 |
| (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Walmart told Reuters that it will continue to sell “a broad assortment” of e-readers and their accessories, including the iPad and Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Walmart’s position makes sense, given that Amazon doesn’t get a kickback from Kindle accessories, and that not selling the iPad in 2012 would make as much sense as not selling the iPod in 2006.
But why the Nook?
If I were a betting man, my money would be on some sense of solidarity on Walmart’s part. Barnes & Noble competes directly with Amazon’s bookselling business (electronic or otherwise) and has felt the sting of customers shifting from dead-tree to digital reading in the same way that other retailers have watched Amazon chip into sales in other categories, from furniture and clothing to televisions and computers. If “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Barnes & Noble is not without companionship.
To the average consumer, the difference between the Kindle and the Nook is slight. Both have online stores that are chock full of books (though Amazon’s store has more), both offer e-ink screens surrounded by a dark grey chassis, and the two products serve identical functions. Those that do know the difference between the two products and prefer Amazon’s Kindle were unlikely to purchase from a physical shop anyway, opting instead for Amazon’s one-click purchasing and free, fast, or free and fast delivery. Most customers probably won’t notice that the Kindle has even disappeared from Walmart’s shelves. ... Continue to read.
No comments:
Post a Comment