Quote:
Originally Posted by ahi
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.