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Slothful Publishers?
I've recently noticed an odd trend. Big publishers, after getting the right to overprice their ebooks, have been phasing in their library-edition/trade/MMP/ebook schedules in an odd manner. The problem for them is that this leads to a sufficiently long wait that the local library copy of the hardcover is easily available. Since I cross reference my Amazon wishlist for Kindle books with the local library's catalog periodically, I've read several recent paper book releases just as one of several online services (BookBub, eReaderIQ) breathlessly informs me of a wonderful deal on the book I just read.
Has anyone else noticed this? I suspect this can lead to the publishers recent complaints of lower ebook sales. No kidding, publishers--don't sell me your wares when I'm in a buying mood and don't be surprised if you miss a sale.
In a countervailing note, I noticed a serious non-fiction publisher (OR Books) that just sells books on their web site with no silly buggers. Want a hardcover, a paperback, an e-book?. Sure, just send money and they'll send it to you. I almost made an impulse buy based only on sheer shock. In the past, only Baen seemed able to figure out they should take the customer's money and run.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
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