Quote:
Originally Posted by asjogren
Cost, Value, and Perceived Value.
I suggest that Perceived Value is the salient feature. In other realms, the public has less Perceived Value to electronic media than physical. Advertising, magazines, and newspapers are good examples. The paper based sell for more.
Some have argued that they believe the convenience of electronic is an added value.
Others have argued that the lack of "rights" to lend, sell, or donate is a serious detriment. And DRM is an additional detriment.
On other threads the topic of lower quality of eBooks is mentioned. There are errors in eBooks that do not exist in the paper editions.
We each value these attributed differently. But, my first statement is probably the most important: The public has less Perceived Value for electronic editions of media than physical.
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This is certainly correct-but overlooks the viewpoint discrepancy between value & costs. I don't think people should pay more for a book than what they see its value as being-but if that prevents them from buying best-sellers when first available then, generally, I think it's a problem with the buyer, not with the seller.
As a general statement I do have trouble with the above as it's certainly possible for a publisher to set the price higher than needed to recoup their costs-but I don't see that happening at either the new $5.99 price nor Amazon's $9.99 price.
Like most people, I'd rather get good, new books without paying for them. that would give me the most short-term enjoyment, but I also realize that it decreases my long-term enjoyment because not allowing publishers (and authors) to recoup their expenses will basically drive them out of business-and then we won't *have* any new books.