Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaul1114
The problem is you still get posters on here bitching that the e-books should be cheaper since they don't have to print a physical copy, ship it out etc. etc. and thus it costs less on their end.
And some of that is true. So the e-book can be priced less than the hardback--at a level that the publisher and author get the same cut they do out of a hardback sale. And then drop prices when the paper back comes out accordingly.
But many expect e-books to be $9.99 from the get go when the hardcover comes out, due a sense of entitlement or whatever you want to call it, and that's the problem that get's authors and publishers riled up.
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On the other hand, you could also argue that eBooks have more value and should cost more if for no other reason than the convenience of having them in an easy to transport, back up, and categorize form. Take that argument add it to the "it takes less resources" argument, shake well and what do you get? I've no idea, we'll probably find out in few years when all the dust settles - I'm betting it is pretty close to the current pricing structure.
We have to remember that regardless of how unfair we may think it is, or how lop-sided, archaic, or any other negative adjective we come up, the pricing structure and schedule that is in place now has been working for quite some time and, for the most part, people are reasonably happy with it. If, right now, everyone is happy with making $X as an industry, they are going to want to keep making $X regardless of the format of the books.