Random House Switches to Agency Model, Joins Other Large Houses in Helping Small Upstarts Get a Jump on Them Pricewise

Thank God. The last thing I needed was RH not trying to gouge customers. PW: "In the agency model, publishers set the price and designate an agent—in this case the bookseller—who will sell the book and receive the commission. Adopting the model for e-books tends to mean e-book prices will rise, something both publishers and independent retailers applaud. Publishers believe low e-book prices devalue their books and cannibalize hardcover sales. Under the agency model once a price has been set it cannot be changed or discounted by the retailer and independent e-book retailers believe the higher prices of the agency model allow them to compete with big e-book vendors."