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I think Diap makes good valid points. But he ignores the fact that many people make buying decisions based on principle.
"Buy American" because it supports your neighbors/country even though better product can be had for cheaper elsewhere.
"Don't buy from xxxx tuna company" because their nets kill dolphins.
"Buy from a local book store" because those big conglomerates are taking over the world and pushing the little guy out of business even though you can get it cheaper and faster from the big guys.
"Buy brand X" because they use recycled materials even though the quality usually sucks.
Those kinds of decision processes happen all the time.
I happen to think it is wrong for publishers to charge the consumer much more for a product that costs much less to produce.
The story is what is being sold. The story has value. I am willing to pay for the story - and I'm willing to pay more for a story that I really like, that i've waited for, or from a favorite author. Likewise, I know that it costs money to produce that story - to pay for the editor, ePub coder, cover artist, advertiser. That makes the story cost a certain amount/worth a certain value - the "ebook value".
If the publisher has to go through added expense to print and ship that story in paperback form, then I would expect to pay a higher price to get that story as a paperback (ebook value + cost of printing/distribution). If I wanted the story in a "collectible" format (hardcover=better materials/quality) then I would expect to pay even more.
But in no wise does it make sense, to me, to pay more for an ebook than a pbook when the publisher does not have any of those additional expenses.
Therefor, I don't buy ebooks if they are priced higher than the pbook...and they should be a bit lower.
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