We shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender.

There are winners, they are called customers. And now we have a choice. Good news if you ask me

Consumer: what are you doing commenting on a trade site, have you got nothing else to do? Pretty sad if you ask me.

Jamie S: No they're not pal. For the simple reason everyone is a bookbuyer, myself included, but the purpose of this site is for the trade to air its views (that's why it's called THE BOOKSELLER, yes? Not, you'll cleverly discern, THE BOOKBUYER). Those posting here under rubrics like "Consumer" "Bookbuyer" etc are quite obviously trade insiders merely using their pathetic monickers to advance laissez faire views. It's not honest. Anonymity in these comments is bad enough , but to pose as Jo Public the book buyer is highly laughable and stupendously feeble, frankly. What's needed are well thought-out arguments and views, not juvenile role-play. We could be here till domesday without advancing the debate if we think it's sufficient to huff and puff and pretend we're someone we're not. Hope that's quite clear now.

Consumer - make the most of it in the sort term. The end result of a price war is nearly always a reduction in choice or a drop in quality or both. The Kindle, Sony eReader and iPad have already seen off a number of hardware competitors and once they've carved up the market between them, they'll set about clawing back the money they've lost in the price war.

(p.s. am bemused that the captcha system appears to have a view. The captcha for this post is "propaper up")

This is very sad to see - this industry needs some real leadership where it counts over pricing. This undermines our whole industry and the value of what we represent. A good book is a precious thing. This price war is not healthy. However if it ever results in higher prices for physical books I won't mind, but that seems unlikely. In my view ebooks are going to take their place in the market as a niche, and as such they are the biggest wettest flapping red herring there is in this industry - what a distraction! What weak strategy to kill potential margin day 1 !

Are you in the trade or aren't you? I am a heavy book buyer too my friend - made easier because I am also a BOOKSELLER. Last time I checked this is a forum for booksellers - or at least those in the book business. I don't think your views AS A BOOKBUYER are particularly or specially relevant, any more than mine would be. Apart from anything else I suspect you are in the trade too - like our old buddy "Consumer" (sic) - yet you think it's smart and opportune (given the anonymity afforded) to play act as a joe average bookbuyer to make your point. Anyone in the business seeking an accurate view of bookbuyers opinions would be well advised NOT to listen to the views of purported "bookbuyers" or "consumers" here. Typical is the last thing they are. Market research may be expensive but it's used precisely because it looks at the whole market, not one or two hotheads (from within the business) with axes to grind and time to spare who are always found lurking on sites like this. To reiterate, if we in the industry want bookbuyers opinions we will go to the only place they can usefully be obtained, via Market Research, thank you very much. Obvious really.

On the whole I agree with Ross. This is a trade site and that's what it's intended for. Any non-trade people with enough spare time and inclination to bother posting here can expect as rough a ride as anyone else. There's no special virtue in visiting here as a self-proclaimed anonymous bookbuyer, to whom all must pay obeisance. If you post expect to face the flak!!

Jamie, sadly these boards are full of trolls who love to show off whilst generally undermining the industry they work in. Criticise them and they'll flame you for oppressing their right to free speech, whilst doing their best to drown out opposing voices and opinions. Best advise is ignore them - trhere are a few more sensible people around if you ignore the Ross's, SPYs et al of the boards.