RIP IBS - comments

Leo A. Martin leo@possi.org
Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:13:10 PDT
The crossover-to-the-online-world comet has caused a mass extinction of for-profit
businesses as well as not-for-profit organzations, and the killing is not over. Many
plant societies are struggling and their survival is not certain. Those that began the
transition late or fumbled are probably not going to survive.

I was amazed at the high prices of bulb material offered by the IBS. But, the stated
reason was to fund publication of Herbertia, a very expensive undertaking for a large
book with a small circulation.

There is an extensive body of research in economics on the the question of how to price
something to yield maximum gain. High prices make sense at some level but when too high
they lead to a lower overall income. I personally would not dream of spending $50 on a
single bulb I wasn't sure how to grow, even if for a good cause, and I'm afraid of
killing very rare items.

Leo Martin
Phoenix Arizona USA




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