Quote:
Originally Posted by murraypaul
That was added specifically to head off the argument that is usually made when complaining about prices, that eBooks can't be made very cheap because of all the upfront costs that have to be covered.
|
...and my argument is that prices are based largely on demand, not costs. In fact, the whole idea of "turning a profit" is based on paying off the initial costs, and covering your ongoing costs (royalties, taxes, additional marketing).
Meanwhile, the estate would probably throw a fit if the ebook was priced at $1.99. That not only means less revenue, it also means cheapening the value of one of the most popular authors ever.
I.e. it's largely irrelevant if the book has already earned back all of its costs.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by murraypaul
Really, why not? Is it where I would be buying the books instead.
|
When determining what you are willing to pay, do you compare the cost of a new 2011 BMW 328i to the cost of a 1985 BMW 325i with 75,000 miles on it?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by murraypaul
None of the factors that would make one prefer a new book (better condition, better resale value) apply to eBooks.
|
Yet another reason why it's not a fair comparison.
You
are entitled to say "$7 is more than I'm willing to pay for that ebook," but that still doesn't justify using a 30 year old, yellowed, broken-spined, dog-eared, coffee-stained used mass market paperback as a viable comparison point.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by murraypaul
With any normal product, it would be retailers (who actually deal with customers, after all) who would react to market needs. Here, they can't.
|
Right, now it's the publishers who set the prices and react to market forces.
Don't forget, with ebooks the publishers should be getting sales data almost as fast as the retailers -- and from a more diverse range of sellers. There is no particular reason why they will have any less incentive to adjust prices than a retailer.