Major publisher experiment with radically lower ebook prices

garygibsonsf · 10-11-2009, 04:44 AM

As part of a publishing experiment, 'The Friday Project', an imprint of Harper Colllins, have released several ebooks at the low, low price in the UK of £2.99 (just under five dollars at the time of writing) and apparently enjoyed such exceptionally high sales they're going to expand and promote the next batch of low-priced books. The details are here, in an article on The Bookseller website written by Scott Pack, a HarperCollins employee:

Quote:

"We are always looking for new ways to find readers for our books. As a publisher that specialises in turning web content into books, the dawn of the e-book era is very attractive to us—a format that is closer to the original material than the printed version. E-books represent an opportunity to get our titles, especially our backlist, to a whole new audience. And, perhaps the most compelling reason, we were selling bugger all at full price.

And the results of this experiment (because it is an experiment, not a policy, precedent or fixed price structure)? Our sales have gone through the roof."

Some of the Friday Project ebooks can be found here, on the Waterstones site.

neilmarr · 10-11-2009, 05:07 AM

That's fine, Gary. But I still can't see why the Waterstones ebook of Margaret Atwood's new *Yerar of the Flood* should still cost the equivalent of $26 when the treebook is less than $16 in hardback from Amazon and for even less elsewhere. Ebook pricing is still a nonsense. Neil

vivlio · 10-11-2009, 06:53 AM

can't they make 5$ medical textbooks too?

HarryT · 10-11-2009, 07:15 AM

Would YOU want to be treated by a doctor who'd learned from $5 textbooks?

ErwinOtten · 10-11-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would YOU want to be treated by a doctor who'd learned from $5 textbooks?

With a $5 textbook I'd treat myself

Juliette · 10-11-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Would YOU want to be treated by a doctor who'd learned from $5 textbooks?

Sometimes I wonder why I am treated by my regular GP, so no problem. Can't be worse

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10-11-2009, 05:07 AM	#2
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	That's fine, Gary. But I still can't see why the Waterstones ebook of Margaret Atwood's new Yerar of the Flood should still cost the equivalent of $26 when the treebook is less than $16 in hardback from Amazon and for even less elsewhere. Ebook pricing is still a nonsense. Neil

10-11-2009, 06:53 AM	#3
vivlio Member Posts: 13 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	can't they make 5$ medical textbooks too?

10-11-2009, 07:15 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Would YOU want to be treated by a doctor who'd learned from $5 textbooks?

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