Used to be new book prices dropped, now they are increasing

KlondikeGeoff · 10-29-2009, 04:27 PM

For more than a year I have noticed that often a new book priced around $15 or so, would eventually drop to the good ol' $9.99. I'd make a note of such books and wait them out.

Now I am chagrined to notice that the opposite is happening. I will list some books that are $9.99 to get later, and when I need some new ones, I find they have shot up in price.

So, a warning to all, who like me, get samples only: better check the price if you get to the sample end before you buy, or you may be shocked at the higher price.

Looks as though Amazon is playing games with us.

kennyc · 10-29-2009, 04:51 PM

Well I want the new John Irving, but they have it priced the same as the hardback! Grrr!!!

Madam Broshkina · 10-29-2009, 05:02 PM

It could be that the book when released was not on the NT Times Best Seller List so it was priced $15.00. Then the book made the NY Times Best Seller List and was priced at $9.99. Then when it was no longer on the list the price reverted to $15 again.

AnemicOak · 10-29-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

It could be that the book when released was not on the NT Times Best Seller List so it was priced $15.00. Then the book made the NY Times Best Seller List and was priced at $9.99. Then when it was no longer on the list the price reverted to $15 again.

Sounds like it.

KlondikeGeoff · 10-30-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

It could be that the book when released was not on the NT Times Best Seller List so it was priced $15.00. Then the book made the NY Times Best Seller List and was priced at $9.99. Then when it was no longer on the list the price reverted to $15 again.

I suppose you are correct. It should be called "The Great Amazon Pricing Yo-Yo Effect."

juj1n · 11-06-2009, 04:58 PM

You also have to remember that amazon sells their ebooks at a loss. They make up for that with the kindle sales and from their other sources of revenue but there are speculations that amazon won't be able to keep up with their ebook prices forever. Whether that's true or not... we'll just have to wait and find out I guess.

kennyc · 11-06-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juj1n

You also have to remember that amazon sells their ebooks at a loss. They make up for that with the kindle sales and from their other sources of revenue but there are speculations that amazon won't be able to keep up with their ebook prices forever. Whether that's true or not... we'll just have to wait and find out I guess.

How do you figure? Have you seen the costs involved?

I don't know if that is true or not. It's really not Amazon that controls the price, but the publisher, so what you are saying may very well be true, but if so I believe it is only an artificial price set based on the print book.

fugazied · 11-06-2009, 06:18 PM

I don't think there is much margin in those $9.99 books for Amazon so it's always temporary it seems, they are competing with other budget ebook sellers on the 'hot' products. I've seen a couple of books go up in price so now when I see it cheap I snap it up.

kennyc · 11-06-2009, 07:02 PM

Yep, I watched "The year of the flood go down" and bought it at approx $12.50 and then it went down to 9.99. I watched John Irving "Last Night in Twisted River" go down to 12.50 and then go back up to the same price as the hardback.

I didn't get it...

I still question that 9.99 is a "fair" price though, just as I question the same price for a MP3 Album. I'm not convinced that the cost of doing business is that high and I think the price is simply support the discount prices on the paper and CD (physical) versions...

The Hooded Claw · 11-08-2009, 03:04 PM

I've seen the reports of Amazon losing money at the $9.99 price, and I assume they are true--Now whether the publisher would truly lose money if they lowered Amazon's cost to fit, I have no idea.

I'm weary of watching hardbook book prices rise, and I'm one of those who has resolved not to buy any Kindle book priced over $9.99.....Amazon probably doesn't care, but it is still what I'm doing! If enough people stick to that, perhaps the publishers will decide that lowering the price in return for increased volume is in their interests. But for now they are reacting to ebooks the way that the music industry tried to react to MP3s.

kennyc · 11-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Oh, btw the John Irving book dropped back down to the $12 range today, so I bought it.

juj1n · 11-08-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

How do you figure? Have you seen the costs involved?

I don't know if that is true or not. It's really not Amazon that controls the price, but the publisher, so what you are saying may very well be true, but if so I believe it is only an artificial price set based on the print book.

Nope, I'm not making it up.

Quote:

Amazon, which sets the price for everything it sells, is, as many people interviewed point out, losing money on a majority of Kindle editions. Although the price point for Kindle editions varies, the dominant one for hardcover bestsellers is $9.99, a price one publisher called “a killer.” (The e-tailer is pricing some of its Kindle bestsellers even more aggressively, with titles like Stephenie Meyer's New Moon, currently #4 on the Kindle bestseller list, at $6.04.) At $9.99 Amazon is selling its Kindle editions at, generally, a 60% discount; Amazon sells its print bestsellers at, on average, a 45% discount. The reigning price point in the Sony e-book store, with variations, is $11.99.

That Amazon is currently treating the bulk of Kindle editions as loss leaders—items it either breaks even on or loses on to build market share in e-book sales and to fuel the growth of the Kindle—is one of the worrisome aspects of the current system.

They mention their trademark 9.99 as a loss leader. A loss leader is basically something that is priced to entice people to buy their product or into their store but at a loss. It can be compared to the dollar menu at McDonalds. They entice customers into the restaurant with the dollar menu in hopes that the customer will purchase additional things off the dollar menu. They don't actually make any money off the dollar menu.

Article here

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6657272.html

kennyc · 11-08-2009, 08:41 PM

Thanks for that link. Definitely puts the onus on the publishers. Which I would have assumed, but its completely out of line, but as I said elsewhere, it was already a defective model.

10-29-2009, 04:27 PM	#1
KlondikeGeoff Wombat Aficionado Posts: 481 Karma: 733 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona Device: Fire, Kindle1, Sony PRS-500 Reader, Rocket 1100 eBook	Used to be new book prices dropped, now they are increasing For more than a year I have noticed that often a new book priced around $15 or so, would eventually drop to the good ol' $9.99. I'd make a note of such books and wait them out. Now I am chagrined to notice that the opposite is happening. I will list some books that are $9.99 to get later, and when I need some new ones, I find they have shot up in price. So, a warning to all, who like me, get samples only: better check the price if you get to the sample end before you buy, or you may be shocked at the higher price. Looks as though Amazon is playing games with us.

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10-29-2009, 04:51 PM	#2
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Well I want the new John Irving, but they have it priced the same as the hardback! Grrr!!!

10-29-2009, 05:02 PM	#3
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	It could be that the book when released was not on the NT Times Best Seller List so it was priced $15.00. Then the book made the NY Times Best Seller List and was priced at $9.99. Then when it was no longer on the list the price reverted to $15 again.

11-06-2009, 04:58 PM	#6
juj1n Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 350 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Lots!	You also have to remember that amazon sells their ebooks at a loss. They make up for that with the kindle sales and from their other sources of revenue but there are speculations that amazon won't be able to keep up with their ebook prices forever. Whether that's true or not... we'll just have to wait and find out I guess.

11-06-2009, 06:18 PM	#8
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	I don't think there is much margin in those $9.99 books for Amazon so it's always temporary it seems, they are competing with other budget ebook sellers on the 'hot' products. I've seen a couple of books go up in price so now when I see it cheap I snap it up.

11-06-2009, 07:02 PM	#9
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Yep, I watched "The year of the flood go down" and bought it at approx $12.50 and then it went down to 9.99. I watched John Irving "Last Night in Twisted River" go down to 12.50 and then go back up to the same price as the hardback. I didn't get it... I still question that 9.99 is a "fair" price though, just as I question the same price for a MP3 Album. I'm not convinced that the cost of doing business is that high and I think the price is simply support the discount prices on the paper and CD (physical) versions...

11-08-2009, 03:04 PM	#10
The Hooded Claw Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 6050 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oklahoma! Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Android phone with Kindle app, Kindle 4 in reserve	I've seen the reports of Amazon losing money at the $9.99 price, and I assume they are true--Now whether the publisher would truly lose money if they lowered Amazon's cost to fit, I have no idea. I'm weary of watching hardbook book prices rise, and I'm one of those who has resolved not to buy any Kindle book priced over $9.99.....Amazon probably doesn't care, but it is still what I'm doing! If enough people stick to that, perhaps the publishers will decide that lowering the price in return for increased volume is in their interests. But for now they are reacting to ebooks the way that the music industry tried to react to MP3s.

11-08-2009, 03:11 PM	#11
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Oh, btw the John Irving book dropped back down to the $12 range today, so I bought it.

11-08-2009, 08:41 PM	#13
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Thanks for that link. Definitely puts the onus on the publishers. Which I would have assumed, but its completely out of line, but as I said elsewhere, it was already a defective model.

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