[Timboli]

Originally Posted by darryl

The Big 5 not only have an idea, but they have a strategy. They certainly do have a clue. I don't like their strategy nor do I agree with it.

I totally agree they have ideas and a strategy or three.
What I certainly don't agree with, without further data to that effect, that they have a clue. I just think they have an agenda, whether it is sound or not.

I think at times they have behaved stupidly, getting involved in the ebook conspiracy perhaps the most conspicuous of them. After taking control of prices through agency, they did experience some problems, and still seem to be experimenting with prices. However, they have extensive backlists which they can now monetise thanks to ebooks and POD.

I will agree with the stupidity, and while I have a passing familiarity with the conspiracy, I personally ignored them as spouting nonsense, so did not pay too much attention for very long. That's my bias showing.

It's taken a while, but they have made great progress in making these titles available again as ebooks. They do indeed seem to charge high prices on some backlist titles, but then they do seem to be experimenting with these prices.

I think it is a bad mistake to think there is only one type of bad publisher out there. You have those milking the new ebook regime for all they can get, and those trying to keep physical ebooks on top of the pile ... and no doubt a bunch having a bet each way.

With that in mind, and the filthy profits being made for over-pricing ebooks, is it any wonder that some of them are releasing as many more as they can, with even greater margins of profit ... these are books that have been paid for may times over already. Talking older books here.

[QUOTE]I haven't looked personally but I would not be surprised to see a repeat of their strategy with new releases, where a just re-published backlist book is priced high initially, with later reductions. It is fair to say that some Big 5 pricing is actually competing with Indie pricing, but not when a book is newly released or re-released. Competitive prices come after a time or during sales. Certainly Harry's example of Dick Francis books for about $US5 are competing directly with Indie titles, and there are many more.[QUOTE]
Over the time I have been using the program I mentioned earlier, I have seen some of what you say. There was a good period there (and it still happens with some), where reductions occurred over time, especially with a new release by the same author. So if you waited long enough, in many cases you would eventually get the ebook at a fairish price. If you are as behind with your reading as I am, waiting a year or two etc, is not that long to hang out before buying at a fair price.

But I don't see that as much now, and seemingly odd things are going on as well. I will talk about some examples later.

It seems to me that for the Big 5 to compete fully with Indies they would have to price comparably without regard to print sales. A print book at $US13 or $US14 with the ebook version at $US5 is likely to lead to increased sales of ebooks and ereaders and increased use of reading applications on phones and tablets. This has the potential to emasculate or at least cause significant damage to their still very profitable print book business over which they exercise significant control. Yes, they are losing initial ebook sales, but may well be recouping many of them later when the ebook prices come down.

I don't disagree, that if physical books stay the same price and ebooks are cheaper, that once people who read a fair amount do the sums, they will save the money and eventually buy an ereader or factor in the other benefits of a Tablet. That's pretty obvious, and I will admit that physical books to some degree will slowly go the way of the dinosaur ... that's progress.

Here I refer to the example I gave Barry earlier about profits. No-one as far as I know, is saying that publishers need to avoid getting some recompense for the shortfall during the long changeover period. If they are making $5 extra profit with an ebook, cannot that be just $1 for instance ... or a $1.50 etc. What I and many others are against, is the huge profit being made at our expense.

As has always been the case, many publishers are not exactly great when it comes to financial matters. So many like myself resent when they expect us to prop up their mistakes and foolishness or subsidize physical books unethically.

Really it would be wiser for them to cut out a lot of their costs, by embracing ebooks as fully as possible. Everyone can be winners here, with a bit of smart thinking.

Their real risk would seem to be rampant piracy whilst their prices remain high. However, whilst such piracy does occur, it seems that the vast majority of readers are prepared to wait, and their business model remains viable.

I doubt we will ever see a successful prevention of piracy any time soon, and like I have said elsewhere and for other types of media too - what the few bad eggs do should not dictate how the majority are treated or the distrust that is currently occurring. Have some faith and believe, that if you do the right thing, so will the majority.

I'm not saying the following to promote Piracy, but I know full well, that people who would not normally engage in getting free stuff illegally, now do so because they are fed up of being ripped off and cheated and treated so poorly ... especially by those they consider crooks of some kind anyhow.

There are many factors that I won't discuss here, but I do believe that the print book business will decline over time, though it will remain significant for the foreseeable future and will likely never completely die. I once thought differently, but having looked more deeply at the whole picture, I think the Big 5 is taking a rational and practical, if somewhat cynical in some aspects, approach to its pricing. And a continually evolving one.

I both agree and disagree.
A lot of what they do, I am sure, is theoretical and for sure agenda based. If they had a good track record I might have more sympathy and be more of a believer. In many ways, they only have themselves to blame for how many feel about them. Most politicians and big business are going through a similar crisis.

Once again, thanks for your thoughts.