Quote:
Originally Posted by DuckieTigger
Devalues ebooks? Ebooks devalue themselves automatically once the mmpb enters. How come the exact same ebook is now worth less money? If it isn't dirty price fixing. The mistake enters when you actually believe that an ebook is the exact same thing as a hardcover book. It is the same, but only until the paperback comes out. Then it is the same as a paperback. The true value is the exact same as a hardcover, but then after a while the true value changes to the paperback? That does not make any sense. The true value of an ebook is somewhere inbetween. It is durable like a hardcover, but it is portable like a paperback. Most ereaders or phones take up less space and weight than a paperback. When you buy a hardcover you pay for two things - the better quality of the book itself compared to paperback and early access. With an ebook you only get the early access, thus it is only one benefit over the paperback. If all is fair, than the ebook should be exactly cheaper by the amount of the per unit price of the hardcover book (printing and storing). More than likely the ebook still won't be quite $9.99 suggested retail price if the hardcover suggested retail is $14.99. But then it should be at the retailers discretion to discount.
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No. It is a mistake to value EBooks by comparison with PBooks. I personally will probably never buy another PBook. In fact, I think the day is coming when most Print Books are printed on demand, particularly if print technology becomes cheaper. The print book analogy is all about trying to justify charging print book prices for EBooks. I find it hard to take your suggestion seriously that ebooks be priced by reference to "per unit price of a hardcover book, including
printing and
storage".
And finally, since you agree that it should be at the retailer's discretion to discount, logically you must oppose Agency Pricing, since this takes such a decision outside of the hands of the retailer and places it into the hands of the publisher.