The Balkanised Digital Economy

[lightcrystal]

Great Audible.

Even software, except for a few laggards, now allows purchases without restrictions; your buying country does not matter.

But in the digital product space if someone does not live in the US or Canada then you are treated like trash. Audible even has the cheek to direct me to another page with some marketing blather, never saying what percentage of its audio books are outside of my Antipodean dimension. Of course there are grey market options [NOT piracy] that I won't expand upon here.

Why does this madness exist? Before someone says "Amazon can't cope with other tax systems" they do ANYWAY; that is a cop out.

Will the digital economy ever grow up; I could buy a CRANE from the US. In fact, having a family member in the construction industry, I can tell you that countries often purchase cranes second hand from the US and ship them over. It's very common. I could buy a CRANE but not a freaking AUDIO BOOK! Needless to say, Audible will not get a cent of my cash.

[KevinS]

I think it's because of the high shipping costs. (Wink.)

[KevinS]

But seriously, it's probably because of licensing restrictions.

[lightcrystal]

But seriously, it's probably because of licensing restrictions.

Nope. Why does it happen with independent publishers who are not using anything that needs royalties etc? It's a 1950's mindset from a publishing industry that needs to grow up.

[annise]

No - it is from USA companies who want other countries' money but are not interested in having to do anything that might cost them anything - like Google books who just decide I can't read something because it's easier to just block me in case.
(this is not an anti USA remark, just a statement of fact)

Anne