ORIGINAL: GmanBill
I was checking the number of members, that is under half of the members in the united states according to AMA records. A non profit is required to list the numbers of paying members in there yearly report, I guess most people do not do there reading. I do keep up with every club or non profit I belong to, AMA, IMAA, IMAC, etc. I read the yearly reports and everything, to me it is like owning a stock, you just going to buy it and not keep up with what it is doing. That is like sending you child to school and not keeping up with there grades. I am not a flag waver, or someone trying to slam anyone like many in here are only here to do, but I do do my research, and do it pretty well. Even if the number were 170,000 x $90 = $15,300,000 - $40,000 = 15,260,000 minus the printing and administration that by doing the numbers there being that i am a published author and knowing the numbers would be about $15 a book. 15 x 170,000 = $2,550,000 leaving a profit of $12,710,000. Could that not go to many programs for the AMA.
That is all that I am saying.
OK, I wonder why the AMA didn't realize all this profitability? Wonder why the other 10,000 groups that use Harris didn't realize this either? If you are in the publishing business you missed A LOT of information when it comes to costs. When a single writer writes a book, it's 1 guy and 1 typwwriter and an editor. How many people do you think it will take to compile all that data and make all those calls to confirm it? This is not a novel, it's more like a phone book on steroids. And then whose going to continue sales? Of course youll need team of sales, they have people complaining about the magazine and they get that included in the membership. Do you have any idea what kind of sales team you'll need to push a book at any price, let alone $90?
Don't also forget all the startup cash you have to layout just to get it going. The big problem is that no matter what it cost, it would cost. And do you expect the AMA to make a profit from it's own members?? Also your expectations are a bit high in regards to whose going to buy the book, personally I could never see the number going over 5% of the membership per year.
Bottom line if it was easy as your calculator told you, Harris wouldn't be in business. Harris is taking the risk the AMA doesn't want, it's call outsourcing. As a publisher you should know what that is quite well.