Dear Vicente,
Cecil Pinto is right. Market forces eventually decide the price of goods.
As far as I know, purchasing anything is (still) optional. No one is forcing anyone to either read any newspaper nor subscribe to it.
One thing is for sure - We shouldn't always expect to receive Something for Nothing. Journalists and writers have a right to be paid for their work too.
As far as I know, I did not hear anyone complain when the Goa Observer was offered free on line.
Let me add this: judging by it decidedly anti-Goan Politician and anti-corruption outlook, Goa Observer is unlikely to get any OVERT assistance i.e. funding thro Government or other adverts.
Hence financially - it will be in the same boat as Tehelka http://www.tehelka.com
Whether it is worth the Rs 1000 per year or not ..... it is too early to say. Time will tell. One thing is for sure - you certainly do NOT get to read the stuff which the Goa Observer publishes - anywhere else.
Are Rajan Narayan, Arvind Bhaticar etc & Ben Antao fabricating this stuff ? OR (pay attention Mario Goveia) are the "mainstream" noojpapers hiding stuff from Goans?
I ask because I do not know.
About emotions (in Cecil Pinto's post below) - I agree with Cecil
However - customers (subscribers) will support Goan Observer IF the service (information) is of a better quality. IF NOT ...they will dump it without missing a heartbeat.
Any business venture which decides to charge for service - obviously has taken that into account.
Incidentaly, superb quality and service reason why I would seek service from Beatrice (and Cecil) Pinto's Expressions if I would like to send flowers and Valentine's days gifts to someone in Goa. They are good, reliable, on time and they send you prompt jpeg confirmation of the completion of service. NOT EVEN Fedex does that!
There are other CHEAPER Flower/Gift fellas who send us email requesting custom - but we recommend those fellas to try EXPRESSIONS. http://www.goa-world.com/goa/expressions/
Sometimes - cheaper isn't better.
Service counts - That is also part of the market forces
HAVE you guys sent out your Valentine's Day gifts to your loved ones in Goa - or not.
IF NOT - is it because - the flowers and gifts aren't free? !
Hope not.
sincerely
jose colaco
http://www.colaco.net
please notice that I have added my name to the subject title - it is easy to delete upon sight (:-)
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"v. fernandez" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello There!!!
Came across the web page (GOAN OBSERVER Online). How come they intend to charge Rs1000/for a year's 'online subscription'?
Does the content justify the amt? What is the frequency of the print edition? Can some one throw light on the subject?
v.f.
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Stephen Fernandes
Dear One &All
well any things in Market that is very high rate still we buy ! so if we need this Paper in future to stay alive in Goan people heart then we have to support as he too have no other support then we
blood goan. as i am too crazy for this paper, we have to help dear one and all.
yours Fellow Goan Stephen Fernandes Divar/ Muscat
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From Cecil Pinto
Dear Stephen and v.f,
When the Goan Observer was first published it was priced at Rs. 10/- a copy.
From the very next issue onwards it was Rs. 5/- a copy.
Just wait a few weeks. I am willing to wager that they will drop their online subscription drastically one they realise their steep price has no takers.
I occasionally used to browse the online edition of Goan Observer whenever I forgot to pick up a copy at the newstand and possibly would have subscribed if it was a reasonable amount. But why should I pay Rs. 1000/- to read a paper online using MY Internet and phone time when I can buy the printed version, and read it at my leisure, every Saturday for Rs. 260/- a year?
Perhaps they're targetting overseas Goans. Perhaps they think overseas Goans are suckers to be bled for money. Perhaps they didn't give it much thought.
Wait a while. Market forces will decide these things in the end. Not emotions.
Cecil
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