Quote:
Originally Posted by Patricia Ryan
which is good news for all us readers who love great books at cheap prices!
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I think for me---and this is the point I think it is vital for authors to understand, and most don't yet---it is not about 'cheap' prices, so much as it is about fair prices, and fair treatment. For example, with my hard drive crash where I could not re-download the handful of books which had escaped backup. I had bought and paid for these. I am the good customer. I did not pirate them or whatever. But the store was very unsympathetic and just sent me a form email saying there was nothing they could do.
Similarly, with backlist books. Some Stephen King books I was interested in were selling in ebook for a hardback price, and these were a decade and a half old! I understand charging more for a new release to capitalize on the interest and earn back the costs of developing that book, but some of these books were from the 80s! If they are trying to do a snow job on me, that gets my hackles up.
I am not out to deprive authors of a fair price for their work. I respect what they they do. But I am not stupid either
More and more lately, I am giving my money to people who understand that and offer a fair price and respectful treatment. I really don't think the vast majority of people will 'pirate' when treated this way. iTunes has proven that people will pay if it's easy and convenient for them to do so!
What I like about authors re-publishing their backlists is that I can go the 'indie' route as it were, but still get quality, proven books. Sometimes at Smashwords, it starts to feel like the world's biggest slushpile
It's nice to have more authors putting their stuff out in customer-friendly ways who ARE proven successes.