Quote:
Originally Posted by starrigger
Tor has been working for the better part of a year to put together an ebook system, and it's still not ready. (Much to my personal displeasure, I might add.) It's just not as easy as many people think it is.
|
I am not familiar with Tor so I will not comment on their difficulties but S&S and some of the other publishers are establishes and they have a system in place already. It is not as if they have to start from scratch which seems to be the case for Tor. I understand that there are some differences between selling paperback versus eBooks but an infrastructure is in place and biggest of all, no expense on paper which I believe they purchase in huge rolls. That should a preety expense that is saved. Hard drive space is not that much since prices for hard drives are dropping. I see devlopment costs for the system to manage and deploy the eBooks. Modification for existing system to accomodate eBooks sales and distribution and if they wish to offer other formats, then software to accomodate these conversion.
No distribution costs.
No postal charges or supplies to package.
No paper.
I know there has to be more saving here but regardless, I still cannot see cost being more than paperback.