I chose books as the category for this pricing analysis. I selected a
"Writer's Market 2001". This is a very thick (over 1000 pages) helpful
reference guide for aspiring writers giving tips on contracts, potential
sources to be published such as magazines, how to get a book published,
etc. It also comes with a CD-Rom. I decided to research the pricing for
this book at least three point-of-sale locations from the following list of
types of vendors: 1)online, 2)retail chain store, 3)single-line specialty
store, and 4)a discount store. This book in paperback has an original list
price of $49.99. On a single Website called ADD ALL, approximately 20 on-
line sources for purchase are shown. Included are retail chains and single
line specialty stores. Amazingly, the cost of the book ranges from a high
of $49.99 to a low of $1.50. When shipping is added, the total price ranges
from a high of $ 63.97 to a low of $ 4.99. The highest price was from
Amazon sending the book via next day air. The lowest price was also from
Amazon (Amazon Marketplace-Used) and ships out in 1-2 days with standard
shipping time of 4-14 days. Shipping charges ranged from $13.98 to $0.
Overall, shipping methods ranged from second day air, priority mail, USPS,
Fed Ex second day, Surface courier, and Media Mail. Another site,
"ecampus" shows the book new for around $38.00, states that Wal-Mart
doesn't carry it, but offers me a free t-shirt if I spend $99.00 or more.
I checked with my favorite used book shop and they stated that it was
not in stock. As it allows both purchases and trades, and has only a small
inventory primarily from incoming trades, this is not surprising. When I
inquired at several booksellers such as a Barnes & Noble about 15 miles
away, I was told they did not have it in stock, but the 2004 edition was in
stock and available for $29.99. It makes sense to me that a store such a...