Agency pricing (almost) 1 year on...how many e-books have you NOT bought?

sufue · 02-24-2011, 07:39 AM

When agency pricing came in, I started keeping a list of agency e-books I didn't buy. It has about 100 titles on it. Last week, in honor of the approaching one year anniversary of agency pricing, I tidied up the list and sent it to the appropriate five publishers. I have no idea if they'll pay any attention - probably not - but somewhat illogically I still feel better

And, it turns out I was able to get many of the books (in p-book, but WTH) from my local library and a few more from local used bookstores (yes, we still have a couple nearby). A bunch more were backlist titles that I already owned in p-book too, so I didn't really NEED them. So I've been able to read most of the books I hadn't already read for free, or nearly free, anyway.

Just wondering if other boycotting folks have a sense of how many e-books they haven't bought due to the agency issue, or if I'm the only one nerdly enough to actually keep a list...

- Sue

P.S. Oh yeah, I probably should mention that I did cheat and buy 2 titles I really wanted to read and couldn't find otherwise, but I DID use my Groupon B&N gift card deal - amazing what rationalization can do for you!

Yolina · 02-24-2011, 07:46 AM

Agency pricing is relatively new in the UK, and although I don't keep a list, there's probably around 20 ebooks that I didn't get so far and bought as second-hand paper copies instead.

John F · 02-24-2011, 08:02 AM

I don't know, but agency pricing did effect my purchases. I like to use Kobo discount codes when they are available, but for some reason they don't seem to work with agency books, so I just usually get something else.

Lemurion · 02-24-2011, 08:04 AM

Myself, I don't care who sets the price or how they set it: eBook prices could be set by monkeys rolling dice in Katmandu for all I care.

What I do care about is how closely the price approaches what I think the eBook is worth to me. The closer it is, the more likely I am to buy it. I don't buy high priced eBooks - but I also don't expect paperback or lower prices for eBooks if the book's still in hardcover.

Given the way prices have risen, I haven't bought a lot of books lately - and I barely have time to keep up with the freebies - but when I do buy one, the question of whether it's sold according to the retail or agency model doesn't enter the equation.

jbcohen · 02-24-2011, 08:10 AM

I am more interested in agency pricing in terms of what publishers are not on the list. I would rather not do any business with agency comapnies. One of the companies that I do a lot of business with is not on that list, Golden Eagle a division of Harlequin, which incidently is not on the list either.

Sweetpea · 02-24-2011, 08:15 AM

I went from buying about a hundred books in one year (including short stories) to 4 since april 2010. Not so much because of pricing, but on the worst thing that happend with that change: geographical restrictions.

Kali Yuga · 02-24-2011, 08:18 AM

I don't care who's pricing the book, as long as it's a price I'm willing to pay.

I believe I've only delayed on 4 or 5 books because of price. At least 1 of those dropped to an acceptable price after a few months, and another is not agency priced. Some are agency-priced backlist, and are only over my preferred price by $3, which is not a big deal.

Considering that ebook sales are still going through the roof, I'm going to guess that most consumers don't care.

jbcohen · 02-24-2011, 08:22 AM

Most are not aware of what agency pricing are and very willing to pay any price for anything at all. I have a rather dim view of human nature.

wyndslash · 02-24-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I went from buying about a hundred books in one year (including short stories) to 4 since april 2010. Not so much because of pricing, but on the worst thing that happend with that change: geographical restrictions.

indeed. i hate geo restrictions D: still, it forces me to look at alternative sites like feedbooks and freebies from publisher sites. i guess in a way it's making me save xD

tompe · 02-24-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Most are not aware of what agency pricing are and very willing to pay any price for anything at all. I have a rather dim view of human nature.

Yes, most are not aware that agency pricing is a good thing that tries to break Amazons monopolistic tendencies and tries to save a sustainable book market.

EowynCarter · 02-24-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I went from buying about a hundred books in one year (including short stories) to 4 since april 2010. Not so much because of pricing, but on the worst thing that happend with that change: geographical restrictions.

Ditto !

I didn't bought that many books. books from wheel of time are long and take time to read.

Sydney's Mom · 02-24-2011, 10:01 AM

I didn't buy probably 12 books (1 a month) because the price was more than I was willing to pay. Most of these I got from the library (a few in pbook form). One of these, where the ebook price was more than the hardcover, I got off the dark net. I am not proud of that, but come on. More than the hardcover?

outlander78 · 02-24-2011, 10:03 AM

I don't know how to tell. I regularly search out books I want to read, or more often re-read (but as an ebook), but I skip anything over $10, and quite a few over $8. If agency pricing pushes books past those thresholds, then I'm not even a customer anymore.

I hope that your idea of keeping tracking and writing in pays off. I may do the same, but focus on price rather than agency vs free market pricing.

avantman42 · 02-24-2011, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

I don't care who's pricing the book, as long as it's a price I'm willing to pay.

Same here. I e-mailed a publisher today to ask why an e-book that I wanted to buy was £15.99, while the paperback is £7.49. I don't expect e-books to necessarily be cheaper than the paper versions, but I can't bring myself to pay over double the paperback price for the e-book.

I added it to my watch list, and if the price comes down to something I'm willing to pay, I'll buy it.

crossi · 02-24-2011, 11:36 AM

There are a couple hundred books in my "Too expensive" wish list that I would have bought at a lower price. I have them listed in ereaderiq and will buy them if the price drops to below $7. Fortunately there are enough books being offered at good prices that I'm still buying faster than I'm reading them.

02-24-2011, 07:39 AM	#1
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 8,061 Karma: 61341458 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	Agency pricing (almost) 1 year on...how many e-books have you NOT bought? When agency pricing came in, I started keeping a list of agency e-books I didn't buy. It has about 100 titles on it. Last week, in honor of the approaching one year anniversary of agency pricing, I tidied up the list and sent it to the appropriate five publishers. I have no idea if they'll pay any attention - probably not - but somewhat illogically I still feel better And, it turns out I was able to get many of the books (in p-book, but WTH) from my local library and a few more from local used bookstores (yes, we still have a couple nearby). A bunch more were backlist titles that I already owned in p-book too, so I didn't really NEED them. So I've been able to read most of the books I hadn't already read for free, or nearly free, anyway. Just wondering if other boycotting folks have a sense of how many e-books they haven't bought due to the agency issue, or if I'm the only one nerdly enough to actually keep a list... - Sue P.S. Oh yeah, I probably should mention that I did cheat and buy 2 titles I really wanted to read and couldn't find otherwise, but I DID use my Groupon B&N gift card deal - amazing what rationalization can do for you! Last edited by sufue; 02-24-2011 at 07:45 AM.

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02-24-2011, 07:46 AM	#2
Yolina Wizard Posts: 1,179 Karma: 11573197 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: London, UK Device: Voyage	Agency pricing is relatively new in the UK, and although I don't keep a list, there's probably around 20 ebooks that I didn't get so far and bought as second-hand paper copies instead.

02-24-2011, 08:02 AM	#3
John F Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,832 Karma: 70000001 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo Clara 2E	I don't know, but agency pricing did effect my purchases. I like to use Kobo discount codes when they are available, but for some reason they don't seem to work with agency books, so I just usually get something else.

02-24-2011, 08:04 AM	#4
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Myself, I don't care who sets the price or how they set it: eBook prices could be set by monkeys rolling dice in Katmandu for all I care. What I do care about is how closely the price approaches what I think the eBook is worth to me. The closer it is, the more likely I am to buy it. I don't buy high priced eBooks - but I also don't expect paperback or lower prices for eBooks if the book's still in hardcover. Given the way prices have risen, I haven't bought a lot of books lately - and I barely have time to keep up with the freebies - but when I do buy one, the question of whether it's sold according to the retail or agency model doesn't enter the equation.

02-24-2011, 08:10 AM	#5
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,029 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	I am more interested in agency pricing in terms of what publishers are not on the list. I would rather not do any business with agency comapnies. One of the companies that I do a lot of business with is not on that list, Golden Eagle a division of Harlequin, which incidently is not on the list either.

02-24-2011, 08:15 AM	#6
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I went from buying about a hundred books in one year (including short stories) to 4 since april 2010. Not so much because of pricing, but on the worst thing that happend with that change: geographical restrictions.

02-24-2011, 08:18 AM	#7
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	I don't care who's pricing the book, as long as it's a price I'm willing to pay. I believe I've only delayed on 4 or 5 books because of price. At least 1 of those dropped to an acceptable price after a few months, and another is not agency priced. Some are agency-priced backlist, and are only over my preferred price by $3, which is not a big deal. Considering that ebook sales are still going through the roof, I'm going to guess that most consumers don't care.

02-24-2011, 08:22 AM	#8
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,029 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Most are not aware of what agency pricing are and very willing to pay any price for anything at all. I have a rather dim view of human nature.

02-24-2011, 10:01 AM	#12
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,896 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I didn't buy probably 12 books (1 a month) because the price was more than I was willing to pay. Most of these I got from the library (a few in pbook form). One of these, where the ebook price was more than the hardcover, I got off the dark net. I am not proud of that, but come on. More than the hardcover?

02-24-2011, 10:03 AM	#13
outlander78 Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 263218 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Arc 7	I don't know how to tell. I regularly search out books I want to read, or more often re-read (but as an ebook), but I skip anything over $10, and quite a few over $8. If agency pricing pushes books past those thresholds, then I'm not even a customer anymore. I hope that your idea of keeping tracking and writing in pays off. I may do the same, but focus on price rather than agency vs free market pricing.

02-24-2011, 11:36 AM	#15
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	There are a couple hundred books in my "Too expensive" wish list that I would have bought at a lower price. I have them listed in ereaderiq and will buy them if the price drops to below $7. Fortunately there are enough books being offered at good prices that I'm still buying faster than I'm reading them.

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