Quote:
Originally Posted by leebase
When you are thinking of markets and not individual books, it is a "this or that" scenario. New books have a ton of competition already. From other new books, from last year's new books, from the classics, and TV, Movies, the internet etc.
|
No, you really don't have competition from those other things when a buyer is ready to buy books. It's all about giving the buyer something that entices them AT TIME OF PURCHASE. If I'm in the bookstore with 10 dollars, I'd rather buy two books than one. So I might look a little harder at the cheaper selections to find two book UNLESS I'm there for a "must have--just came out." And that is non-existent for me these days. I get on a library waiting list if that is the case or wait for the inevitable used copies to show up. I do buy new copies, but once it hits about 8 dollars, I simply don't. I can find them on the used circuit or the library.
Give me two five dollar books and I'll buy them both and feel good about it--and come back for more.
Quote:
|
Of those who choose to entertain themselves by reading -- do you really want to offer them MORE material at marginal or no profit potential to you?
|
No one knows whether the profit is none or marginal. Lots of assumptions are being made but if a publisher sells enough copies, it's going to add into some decent profit.
Quote:
|
And why have folks never been all that angry that the cheap MMPB is never released at the same time as the hard back? That's the "who can blame them" I was talking about. It makes perfect sense to put out your most expensive and profitable version first, and to withhold all other versions until after the sales for the premium product have had their run.
|
I have always despaired that the paperback copy took so long to come out. And sadly, I was rarely in a position to buy the hardback. Thus it was the library, used book stores--or in most cases, I waited. I'm not kidding. I waited a long time for some books and in the meantime, I was buying used or other paperback books.
[quote]
When a new book in a series comes out, publisher typically will put out the paper backs in new editions of the earlier books in the series -- caching in on the attention the new book is bringing and ringing up more sales and profits for themselves. But these new books, though cheaper than the new release hard back -- are priced like all the other new release paper backs. They aren't sold for cheap just because the book has been out awhile. And this never seemed to bother people before.
[\quote]
Nope, not true. Publishers do not 'typically" put out older books in the series. They can be darned hard to find. The only reason you'll see them is IF the publishers decides the older copies warrant an additional printing. There are loads of articles on this. It may appear that the publisher is putting out copies, but in reality, if there are copies available, bookstores may try to get copies in from the warehouse--not from new printings.
Older books in a series can be hard to come by if a reprinting isn't done--and believe me there are loads of complaints from people who are unable to find the "first and second." Nowadays with Amazon's used category it's a lot easier. But I well-remember the day I'd find a book in the store, go to the counter and ask about the first or second --and be told they couldn't get it in because it was no longer in print.
Times are changing, but the point is, I don't think large publishers are spending much energy to see where to put their efforts. That's really okay with me--but instead of saying, "We don't want to bother to sell at 5 bucks and if that is all the market will bear, forget it." They need to say, "We need to find a way to make money at 5 bucks a copy."
But that's just my opinion. I have to do what works for me.