Simon & Schuster's Mass Markets Almost All Are $9.99

da_jane · 02-26-2009, 08:11 PM

Simon & Schuster has increased the price of ebooks to $9.99 for almost all their mass market books. I don't know about the hardcovers or trades. I find this very frustrating.

lilac_jive · 02-26-2009, 08:28 PM

Me too

They're the worst of the bunch, IMO.

AnemicOak · 02-26-2009, 09:52 PM

This started happening around November. A lot of their HC prices seem to have gone up too. Another thing they've done is decreased the number of available formats for their ebooks. I used to be able to email them with questions and get answers in a few days, but ever since they launched their 'new and improved' website they haven't bothered to respond to a single message.

I don't know if someone new is in charge of ebooks there or what, but if that's the case I want whoever used to be in charge back.

They are quickly making a name for themselves as one of the worst ebook publishers out there (as discussed in other threads).

JSWolf · 02-26-2009, 10:05 PM

I'll see if I can find a phone number for Simon & Shuster (Pocket Books) and post it here so we can call and try to actually talk to someone. I've also sent a message via their new website and so far, I've got nothing from them in reply. They seem to have stopped MS Reader format and they don't seem to sell Mobipocket format on their site. Mobipocket format can be found on other sites though. The rising of their eBook prices is abominable. How the heck can they think that charging $9..9 for an eBook that lists for $7.99 is beyond reasonable. The thing is, people are trying to save money, not spend more of it.

Barcey · 02-26-2009, 10:07 PM

It makes sense really. I'm sure that the sales of the new release ebooks at hard cover price has been abysmal. They have to recover the cost of their pricing idiocy some how. What better way then more pricing idiocy.

MarciaCat · 02-26-2009, 10:24 PM

Simon & Schuster is driving me crazy what with no LIT format, the higher prices and the lack of response to the messages I sent nearly a month ago via their website. I wish they would get off their corporate duffs and do something!! GRRRRR!!!!

Liviu_5 · 02-26-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How the heck can they think that charging $9..9 for an eBook that lists for $7.99 is beyond reasonable. The thing is, people are trying to save money, not spend more of it.

What about charging 14.99$ for an eBook that lists in print as 7.99$ ???

Lots of examples from Harper and Collins...

AnemicOak · 02-26-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

What about charging 14.99$ for an eBook that lists in print as 7.99$ ???

Lots of examples from Harper and Collins...

Yeah, and no answers from them either about pricing or why the main site shows one price and the ebook store another.

MarciaCat · 03-03-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarciaCat

Simon & Schuster is driving me crazy what with no LIT format, the higher prices and the lack of response to the messages I sent nearly a month ago via their website. I wish they would get off their corporate duffs and do something!! GRRRRR!!!!

Well, I sort of got a reply from S & S on the lack of LIT format; no mention of pricing though:

Quote:

Hi Marcia,

Thanks for contacting us. We are constantly working to increase the inventory of Simon & Schuster eBooks. However, at this time we are not able to offer specific details as to when a particular book/format will become available. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Stephen
SimonandSchuster.com

Here's the email address it came from: ShopFeedback@simonandschuster.com

AnemicOak · 03-03-2009, 03:04 PM

Typical non answer.

AnemicOak · 04-14-2009, 11:20 AM

Here's a good one.

Simon & Schuster (Pocket Books) now has a deal with Juno Books, I don't know if they own them now or if they're just distributing for them. Juno was ebook friendly in that you could get their books in MultiFormat from FW with nor DRM (they're still available for now). One of the old Juno titles, 'Brimstone Kiss' by Carole Nelson Douglas, is $6.99 list in Multiformat. It just became available for preorder from Simon & Schuster as an ebook for $9.99

Juno (DRM Free) version
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook77850.htm

Simon & Schuster version
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook85555.htm

On another note, has anyone had any luck getting a real response from these guys? I used to get helpful replies from their CS back before they raised prices, cut formats, and came out with their "improved" website. Now nothing.

.

JSWolf · 04-14-2009, 12:18 PM

I know a few others on a Star Trek forum have also been trying to get a hold of a real answer and so far all we get are useless template type answers that say nothing.

rhadin · 04-14-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

They're the worst of the bunch, IMO.

They were even terrible to work for in the early 1980s. Can you imagine one S&S division firing an employee for insubordination because the employee shared an idea with another S&S division when the employee's own division showed no interest? And then having corporate agree that that is insubordination?

Or when it came to pricing supplements to professional books, having the price set by the number of pages rather than the value of the content? It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't puff up the number of pages with useless filler or by not removing outdated material.

At least in the late 1980s to early 1990s, S&S was the pits. The president had a private elevator and if an employee accidentally got on it, the employee was fired.

Lots of tales about S&S, none particularly positive.

lilac_jive · 04-14-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

They were even terrible to work for in the early 1980s. Can you imagine one S&S division firing an employee for insubordination because the employee shared an idea with another S&S division when the employee's own division showed no interest? And then having corporate agree that that is insubordination?

Or when it came to pricing supplements to professional books, having the price set by the number of pages rather than the value of the content? It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't puff up the number of pages with useless filler or by not removing outdated material.

At least in the late 1980s to early 1990s, S&S was the pits. The president had a private elevator and if an employee accidentally got on it, the employee was fired.

Lots of tales about S&S, none particularly positive.

The elevator thing is pretty insane (as is the other stuff, but that in particular).

02-26-2009, 08:11 PM	#1
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	Simon & Schuster's Mass Markets Almost All Are $9.99 Simon & Schuster has increased the price of ebooks to $9.99 for almost all their mass market books. I don't know about the hardcovers or trades. I find this very frustrating.

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02-26-2009, 08:28 PM	#2
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Me too They're the worst of the bunch, IMO.

02-26-2009, 09:52 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	This started happening around November. A lot of their HC prices seem to have gone up too. Another thing they've done is decreased the number of available formats for their ebooks. I used to be able to email them with questions and get answers in a few days, but ever since they launched their 'new and improved' website they haven't bothered to respond to a single message. I don't know if someone new is in charge of ebooks there or what, but if that's the case I want whoever used to be in charge back. They are quickly making a name for themselves as one of the worst ebook publishers out there (as discussed in other threads).

02-26-2009, 10:05 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I'll see if I can find a phone number for Simon & Shuster (Pocket Books) and post it here so we can call and try to actually talk to someone. I've also sent a message via their new website and so far, I've got nothing from them in reply. They seem to have stopped MS Reader format and they don't seem to sell Mobipocket format on their site. Mobipocket format can be found on other sites though. The rising of their eBook prices is abominable. How the heck can they think that charging $9..9 for an eBook that lists for $7.99 is beyond reasonable. The thing is, people are trying to save money, not spend more of it.

02-26-2009, 10:07 PM	#5
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	It makes sense really. I'm sure that the sales of the new release ebooks at hard cover price has been abysmal. They have to recover the cost of their pricing idiocy some how. What better way then more pricing idiocy.

02-26-2009, 10:24 PM	#6
MarciaCat Cat Lady & Trekkie Posts: 421 Karma: 221630 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Device: Kobo Libra, Kobo Aura & Aura H20	Simon & Schuster is driving me crazy what with no LIT format, the higher prices and the lack of response to the messages I sent nearly a month ago via their website. I wish they would get off their corporate duffs and do something!! GRRRRR!!!!

03-03-2009, 03:04 PM	#10
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Typical non answer.

04-14-2009, 11:20 AM	#11
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Here's a good one. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Books) now has a deal with Juno Books, I don't know if they own them now or if they're just distributing for them. Juno was ebook friendly in that you could get their books in MultiFormat from FW with nor DRM (they're still available for now). One of the old Juno titles, 'Brimstone Kiss' by Carole Nelson Douglas, is $6.99 list in Multiformat. It just became available for preorder from Simon & Schuster as an ebook for $9.99 Juno (DRM Free) version http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook77850.htm Simon & Schuster version http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook85555.htm On another note, has anyone had any luck getting a real response from these guys? I used to get helpful replies from their CS back before they raised prices, cut formats, and came out with their "improved" website. Now nothing. .

04-14-2009, 12:18 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I know a few others on a Star Trek forum have also been trying to get a hold of a real answer and so far all we get are useless template type answers that say nothing.

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