Surrey (UK) eBooks

Digby · 04-02-2011, 02:16 PM

Hi I am totally new to this forum so hello everyone

Don't you all find the price of eBooks a disgrace ?
Here in the UK it's often cheaper to go out and buy the hard copy than download the electronic edition.
Surely something wrong there.
In an effort to get ebooks I have joined the local library and they offer a (very) limited selection of ebooks via their web site. That's great but the titles choice is rather poor. Good titles are in demand.
On top of this I am only allowed 14 days in which to read them before the DRM kicks in. Being a slow reader and only really reading before bed, I have found on several occasions now that I am cut off from my book just as things get interesting.
Annoying ?
You bet ! (I have other words to describe it but they're not polite).
As I had to "reserve" the books in the first place, (the library only has so many electronic editions available for lending at any one time), I then have to wait for some time before I can borrow it again. By which time I have totally lost the thread.
Whilst I understand the idea of DRM, it really is a pain, especially with such a short lending time.
Anyone know of a way that I, as a Mac user, can turn the function off, even for a week, so I can finish my damn book ??
I know there is some "naughty" Windows software that circumnavigates the DRM but what about us Apple mac folk ?

Any replies telling me to read faster will be ignored !!

MickeyC · 04-03-2011, 01:37 AM

Hi Digby and welcome to MobileRead. Unfortunately eBooks have not made publishers and less greedy so prices are unreasonably high. Do check out all our free uploads here in our Patricia Clark Memorial Library

GeoffC · 04-03-2011, 02:12 AM

Yes .

Welcome to Mobileread ...

Have you looked at free ebooks from the Mobileread Library, and also places such as Smashwords.com? For other stores, (and Mobileread Library) see links in my signature.

....

Valmore Daniels · 04-03-2011, 11:02 AM

welcome

Digby · 04-07-2011, 06:06 AM

Thanks for those links folks and I will give them some serious browsing.

It doesn't however help me with my library books !
I have one now that will expire in two days and I have three hundred pages left to read. Just can't be done !!

pdurrant · 04-07-2011, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digby

Thanks for those links folks and I will give them some serious browsing.

It doesn't however help me with my library books !
I have one now that will expire in two days and I have three hundred pages left to read. Just can't be done !!

I'm afraid your only ethical (IMO) option is to reserve it again at the library.

neilmarr · 04-07-2011, 07:17 AM

Good to have your company, Digby, and many of us share your frustration.

Don't be too quick to blame publishers, though; the pricing anomalies are Big Retail moves to strike back against a thing called the Agency Five Model.

Under the relatively new Agency Five, publishers fix the price of an ebook and retailers work as 'licenced agents' on a 30% sales commission. They are not allowed to discount Agency Five ebooks.

We don't like Agency Five here at MR or, indeed, at my own small indie publishing house, and think it's a trap. But the fact remains that those stores that can afford it are hitting below the belt by discounting paperback and hardback to loss leader level in retribution, encouraging just the feelings you describe in your introductory post.

I have little doubt that Agency Five will soon be ruled illegal in the courts. But this will hand pricing back to the big shopkeepers. What will we see then, I wonder.

It must be remembered that the success of the ebook hits the Big Five publishers and a few other big boys badly. Working on mass-run, you see, print and distribution accounts for only around 12.5% to 15% of a book's cover price. Contstant in-house overheads must now be shared between lower (RRP) priced digital and print editions.

AND it must be remembered that -- unlike brick-and-mortar stores in your local high street that traditionally claim over 40% sales commission (supermarket chains up to 95%) and the right of full refund on unsold stock (about 50% of all paperbacks) -- have no inventory, no in-store promotion of titles and stock, no returned stock and provide nothing more than a crowded shop window.

Anyway, Digby, until things settle down, enjoy your Sony. Very best wishes. Neil

04-02-2011, 02:16 PM	#1
Digby Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South East England UK Device: Sony eReader	Surrey (UK) eBooks Hi I am totally new to this forum so hello everyone Don't you all find the price of eBooks a disgrace ? Here in the UK it's often cheaper to go out and buy the hard copy than download the electronic edition. Surely something wrong there. In an effort to get ebooks I have joined the local library and they offer a (very) limited selection of ebooks via their web site. That's great but the titles choice is rather poor. Good titles are in demand. On top of this I am only allowed 14 days in which to read them before the DRM kicks in. Being a slow reader and only really reading before bed, I have found on several occasions now that I am cut off from my book just as things get interesting. Annoying ? You bet ! (I have other words to describe it but they're not polite). As I had to "reserve" the books in the first place, (the library only has so many electronic editions available for lending at any one time), I then have to wait for some time before I can borrow it again. By which time I have totally lost the thread. Whilst I understand the idea of DRM, it really is a pain, especially with such a short lending time. Anyone know of a way that I, as a Mac user, can turn the function off, even for a week, so I can finish my damn book ?? I know there is some "naughty" Windows software that circumnavigates the DRM but what about us Apple mac folk ? Any replies telling me to read faster will be ignored !!

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04-03-2011, 01:37 AM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Hi Digby and welcome to MobileRead. Unfortunately eBooks have not made publishers and less greedy so prices are unreasonably high. Do check out all our free uploads here in our Patricia Clark Memorial Library

04-03-2011, 02:12 AM	#3
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Yes . Welcome to Mobileread ... Have you looked at free ebooks from the Mobileread Library, and also places such as Smashwords.com? For other stores, (and Mobileread Library) see links in my signature. ....

04-03-2011, 11:02 AM	#4
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	welcome

04-07-2011, 06:06 AM	#5
Digby Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South East England UK Device: Sony eReader	Thanks for those links folks and I will give them some serious browsing. It doesn't however help me with my library books ! I have one now that will expire in two days and I have three hundred pages left to read. Just can't be done !!

04-07-2011, 07:17 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Good to have your company, Digby, and many of us share your frustration. Don't be too quick to blame publishers, though; the pricing anomalies are Big Retail moves to strike back against a thing called the Agency Five Model. Under the relatively new Agency Five, publishers fix the price of an ebook and retailers work as 'licenced agents' on a 30% sales commission. They are not allowed to discount Agency Five ebooks. We don't like Agency Five here at MR or, indeed, at my own small indie publishing house, and think it's a trap. But the fact remains that those stores that can afford it are hitting below the belt by discounting paperback and hardback to loss leader level in retribution, encouraging just the feelings you describe in your introductory post. I have little doubt that Agency Five will soon be ruled illegal in the courts. But this will hand pricing back to the big shopkeepers. What will we see then, I wonder. It must be remembered that the success of the ebook hits the Big Five publishers and a few other big boys badly. Working on mass-run, you see, print and distribution accounts for only around 12.5% to 15% of a book's cover price. Contstant in-house overheads must now be shared between lower (RRP) priced digital and print editions. AND it must be remembered that -- unlike brick-and-mortar stores in your local high street that traditionally claim over 40% sales commission (supermarket chains up to 95%) and the right of full refund on unsold stock (about 50% of all paperbacks) -- have no inventory, no in-store promotion of titles and stock, no returned stock and provide nothing more than a crowded shop window. Anyway, Digby, until things settle down, enjoy your Sony. Very best wishes. Neil

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