|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
05-07-2010, 07:44 PM | #91 |
Guru
Posts: 644
Karma: 1242364
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The Right Coast
Device: PC (Calibre), Nexus 7 2013 (Moon+ Pro), HTC HD2/Leo (Freda)
|
I think a lot of what DMcCunney is saying makes sense. Both to my finite knowledge of the industry and what I've encountered as a consumer.
From the comments made, it is apparent to me that perhaps the greatest area of contention is the behind the scenes efforts that go into publishing a book. Some portion of this is, without doubt, greed - contractually inflicted for whomever's benefit. However, that is not the real issue. The real issue seems to be the workflow model that the industry is using to create an ebook. They are trying to treat a re-flowable format as a per page format and have things a bit backward. Perhaps understandably. Because some ebook consumer is going to yell "foul!" if their ebook doesn't look exactly like the paper book. But this is adding a lot of additional overhead and effort that is in many ways wasted. Based on advice I received when inquiring about editing ebooks, Adobe InDesign was a piece of software to seriously avoid. It simply added too much useless overhead and programmatic gobble-dee-gook (yes, it's a technical term ) to any output - at least with respect to ebooks. [To be fair, I should mention that this was about version CS3/CS4. I believe a new version was just released - perhaps things have improved.] So, for instance, I could take a simple text file into Sigil and get comparable output (at least) without nearly half of the trouble of dealing with InDesign. Oh, and without the DRM issues as well. Honestly I think the publishing industry is going to find that they are in the midst of a paradigm shift. Yes, right now, an ebook is the "red-headed step-child" of the industry. Not wanted, not cared for, not catered to. Eventually, as Generation Y, and eventually Z, refuse to deal in heavy, dusty, old-school books the market will change. The industry will simply... follow the money. |
05-10-2010, 09:18 PM | #92 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 420
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Bay, California
Device: Nook
|
It looks to me as if Penguin may be setting prices to discourage ebook sales. Are they doing this to encourage paperback sales?
On 4/25 I mentioned one title for which the ebook price was much more than the paperback price. The paperback edition of Maelstrom by Taylor Anderson, was available in B&N or Border stores for $7.99, but the ebook price from suppliers other than Amazon was $18.99. The paperback has been out long enough so that used copies now show up on line for less than $5.00. You would expect the ebook price to come down. But instead, it went up, way up, to $24.95. I don't know if this was an error. If it is not, it would appear that Penguin does not want an ebook version of this title to be sold. Is this possible? |
Advert | |
|
05-11-2010, 11:49 AM | #93 | |
Connoisseur
Posts: 52
Karma: 688
Join Date: May 2010
Device: none
|
Quote:
|
|
05-22-2010, 01:41 PM | #94 |
Guru
Posts: 915
Karma: 3537194
Join Date: Feb 2009
Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite
|
Yeah, publishers need to get with the program. Authors and agents need to get up to speed, too, if they care about ebook sales (and they should).
Unfortunately for B&N, when I stopped by the Nook display for a demonstration, I had a copy of Tim Dorsey's FLORIDA ROADKILL in my hand, priced at $7.99. We looked it up for the Nook and the price was $9.99. Kind of embarrassing for the in-house salesperson! |
05-22-2010, 02:03 PM | #95 |
Banned
Posts: 2,391
Karma: 1001781
Join Date: May 2010
Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X
|
as far as the title of this thread is concerened is that true anymore? I spend over 30 mins. comparing books to Kindles price and found them all to be the exact same price.
I don't think Amazon has this advantage anymore. Yeah we can thank Steve Jobs for this. Grrrrrr Last edited by boswd; 05-23-2010 at 03:07 PM. |
Advert | |
|
05-23-2010, 01:37 PM | #96 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 420
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Bay, California
Device: Nook
|
<< as far as the title of this thread is concerened is that true anymore? I spend over 30 mins. comparing books to Kindles price and found them all to be the exact same price. >>
This may be true in part because Amazon is being forced by publishers to conform. But I still haven't found a good answer to why some publishers (e.g. Penguin) are forcing outrageous prices for certain ebooks. As a Sci Fi fan, my favorite example is Maelstrom by Taylor Anderson. When the paperback edition was released the ebook price was not reduced from $18.99. Instead, the ebook price went up to $24.95. Amazon is offering the ebook for $6.29 and is showing both their price and publisher listed price on the same page. Maelstrom (Kindle Edition) by TAYLOR ANDERSON (Author) Digital List Price: $24.95 What's this? (Digital List Price is the suggested retail price set by the publisher) Print List Price: $7.99 Kindle Price: $6.29 Amazon is probably taking a loss on this book. But why is this happening? My opinion is that Penguin wants to discourage the sales of the ebook. I don't know if this is an isolated case or a more general trend. Last edited by dugong; 05-23-2010 at 01:46 PM. |
05-23-2010, 02:47 PM | #97 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 420
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Bay, California
Device: Nook
|
I have found part of the answer regarding the pricing for "Maelstrom" - I think. The retail price listed by the publisher is $24.95 and that is the price you will pay at Ebooks.com, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, etc - except Amazon.
But the publisher is offering the same ebook title for $6.99 at its own site, (http://us.penguingroup.com/) where I just bought an epub copy. I'd still like to know more about whats going on. Is this a war? If so, who are the contenders? What is the battlefield? the objectives? What are the strategies & tactics? Who's winning? What does it mean for the buyer of ebooks? |
05-23-2010, 03:33 PM | #98 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 420
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Bay, California
Device: Nook
|
Here's a followup after buying Maelstrom from Penguin.
I bought a copy in epub format for $6.99 from Penguin, but I failed to read the warning in the fine print. I can read it on my laptop using Adobe reader, but it can't be read on my Nook. The file is DRM protected. I'd have to do something illegal to be able to read it anywhere but on my laptop. I can buy a used paperback for $4, But because of a retinal problem, I'm loosing the ability to read small print. I prefer the option of enlarging the typesize. Also, the backlit screen on the laptop is no good for prolonged use. I may have to wait until the whole price thing is reasonably resolved. Hopefully I will still have my eyesight then. |
05-23-2010, 05:30 PM | #99 | |
Guru
Posts: 822
Karma: 2000000
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: The Netherlands
Device: Kobo Aura One
|
Quote:
As for the lower price of Amazon. Amazon still has no new contract with Penguin. Because of that they are not allowed to sell Penguin books released after April 1. But they are allowed to sell older Penguin books under the old model, while other bookstores have to use the fixed prices of the agency model. |
|
05-24-2010, 01:04 AM | #100 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 26
Karma: 420
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: East Bay, California
Device: Nook
|
Thank you Geertm.
Your suggestion worked. I feel I have a little more power over this thing - and certainly more options. |
05-24-2010, 09:59 AM | #101 | |
Guru
Posts: 822
Karma: 2000000
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: The Netherlands
Device: Kobo Aura One
|
Quote:
There are a lot of unhappy Kindle users at the moment who cannot buy Penquin books released after April 1. They have nowhere to go! |
|
05-24-2010, 12:38 PM | #102 |
Banned
Posts: 2,391
Karma: 1001781
Join Date: May 2010
Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X
|
yup, that was reason #2 I chose the Nook over the Kindle.
|
05-24-2010, 06:23 PM | #103 | |
.
Posts: 3,408
Karma: 5647231
Join Date: Oct 2008
Device: never enough
|
Quote:
|
|
05-26-2010, 10:38 PM | #104 |
Evangelist
Posts: 487
Karma: 344188
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon, USA
Device: Verizon Ellipsis Tablit w/Kindle and Nook apps.
|
recently read "The Cardturner," by Louis Sachar. Happily, I found the ebook downloadable from our local library. B&N is selling the hardcover for $8.99, and not selling the EPUB at all. Amazon at least is not charging more tfor the digital book than the dead tree format.
http://www.inkmesh.com/ebooks/cardtu...y+Louis+Sachar Hey, Sony! $12.59? Really? |
06-02-2010, 09:30 PM | #105 | |
Connoisseur
Posts: 87
Karma: 12170
Join Date: Oct 2009
Device: EZ_ Reader, Nook wifi, Kindle 3G
|
Quote:
Last edited by Avarwen; 06-02-2010 at 09:36 PM. |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
NYT: Apple’s Prices for E-Books May Be Lower Than Expected | ekaser | News | 15 | 02-19-2010 06:29 AM |
Major publisher experiment with radically lower ebook prices | garygibsonsf | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 5 | 10-11-2009 04:24 PM |
? Lower prices at Fictionwise | Boxdoc | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 8 | 08-03-2009 01:35 PM |
Company reduces e-book prices, cites lower costs | Nate the great | News | 0 | 06-02-2009 10:00 PM |
Did Sony Connect lower prices to match Kindle? | jckatz | Sony Reader | 8 | 11-30-2007 08:33 PM |