[Sil_liS]

Kali, are you a publisher or a retailer? You are saying that you know more about the cost of books than me. You don't quote anybody on the values. You just know.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

OK then, time for a quick lesson in retail.

I don't think that I need one, but fine.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

1) Generally speaking, the publishers make more profits off of hardcovers than paperbacks. Again, a paperback might cost $1.50 to manufacture and a hardcover $2.00, even though the hardcover's list price is twice that of the paperback. The publishers often make more money off of hardcovers than paperbacks.

There are three sentences. I didn't argue with the one in the middle, and the other two are almost the same thing, except the first time you say "generally", and he second time you say "often". And please give a quote, because in this article, the statement is "Moreover, in the current print model, publishers can recoup many of their costs, and start to make higher profits, on paperback editions."

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

2) It is absolutely normal for the retail price to be significantly higher that of the wholesale price; a 100% markup is actually outstanding these days. Retail markups are how the retailers are actually able to survive.

I'm not sure that you actually read what I wrote. I don't have a problem with the fact that there is a retail price, I have a problem with the fact that the publishers say (in the article that I quoted before) that *because* they give a 50% discount, they are barely making any profit. If it isn’t profitable, then don't do it.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

3) Amazon may get a break on wholesale prices compared to a one-store independent bookstore, but not a better price than Borders, B&N or other large stores. (Too much of a break could easily veer into anti-competitive behavior.) Their main advantages are the efficiencies they can come up with in terms of inventory management, the lack of paying for physical stores and staff, advertising, branding, and better lines of credit.

I gave Amazon as an example; I did say big retailers in what you quoted. Did you even read that?
And all the advantages that you mention are only for pbooks. Ebooks would make everyone if not equal, at least level some of the differences.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

People don't want a 10% price break. They want a 50% or greater price break, as evidenced by demanding that no ebook be more than $10 -- no matter how long the book has been out. Again, as Thompson pointed out, most people erroneously believe the paper portion constitutes a huge chunk of a book's cost, but that is no longer the case.

First of all don't call it a price break. If it is missing from the costs, then it shouldn't be in the price. And you keep forgetting that we still need a reader for an ebook. Since we are paying for displaying the ebook, then why should we pay for the price of the corresponding printed paper?

And most people buy paperbacks. They are going to want to pay 10% less than the price of the paperback. I know that you are saying that when there is only the hardcover, then the price should be comparable to that, but the problem is that after the paperback is out, the price won't come down.
And Thompson didn't talk with readers. I like to see facts, and the fact is that Thompson is selling a 5 year old hardcover at 3 times the price of the paperback. According to your logic, the hardcover must be in high demand.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Most of which is normally the responsibility of the book distributors and retailers (not the publishers). And it's not that big.

How big is it on the publisher side? You know, not only sending the book to the retailer, but also getting back the ones that weren't sold.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

So, just so we're clear on this: You don't seem to know much about publisher's real costs, you don't know yet how retail markups work, you don't know shipping costs. Publishers and retailers pretty much know these things, and attempt to use their knowledge to set the prices -- albeit with very different agendas.

I know what I read about the publishers real costs. The only reason why they aren't saying more is because it would actually show how much money they are making. I have bought things in bulk a few times so I know the concept. And shipping costs are attached to some purchases on the buyer side as well.

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

And yet, you believe you know what the right price ought to be for ebooks?

Yes, less than the pbook.