
>> Or will they just be a kiosk at Amazon, MSN, whatever?
> 
> Not necessarily. As with thousands of local ethnic restaurants who can
> survive a McDonald in their neighborhood. They survive on their local
> clientele. 
> 
> In Germany could still compete quite nicely as we had "fixed prices"
> for German titles, but that is over soon. It's a **political** issue as
> well. 
>  
>> 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.
>> 
>

i would be interested in this list too.
 

best regards,

Karl