Publications
Publications
- October 2004 (Revised August 2007)
- HBS Case Collection
Alibris in 2004
Abstract
Alibris, an online marketplace for rare, used, and out-of-print books, is trying to communicate to the professional book dealers who are its main suppliers that they are in the middle of a crisis. Supply is flooding the market, in part from individuals who simply want to clean out their bookshelves and make a bit of money. These individuals' sales are facilitated by a number of online merchants, including Alibris, Half.com, Amazon.com, and eBay. Alibris has built a number of powerful capabilities to help both buyers and sellers of books. Among these is a pricing service that allows sellers to set market prices for their books automatically. Alibris wants to encourage its dealers to use this service: the problem is that most market prices are far below the prices dealers have set for their books.
Keywords
Price; Books; Crisis Management; Supply and Industry; Service Operations; Online Technology; Consumer Products Industry
Citation
McAfee, Andrew P. "Alibris in 2004." Harvard Business School Case 605-035, October 2004. (Revised August 2007.)