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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 5064467" data-attributes="member: 19675">My point about buying online was in direct response to someone who was concerned that as online sellers gain market share and B&M stores continue to disappear, they will have more power to drive the book market to an entirely electronic model.  This would be termed oligopoly- a market dominated by a small number of large retailers- and its nearly as bad for competition and consumers as a monopoly.If, as the poster asserted, that dwindling #s of B&M stores is a major concern for that reason, it is logical that he spend more money at the B&M stores.As for giving away samples- that is an effective marketing technique.  However, don't fool yourself- each copy given away IS a copy not sold.  A copy of a product that is given away thusly will be reflected in the company's ledgers as a debit- an expense- under a company's advertising/marketing/promotions budget- a reflection of its true nature as an economic opportunity cost.  However, it is an economic opportunity cost that is calculated to be more effective than other forms of advertising- ads, commercials, coupons, etc.- which it usually is.</blockquote>