What a great many people fail to notice, I suspect, is that this fandom is so small there really isn't room for "competition." One name was universally recognized (Mailbox Books), and even with it being shut down and replaced with the 'new' Mailbox Books, it was still a known brand and as such continued to do the majority of the business. The competitors had to break into the market, and weren't able to establish brand loyalty or a sufficient reason to "move" from one material provider to the other (such as better prices, more selection, different selection/niche catered to, easier ordering, better service, etc etc). Due to that lacking, they closed their doors.
This almost results in a monopoly, but at the same time there was competition here for a brief while, and I think it was simply capitalism at work coupled with a (almost surprising, to me) lack of consumer awareness that put the competitors out of business. This may result in bad things for the customers in the future, should things go awry at Mailbox Books, but then maybe there will be a resurgence of competition in the future if that should happen. Who can tell at this point?
What a great many people fail to notice, I suspect, is that this fandom is so small there really isn't room for "competition." One name was universally recognized (Mailbox Books), and even with it being shut down and replaced with the 'new' Mailbox Books, it was still a known brand and as such continued to do the majority of the business. The competitors had to break into the market, and weren't able to establish brand loyalty or a sufficient reason to "move" from one material provider to the other (such as better prices, more selection, different selection/niche catered to, easier ordering, better service, etc etc). Due to that lacking, they closed their doors.
This almost results in a monopoly, but at the same time there was competition here for a brief while, and I think it was simply capitalism at work coupled with a (almost surprising, to me) lack of consumer awareness that put the competitors out of business. This may result in bad things for the customers in the future, should things go awry at Mailbox Books, but then maybe there will be a resurgence of competition in the future if that should happen. Who can tell at this point?
-Feren
-Feren
"We use them for divine retribution."