Borders and cohort company Angus and Robertson Books are now in receivership with managers appointed... blaming loss of sales to the internet.....
Hey Tim,
It is the choice of individual publishers whether or not they offer digital subscriptions of their titles. I'm not downloading titles illegally, I am still paying the publisher for his work - how they can make a buck at $1 copy is anybodies guess, but I didn't set the rate - I am only surprised by it.
If you saw the size of my magazine collection you would know that I could never be accused of not supporting the newsagents of Australia.
As for Borders/Angus & Robertsons laying blame at internet sales - that is a simple 'cop out' for a difficult situation. You can't tell me you haven't wandered into a Borders store and seen all the people sitting around reading the latest titles and then putting them back on the shelves and walking out. They are riddled with huge stock levels, the cost of enormous floor spaces, complete with lounges and comfy chairs and coffee shops - all of which add to the cost of their books/magazines. I get the feeling that the public don't value these creature comforts as much as cheaper books.
Having said that it is always sad when a major employer has tough times - but times and markets change and Borders will have to change with them to survive [it is the same challenge that every business faces].
And also, I am not sure that Borders showed any compassion when they drove all the local neighbourhood bookstores too the wall - they would have claimed that in a free-market economy it is survival of the fittest, well now it is their turn to adapt or die.
Also remember that the advent of digital publishing of magazines and books will also open up huge opportunities for publishers to market niche titles far more cost effectively. It also opens up self publishing to authors who otherwise would never have access to a market. So I think it is not all bad, but change is always difficult.
VMX42