hanekomu wrote:No one forces anyone to buy books at these prices. The market will regulate itself, as many Americans are wont to say.
There's more to the free market concept than that simple statement. A market will regualte itself if everyone has access to the same information; it must be a battle of more or less equals. I know how much you are willing to spend, you know how much I am willing to charge. Or you and I both know how many copies of the book are available and how many likely customers have access this supply/demand information. If I tell you I am the only source for a book, I can charge whatever I think you will pay. If you have information to the contrary, you can attempt to force me into a bargaining discussion.
It is in my economic interest to hide information from you or lie to you. It is in your better interest to do the diligent research or to lie to me.
