Quote:
Originally Posted by FizzyWater
It's frustrating that the argument here always seems to boil down to an all-or-nothing mentality. I don't think a book someone worked on for months, that has had adequate editing, that has a cover that actually hints at what's in it and catches the eye, is only worth $1.
I don't think everyone on this thread, let alone on this forum, thinks all ebooks should be almost free or completely free. There are those who do, but it's not everyone. I really believe that most people in this argument have a moderate view on what a book's value is worth.
My frustration - and I can only speak for mine - is that publishers want me to pay differently for an ebook that the print book. Hell, I was ticked off when publishers started using trade paper books as an intermediary between hardback and MMPB. I don't think ANY fiction book is worth $26 or even $15. My personal "sweet-spot" for the average-length fiction story is $5-$6, but I'm happy to pay less if I can get a nice deal and have been known to pay more if I want it NOW and don't want to wait for it to have a deal or come down to a MMPB price.
If I can walk into Wal-Mart or Target and buy a book at 25% off cover, I want the same for my ebooks. Or at least, I want that opportunity, depending on where I shop for ebooks. There is value added in ebooks, but there is also value taken away IMO, so to me, the difference in format doesn't justify a regular 20-25% increase in real costs to me.
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Well, I think the point may be that $5-6 for an immersive reading experience of 8-10 hours may be too low to to sustain a corps of professional writers. How much would you be willing to pay for a movie, an album, a concert, a play, a sporting event? Seems to me if you are willing a kick out $10 or more for a movie or album and maybe $50 or more for a play, then $10-15 for a well written fiction book isn't really out of the ballpark.
A look at Amazon's page for well received novel " The Night Circus" reveals this:
Quote:
Print List Price: $26.95
Kindle Price: $12.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: $13.96 (52%)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
This price was set by the publisher
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Length: 401 pages
X-Ray: Enabled
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
Formats Amazon Price New from Used from
Expand Collapse Kindle Edition -- $12.99 --
Expand Collapse Hardcover $14.95 $10.95 $10.95
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Expand Collapse Paperback -- $12.62 $16.83
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Expand Collapse Audio, CD, Audiobook, Unabridged $29.70 $24.97 $26.68
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Expand Collapse Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $26.95 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial
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Its a bit unclear from the quote but the hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook versions all have different prices. Note that the heavily discounted hardcover price is HIGHER than the Kindle price and that the audiobook price is much higher than the Kindle price, although both come in digital form . There's never been a situation where the versions of a book all have the same price.
Speaking for myself, I've found the ebooks I buy are consistently cheaper than the hardcover versions and usually the paperback versions.
Again, this is not to say that the publishers price ebooks perfectly in all circumstances. They don't. What I am saying, though, is that people here seem to consistently assume that because something comes in ebook form it must be priced than even used book prices, regardless of who wrote it or even it came out.