02-01-2010, 01:32 PM | #1 |
Author
Posts: 55
Karma: 284
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
Device: iPhone
|
Understanding the Cost of eBooks
It's rare that I take the time to write an article about "the industry", I normally reserve my writing time for creative pursuits. After meeting a lot of people who don't understand the costs behind creating an eBook and a few who don't believe an eBook should ever cost anything, I decided to write this article that includes nothing but fact about what it costs to create the content they're enjoying.
I tried to write it in a non-confrontational manner, and hope that this opens the door to healthy discussion as while dispelling some of the misunderstandings that seem common in some groups. Here's the link: http://randolphlalonde.blogspot.com/...of-ebooks.html |
02-01-2010, 03:05 PM | #2 |
Addict
Posts: 210
Karma: 1000659
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650 (black), Kindle 3G
|
I haven't read your article yet, but will shortly. Until then, I wanted to say that my uninformed opinion is that an eBook should cost the same as any other medium right up until the point that it/them/they take on physical form. From there, the digital and physical forms diverge and associated costs would then be tallied differently.
I'll see how that uninformed opinion differs after reading your article and post again later. |
Advert | |
|
02-01-2010, 04:48 PM | #3 |
Great Beach Reads!
Posts: 202
Karma: 300000
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Kindle 2
|
Because there's so much free information online, I think people get confused and think that everything offered online should be free. Hopefully, your article will help - thanks!
|
02-14-2010, 01:09 AM | #4 |
No wire hangers, ever!
Posts: 183
Karma: 540
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: O-hi-o
Device: Sony PRS-300
|
Thanks for the read.. very interesting. I am ok with authors wanting to get paid for their work, but when it comes to some of them charging more than the actual book price (for instance Dear John by Nicholas Sparks which I really want is at Borders for 7.19 in paperback which I do NOT buy hard back, but they are selling the ebook for 9.99- makes no sense) If I am going to be paying more for an ebook than the actual printed copy, I should have rights to that book to be able to sell, donate or loan that book when I have finished reading it.
Basically, most ebooks for purchase I have come across have DRM which is basically giving me a loan of the book instead of allowing me to own it. I wont pay more than 3-4$ for a book that I cant do what I want with it when I have finished reading it |
02-14-2010, 09:55 AM | #5 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 41
Karma: 40
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Singapore
Device: Sony PRS 600
|
I think the issue buyers (including myself) have is that ebooks should cost nothing to "produce" in the sense of post-manuscript to being available in a downloadable form, compared to printing a paper book where there is actual perceivable costs.
|
Advert | |
|
02-15-2010, 09:01 PM | #6 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 80
Karma: 732
Join Date: Jul 2009
Device: Kobo Glo HD, Android phone
|
Nice post Randolph.
I think you actually already partly explained the difference in royalty rate Amazon is willing to pay for the 0.99 to 2.98 range and the 2.99 and higher. They have fixed costs and the low income they will get on the low prices might not be enough to compensate at higher royalty rates. The situation is probably more complicated, if I understand correctly the two contracts Amazon offers are different in other details as well. But it might be a bit premature to blame the publishers for this policy. |
02-15-2010, 10:34 PM | #7 | |
Addict
Posts: 260
Karma: 1013470
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South Jersey
Device: Nook Classic, Nook Glowlight, Galaxy Tab S9, Kindle Paperwhite
|
Quote:
~eddie Last edited by JerseyBiker; 02-15-2010 at 10:46 PM. Reason: removed redundant point |
|
02-16-2010, 05:27 AM | #8 |
neilmarr
Posts: 7,215
Karma: 6000059
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Monaco-Menton, France
Device: sony
|
Excellent article, Randolph. Thanks. What folks must realise is that when it comes to serious indie authors and small publishers, the cost-savings in print, warehousing, physical distribution and shelf-stacking are only part of the ebook story. Editorial, design, technical, legal and admin costs are constant and must be shared between the treebook and ebook. I won't touch a free ebook or something selling at a dollar or two because the very price suggests that the author has cut corners, there has been no professional editorial input, and the book may very well waste my precious recreational reading time. Neil
|
02-16-2010, 10:35 AM | #9 |
Orisa
Posts: 2,000
Karma: 1035571
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Ireland
Device: Onyx Poke 5
|
Everyone is free to do with their money what they like. But allow me to break a spear in favor of, let's say, pricing not influenced by copyright-issues. You, as people more involved with the editorial market, do know how distorting it is. Massive copyright infringements would crush the big business asunder, allowing (ironically) more control of the works by the author, and savage price reductions.
|
02-16-2010, 01:17 PM | #10 | |
Author: Clade Josso
Posts: 80
Karma: 500474
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Michigan
Device: none
|
Quote:
I like to say in response "Do you do your job for free?" While I have no aspirations of being a millionaire or anything like that, I am a firm capitalist and believe work deserves to be compensated. |
|
02-16-2010, 02:39 PM | #11 |
Addict
Posts: 355
Karma: 600000
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston
Device: Palm TX
|
I'm not a "serious" ebook author. I don't consider writing "work." It is the act that frees me from that tasks that are my true work. I'm mainly interested in perfecting my art, which I would do even if I were isolated in a cave, but the prospect of feedback from readers is what draws me out. I price my novel low because I want to reach people willing to take a chance with an unknown indie author. I want to see how much my writing resonates by harvesting reviews.
But I understand the problem from the perspective of a serious author who is trying to make a living (or supplement their income). They may perceive that they are being undercut by all of us $1.99 or less "hacks." One solution, is for the truly serious writer to go through the vetting process of being selected by an actual publisher. This automatically gives the reader a reason to pay the extra money. I also don't think that underpricing is harmful. It's not a zero sum game. The more people we engage in reading, no matter what the price, the more every writer benefits. I'll pay full price for a hardcover if it's something that I really want. I'll also ignore an ebook priced at 3.99 if I'm casually browsing. So, I apologize to any serious writer who feels harmed by my pricing, but it's giving me the results I seek - unforced, honest, critical reader reviews at a rate of one per 50 sales. That wouldn't happen if I charged 9.00 per download. |
02-16-2010, 03:00 PM | #12 |
Scott Nicholson, author
Posts: 363
Karma: 2029337
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Boone NC
Device: Kindle
|
I'm curious, Neil, why you frown at $2 ebooks yet your signature is touting them at Bewrite. I think $2 is a perfectly fair price for an ebook, and I've published in mass market. It's important to compare the income stream over a lifetime, with the author controlling all rights, versus giving a long-term license to a publisher but only getting a couple of payments out of it (and then, usually a long dead time before you get your rights back, if ever.)
Major publishers have an entirely different goal from me. So do agents. If anyone's interested, I just blogged about the sad plight of writers at http://hauntedcomputer.blogspot.com Good opinions on this forum, I am learning a lot. |
02-16-2010, 05:12 PM | #13 | |
Zealot
Posts: 106
Karma: 271834
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Device: none
|
Quote:
I'd love to charge 5-10 bucks for my book, but then I wouldn't have any readers. Maybe, someday, I'll have enough of a reputation established to be able to charge a little bit for my work, but, until then... I think, when it comes to indie books, most people are already going to have a sour initial impression because, fact is, it's a massive crap-shoot of quality. It's doubtful said individuals are going to waste both their precious recreational reading time and their precious hard earned cash, so I just shoot for the former. At least for now. |
|
02-16-2010, 09:24 PM | #14 | |
Snooty Bestselling Author
Posts: 1,485
Karma: 1000000
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia
Device: PRS-650
|
Quote:
There are certainly different types of readers, and it's interesting to note that they'll respond to different marketing. Some people are 'give me the first free, and if I like it I'll buy your stuff forever', others 'give me a sample, if it pulls me in I'll buy it', others 'get a buzz going and I'll think about it'. |
|
02-18-2010, 02:05 AM | #15 |
Busy Read'n
Posts: 980
Karma: 5039283
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Auburn, WA
Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5
|
I just read your blog, thanks for sharing that info. I'm fairly new to ebooks so I found it very helpful.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Rising cost of ebooks | ppearce | Amazon Kindle | 60 | 09-27-2010 10:46 AM |
ANOTHER "Why Do Ebooks Cost So Much?" ARTICLE | SameOldStory | General Discussions | 113 | 09-23-2010 09:40 AM |
Future of Ebook Sales - Cost of Ebooks to Amazon | poohbear_nc | News | 32 | 11-07-2009 12:08 PM |
Amazon states sometimes ebooks will cost more than pbooks. | GatorDeb | Amazon Kindle | 32 | 03-22-2009 10:30 PM |
Cost of ebooks | Amanda | iRex | 1 | 12-19-2007 03:12 AM |