Thread: HarperCollins Flubs It
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Old 01-26-2009, 03:28 PM   #1
rhadin
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HarperCollins Flubs It
Well we had last summer's thread on Tor and ebooks and now HarperCollins flubs it.

I have been reading the fantasy books by Fiona McIntosh. I finished 2 of her series and now wanted to buy the first book in her new series. So I went to the HarperCollins website where I had bought her other ebooks.

Here's how it goes: First, because I couldn't find her new book at their SciFi site, I went to the main HC website and searched on her name. No problem, the book comes up as shown in this link for Royal Exile. But take a look at the web page. It clearly states that the book costs $7.99 and is available as either an ebook or a paperback.

Now click the ebook format you want and the Buy Now button. It takes you to a sister site for HC but not to the book in question. However, now if you search for Fiona McIntosh, the book does come up (it didn't a few days ago) but look at the pricing (click here) -- The list price is now $14.99 and the discount price is $11.99.

I wrote HC originally trying to locate the book and they provided the link. When I saw the price differential, I wrote as follows:

Quote:
Thank you for your response. However, I do not understand the pricing. Why would I pay $14.99 (list price)/$11.99 (discount price) for a DRMed ebook that I can buy the print version from you for $7.99 list price (see here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...e/index.aspx)?

More importantly, your website at the link above indicates the ebook list price is $7.99. There seems to be a pricing problem.
HC promptly replied as follows:

Quote:
We will pass on your concerns about pricing. Customer feedback is always valuable to us.
Thank you,
The HarperCollins Ebooks team
I responded as follows:

Quote:
Please let me know if the book will be made available as an ebook for the $7.99 + the 20% discount. If it is, then I'll buy the book; if it is not, then I will not buy it because it makes no sense to lease a book for more than I can buy it for and I am no longer buying print books of this type of book.
Now I sit and wait for a response. Will it come? Will HC offer the book at the advertised price of $7.99. Only the Shadow knows for sure, but I'll bet not.
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