Quote:
Originally Posted by darryl
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.
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Excuse me? Read again. I am saying that the ebook at its most expensive should be priced at the hardcover book MINUS the cost of printing and storing for that hardcover book. It is probably not costing a whole $5 to print a hardcover book, so the ebook is not quite reaching $9.99 at launch, but closer to about $11.50 when the hardcover is at $14.99.
And I was comparing features of an ebook which makes its value a certain point. It also makes sense that after a while when the paperback comes out, that the ebook automatically becomes cheaper since it is old. It is still 100% exactly the same, except it does not smell new any more (metaphorically speaking).
And, doh, of course I am against agency pricing. That is why I said
suggested retail price. If it sells at that price (hardcover minus printing / storing), the publisher will make the exact same profit as the hardcover book per each unit. It is even better, as there is no risk - every ebook in stock that does not sell does not need to be pulped. Leftover pbooks have to be destroyed, since it is cheaper than trying to sell them. Otherwise you lose even more money on them.