But to make a final response to some of the other comments, I am at serious risk of offending again, because several readers have not kept up with the discussion — which admittedly has been spread over about half a dozen articles.

My first article dealt in explicit detail (and remarkably I managed to get Crikey to print two data tables! Compare with the lazy and misleading effort by the Australian the day after my article.) From the perspective of this discussion books fall into about three broad categories: 1) Australian authors 2) others published in Australia under the PIR (many, maybe all, of the rest on the Top Ten list) and 3) books not covered by PIR (this also includes what could be a 4th category: many specialist and older books): So my second table covered the last set, and yes DS, WJLU and others, I was clear in my article that those are what I buy off Amazon. Only 3 were ever seen on Australian retailers shelves and the cost of those 3 and the other 7 (ordering from A&R) was hugely more expensive than Amazon. BUT people, that has nothing to do with this whole argument about PIR and damage to Australian authors and publishing. (Please reread the original article if it is still not clear.)

Final point (and stand by for “robust” discussion): when I used those mildly pejorative terms DS so objects to, well unfortunately we have another perfect example in WJLU (10.37pm). The Plimer book, you say is USD 13.95 at Amazon and A$39.95 at Dymocks; well guess what, that Amazon price turns into A$30.43 when you do the currency exchange, add the shipping ($6.34) and the per-order charge ($6.34) . (For a fair comparison, ie. fair to Aus. booksellers, you could add GST and get A$33.48.) OK, it is still $9.52 (or $6.47 for the fairer comparison) less. But for a big book buyer like me, I frequently get 20%off (=A$31.98) and sometimes 30%off deals from Borders (I got a Borders 20%off coupon by email this morning); I routinely get something from the Dymock’s loyalty card. So actually I can already get it at almost the same price as Amazon ($31.97. I am not going to buy Amazon to save $1.55). And no doubt the book will come down in price soon. Second, as many other readers and comments (on the other Crikey articles including mine) note, I am not going to undermine a great Australian industry (publishers, authors, smaller booksellers) for a few measly dollars, because it is one of our few successes in the intellectual area (as opposed to digging stuff out of the ground). Some people have said they probably wouldn’t do that for even up to $10, but actually as all my tables show — for THIS class of book — it is rarely that big a differential. It is a free choice we can all make — but please at least base your decisions on the reality.
One final, final point: Amazon is the largest bookseller on the planet so obviously they can underprice everyone, including American bookstores — whose RRP is A$27.89 Still cheaper than their Australian counterparts but shipping books to Australia is not cheap and using Amazon’s costs that would be A$44.63. So maybe Australian publishers and booksellers are not ripping us off so outrageously.

MRJ, Brisbane.

Given what Maloney wrote, I assume that he gets a different rate from his American publisher. If so, it makes sense for him to trade-off a few less foreign sales for a few more local sales.

PS. I’m not quite sure what the point of this article is, if foreign books aren’t cheaper, then what is the threat?

Also, why are there so many unsold copies of books that they pose such a problem? Cannot the publishers do better with their print runs?
Rob Johnston writes: Re. “Shane Maloney: I am a leech on my readers” (yesterday, item 3). Why don’t Aussie authors receive royalties for books printed elsewhere and sold here? I assumed that no matter where a book is sold or printed royalties would flow to the author from the sale of that book. Why is this not the case?

Rob Johnston makes a valid point with his comment, or are royalties not paid on remaindered copies ?

It would seem that authors need to negotiate better deals with their publishers after reading about Mem Fox’s deal with her publisher. It would seem the publishing houses are sc**wing both the authors and the readers.

The point still remains, if you charged your Amazon transaction in Australian dollars, and not in American dollars as you obviously did, then there are no forex or any other charges from your bank (or Amazon) at all. I have made many purchases from Amazon and have always only been charged the Australian dollar price shown on the screen and not a cent more.

Moreover, there is an air of pointlessness about your articles. You are obviously, in your own shouting terms, a $340 ONLINE CHEAPSKATE yourself and yet you accuse others of trying to create a world where there is nothing but nothing but “the golden arches of American burger chains, or Woolies and Coles with wall-to-wall Stephanie Meyer”.

You have also accused others, who you oddly demean as “Gen X or Y”, of being “really happy to sacrifice Australian authors, publishers and bookshops” without ever answering my challenge to explain how high local prices help local bookshops to be more competitive against their overseas online competitors. Perhaps you don’t try to defend this proposition because it is so obviously nonsensical.

So, this is not “sniping”, Michael . This is a challenge to engage in honest debate. A challenge you have so far failed to meet.

However, this ‘scientist’ was unable to admit that he had made basic factual errors and instead resorted to a feeble trickle of emotive abuse.

The world did not end, Australian music continues to thrive, CDs got significantly cheaper and it seems everyone was a winner (except the special interest pleaders).

I expect the same to happen with books.