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Pinecone · 09-11-2011, 11:39 AM

[QUOTE=cHex;1737769]Why? The same reason I expect that same book still in hardcover to cost MORE--production costs and the I-like-the-smell-of-ink market.

There is a portion of a book's cost that goes to support the author, provide a profit to the publisher, pay editors and marketers and administrative assistants etc.; fine, spread that over all versions of the book, regardless of format. But there is also a portion of the cost that goes to support loggers, paper manufacturers, the development of printing presses, printers, ink suppliers, truckers, delivery services, warehousing, etc.--subtract that from the price of an eBook (and add on the portion needed to support the development of ereaders, internet providers, data warehouses, etc., why not).

If you're worried about cutting into sales of hardcovers and paperbacks, I can understand that. So how about releasing the eBook after the dead tree formats have had their day (or perhaps drop the price below their cost after some length of time). But to charge MORE for the eBook than for a new paperback (other than to clear inventory)?! I don't get it.

Up until this discussion thread, I've been pretty lazy about checking out independent authors/publishers; but this has motivated me to "vote with my dollars" (nod to another thread somewhere on these forums) and see if I can't find some of them I enjoy as much as (or more than) the mass-market giants I've been buying. Just as Amazon helped put Borders out of business, and Borders helped put mom-and-pop bookstores out of business, and books helped put scribes out of business, I'm wondering if independent publishers might someday put the Agencies out of business.[/QUOTE}

THIS WILL BE ABOUT GENERAL EBOOK PRICING.

It has been stated elsewhere that the production cost of a hardback is about $2 more than a paper back. So you support them WAY overcharging for hardbacks?

I agree, the ebooks should be cheaper, as they do not have to print, warehouse, ship, handle, etc physical objects.

And based on pre-Agency pricing, they are. If Kobo could sell an ebook for $5, then Agency pricing requires that same book to be sold at $12 (based on the numbers from another thread), doesn't this say that it really does cost less to get an ebook out to a buyer? And who gets that extra money now?

Also isn't price fixing or collusion to fix prices illegal in the US? Didn't the courts strike down the ability of a supplier to set the prices for items, like about 45 years ago?

OTOH, as 3G readers become more common, the ebook price has got to cover the cost of the 3G connection. At least wifi don't cost the seller anything. If you root a Nook Color and use it as a tablet, who pays for the data?

09-11-2011, 11:39 AM	#107
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	[QUOTE=cHex;1737769]Why? The same reason I expect that same book still in hardcover to cost MORE--production costs and the I-like-the-smell-of-ink market. There is a portion of a book's cost that goes to support the author, provide a profit to the publisher, pay editors and marketers and administrative assistants etc.; fine, spread that over all versions of the book, regardless of format. But there is also a portion of the cost that goes to support loggers, paper manufacturers, the development of printing presses, printers, ink suppliers, truckers, delivery services, warehousing, etc.--subtract that from the price of an eBook (and add on the portion needed to support the development of ereaders, internet providers, data warehouses, etc., why not). If you're worried about cutting into sales of hardcovers and paperbacks, I can understand that. So how about releasing the eBook after the dead tree formats have had their day (or perhaps drop the price below their cost after some length of time). But to charge MORE for the eBook than for a new paperback (other than to clear inventory)?! I don't get it. Up until this discussion thread, I've been pretty lazy about checking out independent authors/publishers; but this has motivated me to "vote with my dollars" (nod to another thread somewhere on these forums) and see if I can't find some of them I enjoy as much as (or more than) the mass-market giants I've been buying. Just as Amazon helped put Borders out of business, and Borders helped put mom-and-pop bookstores out of business, and books helped put scribes out of business, I'm wondering if independent publishers might someday put the Agencies out of business.[/QUOTE} THIS WILL BE ABOUT GENERAL EBOOK PRICING. It has been stated elsewhere that the production cost of a hardback is about $2 more than a paper back. So you support them WAY overcharging for hardbacks? I agree, the ebooks should be cheaper, as they do not have to print, warehouse, ship, handle, etc physical objects. And based on pre-Agency pricing, they are. If Kobo could sell an ebook for $5, then Agency pricing requires that same book to be sold at $12 (based on the numbers from another thread), doesn't this say that it really does cost less to get an ebook out to a buyer? And who gets that extra money now? Also isn't price fixing or collusion to fix prices illegal in the US? Didn't the courts strike down the ability of a supplier to set the prices for items, like about 45 years ago? OTOH, as 3G readers become more common, the ebook price has got to cover the cost of the 3G connection. At least wifi don't cost the seller anything. If you root a Nook Color and use it as a tablet, who pays for the data?