Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Let me ask those people who think that eBooks are too expensive a question:
The standard price for a paperback book in the UK is £7.99 (about $12.30); that's what you'll pay in any physical bookshop.
What would you consider to be a reasonable price for the corresponding eBook, assuming it to be nicely formatted, error-free, etc?
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Just because that's the standard price (list, discounted, what?) doesn't mean any individual consumer thinks that is a fair price. Everyone has their own utility curve. Personally, that's too damn high for a couple of hours of entertainment. However, if we're talking Wheel of Time length novels for $12.30, then we have a deal.
Tangent: I've noticed that I prefer longer and longer books with the switch to ereading.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan
Seriously, as long as most consumers display similar inflexibility over prices, I don't see how publishers can satisfy them anyway. If they drop the price, there will always be those who insist it be lower. As I said before, this is a 2-way street, and consumers can't just barricade their end.
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Yes, they can. The consumers have the money, and everyone else is trying to convince the consumer why they should spend those limited funds on THAT product. The consumer can simply decide that they don't care enough about books to buy any this year. They can substitute entertainment with internet forums, TV, video games, theater movies, plays, etc. There are many goods/services all vying for the same money and time. Netflix at $7.99 a month for all-you-can-watch streamed movies is a much better deal, or many other goods such as free books from your local library.
It is the SELLER's responsibility to convince as many consumers as possible to buy their good/service. It is NOT the consumer's responsibility to spend money because someone else wants it.
It's about time the publishers and associated authors remembered ECON 101.