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Old 08-13-2009, 02:55 PM   #225
lilac_jive
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ahi View Post
In the vast majority of instances, the publisher receives 45% of the list price of the book (from the distributor/wholesaler), and it is out of that money that all other costs are paid:

- royalties
- printing (which are indeed minor)
- promotion
- all the preparatory work that went into it (well... not paid, but recovered)

The huge cuts that various middlemen get make up 55% of the cost of most physical books. eBooks, at their most expensive, should still be less than half the cost of the physical book... with everyone borderline productive (i.e.: not just involved in moving boxes and books around the country) still getting the same cut.

Or am I wrong?

- Ahi
Here's the thing though. Sony (and Kindle, and everyone else) has to buy the book from the publisher. In the case of the NYT bestselling hardcover, the publisher charges either $11 or $12 for the ebook to the reseller (I forget which one it is). Amazon (and now presumably Sony) are selling these books at a loss. This is good, because maybe it'll get the publisher to drop prices.

It should be at least a somewhat big deal to you, since this hopefully helps push for lower ebook prices.
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