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In most things we buy we pay some regard to the price we are paying and the value we are getting for our money. The usual way to place a monetary value on something is to look at the same thing selling elsewhere or something reasonably close. In this case the product is essentially the written word itself differently packaged. Each package has its own unique characteristics which should be reflected in the price. Of these ebooks are by far the cheapest to produce and distribute. On this basis they should be cheaper than the other formats and significantly so. This does not mean that they will always be the cheapest. Mass Market Paperbacks often end up in remainder bins where they attract a fraction of their retail price. This is a basic operation of supply and demand. Hard Covers too can end up selling at significant discounts for the same reasons. This of course need not happen with ebooks where supply and demand usually coincide, though of course ebooks are, at least currently, often discounted or even given away for marketing reasons. But, these events aside, I expect that an ebook be significantly cheaper than the Mass Market Paperback version. I don't object to a premium for a time on new releases, though once again the ebook should be significantly cheaper in my view. That it often is not is because the Big 5 seem to be pricing by reference to the prices of the other formats, with a view to making the ebook less attractive. This, depite the fact that the profit margin on the ebook is much higher. If the ebook does sell at the inflated price then the Big 5 make a windfall profit.
So, whilst I am not interested in buying print books, mainly because of my eyesight deteriorating with age, I do want what I consider good value for my money. And the best way to determine this is by reference to these formats which, despite my lack of interest in them, are increasing my ebook prices as the Big 5 attempt to steer sales away from Amazon and through the Network they essentially monopolise.
I do not intend to reward the bad behaviour of a cartel of greedy traditional publishers. Fortunately, from the author earnings reports and some posts here, it appears that I am not alone.
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