Sony is following the new industry standard pricing scheme.

thafrogggg · 03-31-2010, 10:07 PM

Just got an email from the sony store. They are following along with the new price demands from the publishers. Here is the text of the email.

Dear Reader Store Customer,

The publishing industry is turning a page and so are we.

Beginning April 1st some major publishers will be instituting a change in the pricing of eBooks, which puts decisions on eBook pricing firmly in their hands. As a result, prices of bestsellers and new releases from these publishers will be changing on the Reader Store, and during the transition time, some titles may be unavailable. Although most of these eBooks will be priced from about $12.99 to 14.99, there will not be a broad pricing change across the Reader Store. In fact, new releases and bestsellers from other publishers will still be priced at $9.99.

Starting a new chapter can be a good thing. With this change, you may see more of your favorite books available in eBook format at the same time they’re released in print. Book lovers like you are driving a revolution in digital reading and the Reader Store is committed to providing you access to the widest selection of digital reading content. Since its inception in September 2006, Sony’s Reader Store has introduced a wide offering of new releases, bestselling eBook titles and newspapers. Today it features access to more than one million titles and links to borrow eBooks from local libraries nationwide.

For more information please visit the Reader Store FAQ: http://ebooks.custhelp.com

Thank you,

The Reader Store

Seabound · 03-31-2010, 10:11 PM

I like Sony's even-keel tone about this. Not panicky, unlike other blurbs I've seen. No offers for discount coupons either.

zerospinboson · 04-01-2010, 05:26 AM

I wonder what would've been the reaction from Sony customers if they had worded it

Quote:

Dear customers,
Starting today, book stores are no longer allowed to compete with each other on price.
This can be a good thing, as it will mean publishers will feel less threatened by a new technology.
Also, you will have less reason to not shop at the Sony store, which means you will be experiencing less cognitive dissonance over choosing to pay a premium for "convenience", as it won't make a difference any more, ever.
...

JSWolf · 04-01-2010, 12:18 PM

Sony has one good thing going for them. They are all ePub. So anything they sell is in the correct format.

bevdeforges · 04-01-2010, 12:34 PM

I tried getting into the Sony store this morning and kept getting a screen saying that they were "closed" while re-doing the site. When they got done, it was interesting to browse to see what prices had changed and what prices were the same.

From what I could tell, it seems like the publishers involved are basically trying to maintain their price differential between hard back and paperback, with the e-book pricing related to the currently available edition of the p-book. I.e. e-book priced at or a little less than the hardback edition if the paperback edition isn't yet released. Pricing for titles already in paperback release is the same or maybe slightly less than the listed paperback price.

I'm used to waiting for the paperback to be released before reading anything new. If they go with that arrangement, I guess I can live with it. I have so far. But if e-book prices don't come down when the paperback appears, that could be a problem.

MV64 · 04-01-2010, 02:07 PM

This is very disappointing. Color me skeptical that the publishing companies that have fought against ebooks and have an attitude similar to other big corporations like the RIAA are now going to set prices they think are acceptable?

Ebooks, though b ecoming more popular still suffered from being the same price as many paperbacks, which I guess they need to justify remaining in business but turns a lot of people off.

Looks like ebooks are going to struggle a bit before this scheme utterly collapses like all the others over the years have in various industries.

starrigger · 04-01-2010, 03:23 PM

I'll just point out that under the new pricing system, my novel Sunborn has dropped in price in the Sony store from $11-something to $7.99. Not saying I like the new system, but Macmillan did keep their word on my book.

DawnFalcon · 04-01-2010, 03:36 PM

You probably can't say, but if you can: What effect has there been on your share of the price?

03-31-2010, 10:07 PM	#1
thafrogggg Rabid Book Weasel Posts: 84 Karma: 1678 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Acer Iconia A500 Tablet (lovin' it!!)	Sony is following the new industry standard pricing scheme. Just got an email from the sony store. They are following along with the new price demands from the publishers. Here is the text of the email. Dear Reader Store Customer, The publishing industry is turning a page and so are we. Beginning April 1st some major publishers will be instituting a change in the pricing of eBooks, which puts decisions on eBook pricing firmly in their hands. As a result, prices of bestsellers and new releases from these publishers will be changing on the Reader Store, and during the transition time, some titles may be unavailable. Although most of these eBooks will be priced from about $12.99 to 14.99, there will not be a broad pricing change across the Reader Store. In fact, new releases and bestsellers from other publishers will still be priced at $9.99. Starting a new chapter can be a good thing. With this change, you may see more of your favorite books available in eBook format at the same time they’re released in print. Book lovers like you are driving a revolution in digital reading and the Reader Store is committed to providing you access to the widest selection of digital reading content. Since its inception in September 2006, Sony’s Reader Store has introduced a wide offering of new releases, bestselling eBook titles and newspapers. Today it features access to more than one million titles and links to borrow eBooks from local libraries nationwide. For more information please visit the Reader Store FAQ: http://ebooks.custhelp.com Thank you, The Reader Store

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03-31-2010, 10:11 PM	#2
Seabound Steerage Class Posts: 711 Karma: 505995 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest, USA Device: Won't fit here anymore, see sig for a list of liseuses.	I like Sony's even-keel tone about this. Not panicky, unlike other blurbs I've seen. No offers for discount coupons either.

04-01-2010, 12:18 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,957 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Sony has one good thing going for them. They are all ePub. So anything they sell is in the correct format.

04-01-2010, 12:34 PM	#5
bevdeforges Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 1094000 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Essonne, France Device: Kobo Forma; Sony PRS600B; Sony 350; Sony T-2	I tried getting into the Sony store this morning and kept getting a screen saying that they were "closed" while re-doing the site. When they got done, it was interesting to browse to see what prices had changed and what prices were the same. From what I could tell, it seems like the publishers involved are basically trying to maintain their price differential between hard back and paperback, with the e-book pricing related to the currently available edition of the p-book. I.e. e-book priced at or a little less than the hardback edition if the paperback edition isn't yet released. Pricing for titles already in paperback release is the same or maybe slightly less than the listed paperback price. I'm used to waiting for the paperback to be released before reading anything new. If they go with that arrangement, I guess I can live with it. I have so far. But if e-book prices don't come down when the paperback appears, that could be a problem.

04-01-2010, 02:07 PM	#6
MV64 Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 2000000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505	This is very disappointing. Color me skeptical that the publishing companies that have fought against ebooks and have an attitude similar to other big corporations like the RIAA are now going to set prices they think are acceptable? Ebooks, though b ecoming more popular still suffered from being the same price as many paperbacks, which I guess they need to justify remaining in business but turns a lot of people off. Looks like ebooks are going to struggle a bit before this scheme utterly collapses like all the others over the years have in various industries.

04-01-2010, 03:23 PM	#7
starrigger Jeffrey A. Carver Posts: 1,355 Karma: 1107383 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts, USA Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus, Droid phone, Nook HD+	I'll just point out that under the new pricing system, my novel Sunborn has dropped in price in the Sony store from $11-something to $7.99. Not saying I like the new system, but Macmillan did keep their word on my book.

04-01-2010, 03:36 PM	#8
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	You probably can't say, but if you can: What effect has there been on your share of the price?

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