Comments on: The Paramount anti-trust phase-out’s implications for modern media, and e-books https://teleread.org/2019/11/19/the-paramount-anti-trust-phase-outs-implications-for-modern-media-and-e-books/ Blog on ebooks, publishing, libraries, tech, and related topics Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:33:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: lostinlodos https://teleread.org/2019/11/19/the-paramount-anti-trust-phase-outs-implications-for-modern-media-and-e-books/#comment-122988 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:33:44 +0000 http://teleread.org/?p=168001#comment-122988 In reply to Shirley Dulcey.

I’m not sure there would have been much harm if the locations still existed after the merger. With the Office Max-Depot merger prices generally went down.
At the moment both Staples and Office MD are an oh no destination for when you run out of something and need it now.
A merger would have allowed for even more volume, equalling discounts for the company and potentially Even lower prices
Why would I otherwise willingly drive to staples to buy a box of staples for $5.99 when I can get them on amazon for $1.99?

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]]> By: Shirley Dulcey https://teleread.org/2019/11/19/the-paramount-anti-trust-phase-outs-implications-for-modern-media-and-e-books/#comment-122985 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 19:21:55 +0000 http://teleread.org/?p=168001#comment-122985 There has been one notable exception to the consumer harm standard in the recent past. The proposed merger between Office Depot and Staples was not blocked because of its consumer impact; the court ruled that big box stores and Amazon were sufficient competition there. It was blocked because of its impact on sales to businesses, especially small businesses.

But that was during the Obama administration. It probably would have flown through the courts now.

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]]> By: lostinlodos https://teleread.org/2019/11/19/the-paramount-anti-trust-phase-outs-implications-for-modern-media-and-e-books/#comment-122541 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 19:12:02 +0000 http://teleread.org/?p=168001#comment-122541 Just a quick little set of observations.
Being late Gen X I grew up watching innovation destroy status quo. I’ve yet to see a single mandated breakup (since the 70s) that ultimately helped the consumers. There are occasional stoppages that are worth while; but rarely does breaking up a company help anyone.
The Bell breakup may have had a short term effect but technology (VoIP) would have rendered the same results a decade later without the fraud and deception that came in the wake of the bell dissection.
The point of the cable breakups was to increase competition. We never did get per channel. And today streaming has regulated cable and satellite to an “also”.
They wanted to break up Microsoft. Now there are calls to break up Amazon.

Most of these calls come from pocketbook politicians on behalf of inferior competitors who refuse to innovate. The publishers vs amazon. Ups vs Usps vs amazon vs uship.
Breakups don’t lower prices in the long run. They do nothing for the callers who can’t compete anyway.
A few loud people clammed for choice. The majority don’t change at all even with breakups.
The majority will always choose conveyance over choices. I can drive around town all day shopping or spend 10 minutes on Amazon. I can sift and sort through a repository or download from an App Store. I can spend an hour searching a library catalog or fire up the stream for a movie.
Consolidation tends to be what consumers want. As history shows. Even when it’s not what they say.
As a final not: polls are terrible. If a poll ever asked a real consumer question….
Would you rather have 5 stores with similar or identical items; or one store and a 10% premium for convenience?
I’d put money on the latter.

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