Help us find Sony store prices that are out of whack

Bob Russell · 10-09-2006, 03:58 PM

There have been observations that a few of the Connect online store e-book prices seem oddly out of line. We would like your help in compiling a list of these titles to pass on to Sony. (Thanks to Morbius for the idea.) No promises that anything will come of it, but surely Sony doesn't want their book prices to be set at prices that are not reasonable.

As the list grows, I will pass it to Sony for their consideration. If prices really are out of line, they might be able to work with the publishers on the price. There's no way to tell what Sony may or may not do with the list, or if publishers will want to work with Sony on pricing, but it seems to be in the best interest of everyone - customers, Sony and the publishers.

NOTE:This thread is NOT to be used for discussion of the store or pricing or general complaints about pricing. You can express those views here.

Please provide all the relevant information for the book and pricing. Maybe that info like this is one way to start...
* Title
* Author
* Sony Connect price
* Competitor's price (Amazon, eReader, MobiPocket, etc)
* Is it available in paperback?

Links would be nice also. I'm sure a pattern will evolve as to how to best report these.

Remember that we're looking for prices that look out of whack, and might be a mistake, not a discussion of pricing or whether e-books are priced too high in general!

lordvetinari2 · 10-09-2006, 06:04 PM

1. Anansi Boys
2. Neil Gaiman
3. $16
4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8
5: Paperback

1. Coraline
2. Neil Gaiman
3. $10
4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $6
5: Paperback

1. Thud!
2. Terry Pratchett
3. $16
4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8
4. Paperback

1. Ilium
2. Dan Simmons
3. $16
4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8
5: Paperback

1. Radiant
2. James Alan Gardner
3. $15
4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8
5. Paperback

1. Exile's Return
2. Raymond E. Feist
3. $16
3. Mobipocket , Amazon: $8
5. Paperback

tekchic · 10-09-2006, 06:32 PM

1. Salem Falls
2. Jodi Picoult
3. $19
4. eReader: $8.99
5. Paperback

Mohit25 · 10-09-2006, 08:16 PM

1776 by David McCullough

Amazon: USD 10.80
Sony: USD 13.59

NatCh · 10-09-2006, 11:32 PM

Well butter my backside and call me a biscuit! I was just doing some spot checking and Anansi Boys has dropped to $6.39! In fact, they all seem to have dropped now.

Told ya Sony monitors this forum!

Morbius · 10-10-2006, 12:21 AM

Didn't have time to do a lot of looking tonight, but here's some of the more serious "pricing errors" I was able to find:

1. The Truth (with jokes)
2. Al Franken
3. Sony price : $20.76
4. Amazon.Com : $10.20, BN.Com : $12.15
5: Paperback

1. Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
2. Al Franken
3. Sony price : $20.76
4. Amazon.Com : $10.78, BN.Com : $12.60
5: Paperback

1. The Book on Bush : How George W. (Mis)leads America
2. Eric Alterman, Mark J. Green
3. Sony price : $12.00
4. Amazon.Com : $4.50
5: Paperback

1. Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
2. Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
3. Sony price : $22.36
4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BM.Com: $7.19
5: Paperback

lordvetinari2 · 10-10-2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Well butter my backside and call me a biscuit! I was just doing some spot checking and Anansi Boys has dropped to $6.39! In fact, they all seem to have dropped now.

Told ya Sony monitors this forum!

Impressive. Well done, Sony!

lordvetinari2 · 10-10-2006, 09:03 AM

Regarding categories, The Books of Magic should be at the graphic novels section (not fantasy), while Gibson's Neuromancer, Dick's Valis and The Divine Invasion, Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Star Trek New Frontier should be at the sci-fi (not fantasy).

Sometimes the line between sci-fi and fantasy is blurry, but these cases are kind of obvious.

igorsk · 10-10-2006, 09:31 AM

They also have quite some Sci-fi and Fantasy in the Astronomy section.

Morbius · 10-10-2006, 01:19 PM

And....here's another list I was able to put together today, where Sony's prices seem way out of line. So in spite of some of the titles changing price, there still seems to be lots that don't make sense.

Actually, while compiling this latest list, I came up with what seems to be a pretty easy way to find mis-priced titles....simply pick a category, and start paging through the thumbnails, looking for anything in the $15-$20+ range. Invariably, I'm able to find paperback pricing for those titles on Amazon or Barnes and Nobel. So I think a good thing for Sony to do (rather than having us try to search all these out) would be to have their own folks just scan their database for books in that price range, and compare that list to paperback pricing/availability. I think they'd find where all their problems are!

Anyway Bob, as their still seem to be lots of overpriced titles, I'm hoping you'll still provide the lists supplied here to Sony, rather than assume they've fixed everything! And thanks for doing this! Here's my latest list:

1. The Dark Tower (book 7)
2. Stephen King
3. Sony price : $19.99
4. Amazon.Com : $9.99, BN.Com : $13.64
5: Paperback

1. Dead as a Doornail
2. Charlaine Harris
3. Sony price : $18.36
4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19
5: Paperback

1. Bag of Bones
2. Stephen King
3. Sony price : $22.40
4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19
5: Paperback

1. Goliath
2. Steve Allen
3. Sony price : $22.40
4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19
5: Paperback

1. The Last Vampire
2. Whitley Strieber
3. Sony price : $19.96
4. Amazon.Com : $6.99
5: Paperback

1. Are Men Necessary?
2. Maureen Dowd
3. Sony price : $20.76
4. Amazon.Com : $10.20, BN.Com : $12.15
5: Paperback

1. Without Mercy
2. Jack Higgins
3. Sony price : $20.76
4. Amazon.Com : $9.99, BN.Com : $8.99
5: Paperback

1. Cell: A Novel by
2. Stephen King
3. Sony price : $13.59
4. Amazon.Com : $9.99
5: Paperback

Bob Russell · 10-10-2006, 01:40 PM

Thanks Morbius!

Of course, I'll be glad to make sure Sony sees the list every so often. Can't promise that they will always change prices, of course, but it's obviously is good to have that info available for them. Hopefully, as you suggest, they are looking at long term solutions to the pricing anomalies. Depending on the information and people that are available, plus maybe other circumstances like if there is any interaction with publishers (although Jane was suggesting they might not need to be in the loop), it might either be easy or hard to fix.

Regardless of whether they can continue to move prices, it'still pretty amazing that a company like Sony would even show this kind of interest in issues like this! I think the desire to get things right is half the battle.

ojleblanc · 10-10-2006, 10:04 PM

1. The Rehnquist Choice
2. John Dean
3. Sony price: $20.80
4. Mobipocket and eReader : $9.99
5. Paperback

Chimpmanzee · 10-11-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordvetinari2

Regarding categories, The Books of Magic should be at the graphic novels section (not fantasy),

Actually, the "The Books of Magic" series probably is better off in the fantasy section...these are novelizations of the graphic novels...not the graphic novels themselves...here is a link to Amazon.com listing for the first volume:

Books of Magic #1: The Invitation at Amazon

- ChimpManZee

lordvetinari2 · 10-11-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpmanzee

Actually, the "The Books of Magic" series probably is better off in the fantasy section...these are novelizations of the graphic novels...not the graphic novels themselves...

Sacrilege!

Bob Russell · 10-11-2006, 09:12 PM

Another one, which I had intended to buy, but of course not at this price:

1. The Patriots Club
2. Christopher Reich
3. Connect $14.36
4. Amazon $7.99
5. Mass Market Paperback

I've put an update and some comments about this in the price discussion thread. (Still trying to keep this thread "clean.")

10-10-2006, 01:19 PM	#10
Morbius Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	And....here's another list I was able to put together today, where Sony's prices seem way out of line. So in spite of some of the titles changing price, there still seems to be lots that don't make sense. Actually, while compiling this latest list, I came up with what seems to be a pretty easy way to find mis-priced titles....simply pick a category, and start paging through the thumbnails, looking for anything in the $15-$20+ range. Invariably, I'm able to find paperback pricing for those titles on Amazon or Barnes and Nobel. So I think a good thing for Sony to do (rather than having us try to search all these out) would be to have their own folks just scan their database for books in that price range, and compare that list to paperback pricing/availability. I think they'd find where all their problems are! Anyway Bob, as their still seem to be lots of overpriced titles, I'm hoping you'll still provide the lists supplied here to Sony, rather than assume they've fixed everything! And thanks for doing this! Here's my latest list: 1. The Dark Tower (book 7) 2. Stephen King 3. Sony price : $19.99 4. Amazon.Com : $9.99, BN.Com : $13.64 5: Paperback 1. Dead as a Doornail 2. Charlaine Harris 3. Sony price : $18.36 4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19 5: Paperback 1. Bag of Bones 2. Stephen King 3. Sony price : $22.40 4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19 5: Paperback 1. Goliath 2. Steve Allen 3. Sony price : $22.40 4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BN.Com : $7.19 5: Paperback 1. The Last Vampire 2. Whitley Strieber 3. Sony price : $19.96 4. Amazon.Com : $6.99 5: Paperback 1. Are Men Necessary? 2. Maureen Dowd 3. Sony price : $20.76 4. Amazon.Com : $10.20, BN.Com : $12.15 5: Paperback 1. Without Mercy 2. Jack Higgins 3. Sony price : $20.76 4. Amazon.Com : $9.99, BN.Com : $8.99 5: Paperback 1. Cell: A Novel by 2. Stephen King 3. Sony price : $13.59 4. Amazon.Com : $9.99 5: Paperback Last edited by Morbius; 10-10-2006 at 11:35 PM.

10-10-2006, 10:04 PM	#12
ojleblanc Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: iPhone/Sony Reader	1. The Rehnquist Choice 2. John Dean 3. Sony price: $20.80 4. Mobipocket and eReader : $9.99 5. Paperback Last edited by ojleblanc; 10-13-2006 at 10:37 PM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Out of Whack Agency Prices - Let's Start a List!	BuddyBoy	General Discussions	0	04-04-2010 11:17 PM
Sony Outlet Store Prices on Refurbs???	advocate2	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	5	08-13-2009 12:51 AM
I can log on to Sony Store, but I can't access the Store	Dr. Drib	Sony Reader	3	04-11-2009 09:05 AM
Have prices gone back up @ Sony Ebook store	Rocketime	Sony Reader	7	04-30-2008 04:51 PM
Why is the Sony eBook store rasing prices?	waptap	Sony Reader	37	01-20-2008 06:08 PM

10-09-2006, 03:58 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Help us find Sony store prices that are out of whack There have been observations that a few of the Connect online store e-book prices seem oddly out of line. We would like your help in compiling a list of these titles to pass on to Sony. (Thanks to Morbius for the idea.) No promises that anything will come of it, but surely Sony doesn't want their book prices to be set at prices that are not reasonable. As the list grows, I will pass it to Sony for their consideration. If prices really are out of line, they might be able to work with the publishers on the price. There's no way to tell what Sony may or may not do with the list, or if publishers will want to work with Sony on pricing, but it seems to be in the best interest of everyone - customers, Sony and the publishers. NOTE:This thread is NOT to be used for discussion of the store or pricing or general complaints about pricing. You can express those views here. Please provide all the relevant information for the book and pricing. Maybe that info like this is one way to start... * Title * Author * Sony Connect price * Competitor's price (Amazon, eReader, MobiPocket, etc) * Is it available in paperback? Links would be nice also. I'm sure a pattern will evolve as to how to best report these. Remember that we're looking for prices that look out of whack, and might be a mistake, not a discussion of pricing or whether e-books are priced too high in general!

10-09-2006, 06:04 PM	#2
lordvetinari2 Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 61 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gijón, Spain Device: Kindle 3G+WiFi & Galaxy Note	1. Anansi Boys 2. Neil Gaiman 3. $16 4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8 5: Paperback 1. Coraline 2. Neil Gaiman 3. $10 4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $6 5: Paperback 1. Thud! 2. Terry Pratchett 3. $16 4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8 4. Paperback 1. Ilium 2. Dan Simmons 3. $16 4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8 5: Paperback 1. Radiant 2. James Alan Gardner 3. $15 4. Mobipocket , Amazon : $8 5. Paperback 1. Exile's Return 2. Raymond E. Feist 3. $16 3. Mobipocket , Amazon: $8 5. Paperback

10-09-2006, 06:32 PM	#3
tekchic Zealot Posts: 105 Karma: 120 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: iPhone X, iPad Pro	1. Salem Falls 2. Jodi Picoult 3. $19 4. eReader: $8.99 5. Paperback

10-09-2006, 08:16 PM	#4
Mohit25 Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader	1776 by David McCullough Amazon: USD 10.80 Sony: USD 13.59

10-09-2006, 11:32 PM	#5
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Well butter my backside and call me a biscuit! I was just doing some spot checking and Anansi Boys has dropped to $6.39! In fact, they all seem to have dropped now. Told ya Sony monitors this forum!

10-10-2006, 12:21 AM	#6
Morbius Member Posts: 10 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Didn't have time to do a lot of looking tonight, but here's some of the more serious "pricing errors" I was able to find: 1. The Truth (with jokes) 2. Al Franken 3. Sony price : $20.76 4. Amazon.Com : $10.20, BN.Com : $12.15 5: Paperback 1. Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them 2. Al Franken 3. Sony price : $20.76 4. Amazon.Com : $10.78, BN.Com : $12.60 5: Paperback 1. The Book on Bush : How George W. (Mis)leads America 2. Eric Alterman, Mark J. Green 3. Sony price : $12.00 4. Amazon.Com : $4.50 5: Paperback 1. Dune: The Butlerian Jihad 2. Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson 3. Sony price : $22.36 4. Amazon.Com : $7.99, BM.Com: $7.19 5: Paperback

10-10-2006, 09:03 AM	#8
lordvetinari2 Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 61 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gijón, Spain Device: Kindle 3G+WiFi & Galaxy Note	Regarding categories, The Books of Magic should be at the graphic novels section (not fantasy), while Gibson's Neuromancer, Dick's Valis and The Divine Invasion, Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Star Trek New Frontier should be at the sci-fi (not fantasy). Sometimes the line between sci-fi and fantasy is blurry, but these cases are kind of obvious.

10-10-2006, 09:31 AM	#9
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	They also have quite some Sci-fi and Fantasy in the Astronomy section.

10-10-2006, 01:40 PM	#11
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Thanks Morbius! Of course, I'll be glad to make sure Sony sees the list every so often. Can't promise that they will always change prices, of course, but it's obviously is good to have that info available for them. Hopefully, as you suggest, they are looking at long term solutions to the pricing anomalies. Depending on the information and people that are available, plus maybe other circumstances like if there is any interaction with publishers (although Jane was suggesting they might not need to be in the loop), it might either be easy or hard to fix. Regardless of whether they can continue to move prices, it'still pretty amazing that a company like Sony would even show this kind of interest in issues like this! I think the desire to get things right is half the battle.

10-11-2006, 09:12 PM	#15
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Another one, which I had intended to buy, but of course not at this price: 1. The Patriots Club 2. Christopher Reich 3. Connect $14.36 4. Amazon $7.99 5. Mass Market Paperback I've put an update and some comments about this in the price discussion thread. (Still trying to keep this thread "clean.")

Advert

Advert