Quote:
Originally Posted by jbcohen
Another problem that I see is that publishers still see electronic books as an after throught....
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In the US, and especially with the big publishers, I don't think that's the case any more. They may not know fully how to deal with it, or how to change their business, but the majority of people in the industry expect ebooks to make up 50% of the market in just a few years.
Australia may be a bit behind, but they can see what's happening. It won't be long before they catch up to the US.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by jbcohen
Publishers typically target the hardbacks first becuase they cost more than the other formats do and thus they push this format more. Paperbacks are thought of as secondary becuase they cost a little less then the harbacks and thus are a lower priority then hardbacks.
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If I am reading this properly, this is incorrect.
Hardcovers are
higher priced than paperbacks, but barely cost any extra. They are what are known as "high margin" sales. A hardcover usually has a list price around $25 and a paperback of $10-12. However the cost difference between the two is most certainly not $13-$15 per copy.
What you are paying for is
consumer demand. If you want the book the instant it comes out, you will pay a premium because the book is in high demand. After a year, demand is lower, so they issue a different paper edition and lower the price. Getting a nicer package is more icing on the cake. But the reality is you're paying because you bought it sooner.
Publishers have pretty much given up on delaying ebook editions on new books. It's no longer seen as a tertiary format, at least in the US.