I am glad to know that I am not the only one angered by the price difference between Kobo and Amazon!
While, I don't expect the prices to be identical, I would expect them to be similar overall.
Yet, what my friends (who I have given Kobos to), have complained about, is that Kobo has increase prices for it's books signifcantly over the last year - to the point where they have stopped buying any Kobo books or using their Kobo's.
To take one set of examples . . .
Whoever decided to set Kobo Books Canadian Prices for
a) Paul Doherty's "Book Of Fires" at CAD$22.19 vs Amazon.ca at $15.21
or
b) Most of Bernard Knight's "Crowner John" Series at CAD $22.19 (vs Amazon.ca at CAD
- whereas Amazon.ca are pricing these books at CAD $8.99-$16.99
. . . is either an idiot, an agent working for Amazon . . . . or reflecting a level of sheer greed that maybe they should pursue a career in banking!!!
Why is "The Awful Secret" by Bernard Knight being sold by Amazon.ca for "only" CAD$8.66 for the Kindle?? yet is being sold by Kobo books at almost 3 times the price for the Kobo - at CAD $22.31!!!
Has the cost of expense account lunches gone up THAT much in "the centre of the Universe" ??- sorry, I meant Toronto - for our non Canadian forum readers..
Unfortunately, I have recently seen that in virtually every case for my favourite medieval mystery writers, the prices of their books have been dramatically increased from (around $11.99 a year or so ago, to $15 -$25) this year!!!
- and NO the change in the Foreign Exchange Rate for the US Dollar would NOT suffice as an excuse!
I am pretty sure the AUTHORS aren't getting the increase or benefits of the higher prices from Kobo, so what is the justification of these rip-of prices from Kobo?
What is happening is that I will start avoiding recommending Kobo to any of my friends, since these price levels will only result in irritation or resentment - and the feeling that they have been given a white elephant.
Last year I gave a number of my friends Kobo e-readers as presents, and while they were happy to buy e-books when they were priced less at $9.99 or less, the moment the prices started approaching or even surpassing the cost of the paperback equivalent, they stopped using or buying e-books!
It would seem that Kobo have picked up that level of greed and contempt for their readers that a number of older publishing companies became infamous for years ago.
If there are employees of Kobo Canada reading this, then I'd love to hear WHY the Kobo Canada prices are so high!
One thing is for sure, I will NOT be buying electronic copies of works of fiction at these price levels - from Kobo!
Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.