Why so pricy?

Fred Fish · 12-09-2009, 07:45 AM

This really isnt a whinge - I really do want to know if there is a legitimate reason for ebook versions of print books costing so much more than their paper based counterparts.....

I was looking at the WHSmiths site here in the UK today, and so many of their EBooks are 30% - 40% more than paperback versions of the same book (Example - Now then lad by Mike Pennett £9.61 ebook or £6.10 paperback). OK so I know I dont have to pay delivery charges and I can read the book stright away, but is it really more expensive to distribute Ebook versions of a book?

Regards

John

HarryT · 12-09-2009, 08:50 AM

One factor - although certainly not the only one - is that eBooks are subject to the standard rate of VAT, while paper books are zero rated.

Sweetpea · 12-09-2009, 08:52 AM

Also, I noticed that most prices are linked to the hardcover price, not the paperback...

Penforhire · 12-09-2009, 11:25 AM

We had a lot of debate around here but I think all of us believe e-books cost the publisher no more than paper books. There may or may not be a majority of us who believe they cost significantly less. But the price of anything in an unregulated market is what the market will bear. Based only on price, it appears to me most publishers are not encouraging readers to purchase e-books.

calvin-c · 12-09-2009, 12:48 PM

In the other debate on this, people have also pointed out (frequently) that printing & distribution is a very minor part of the cost of publishing a book. Which doesn't explain why ebooks are priced *higher* that paper books, only why they aren't priced lower. For an explanation of why they are so often priced higher, I tend to agree with Penforhire.

Direct Ebooks · 12-10-2009, 04:53 AM

It is also worth remembering that it is the publishers who set the prices for us retailers. Even when we discount a title, that discount comes out of our cut of the Suggested Retail Price, not out of the publishers.

On the plus side, I have been speaking to many publishers in the last number of months and there is a growing feeling that the prices of eBooks need to drop, with many feeling that the 9.99 price is as low as they would go for now. I think you'll agree that even that would be a step in the right direction.

nick101 · 12-10-2009, 07:33 AM

Publishers are charging what they think the market will bear. They believe that early adopters of e-reading will be prepared t pay a premium, as is normally the case with early adopters (as witness the price we pay for the hardware).

Once ebooks become mainstream, the dynamics that have forced down prices of paper books will begin to take hold - by which I mean price competition on best-sellers, pressure on publishers to do deals with major retailers, and (unfortunately) a squeezing of margins for smaller and specialist retailers.

12-09-2009, 07:45 AM	#1
Fred Fish Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: PRS 505	Why so pricy? This really isnt a whinge - I really do want to know if there is a legitimate reason for ebook versions of print books costing so much more than their paper based counterparts..... I was looking at the WHSmiths site here in the UK today, and so many of their EBooks are 30% - 40% more than paperback versions of the same book (Example - Now then lad by Mike Pennett £9.61 ebook or £6.10 paperback). OK so I know I dont have to pay delivery charges and I can read the book stright away, but is it really more expensive to distribute Ebook versions of a book? Regards John

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Display 2008: E-Paper in "57 flavor-packed varieties" / FLEPia still pricy	Alexander Turcic	News	5	04-17-2008 01:39 PM

12-09-2009, 08:50 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	One factor - although certainly not the only one - is that eBooks are subject to the standard rate of VAT, while paper books are zero rated.

12-09-2009, 08:52 AM	#3
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Also, I noticed that most prices are linked to the hardcover price, not the paperback...

12-09-2009, 11:25 AM	#4
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	We had a lot of debate around here but I think all of us believe e-books cost the publisher no more than paper books. There may or may not be a majority of us who believe they cost significantly less. But the price of anything in an unregulated market is what the market will bear. Based only on price, it appears to me most publishers are not encouraging readers to purchase e-books.

12-09-2009, 12:48 PM	#5
calvin-c Guru Posts: 787 Karma: 1575310 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Moon+ Pro	In the other debate on this, people have also pointed out (frequently) that printing & distribution is a very minor part of the cost of publishing a book. Which doesn't explain why ebooks are priced higher that paper books, only why they aren't priced lower. For an explanation of why they are so often priced higher, I tend to agree with Penforhire.

12-10-2009, 04:53 AM	#6
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	It is also worth remembering that it is the publishers who set the prices for us retailers. Even when we discount a title, that discount comes out of our cut of the Suggested Retail Price, not out of the publishers. On the plus side, I have been speaking to many publishers in the last number of months and there is a growing feeling that the prices of eBooks need to drop, with many feeling that the 9.99 price is as low as they would go for now. I think you'll agree that even that would be a step in the right direction.

12-10-2009, 07:33 AM	#7
nick101 Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 1248 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milton Keynes UK Device: Sony PRS-600 Touch, iPhone	Publishers are charging what they think the market will bear. They believe that early adopters of e-reading will be prepared t pay a premium, as is normally the case with early adopters (as witness the price we pay for the hardware). Once ebooks become mainstream, the dynamics that have forced down prices of paper books will begin to take hold - by which I mean price competition on best-sellers, pressure on publishers to do deals with major retailers, and (unfortunately) a squeezing of margins for smaller and specialist retailers.

Advert

Advert