Harper Collins doing some price experimenting????

sufue · 05-01-2012, 06:30 PM

I noticed in arcadata's wonderful May affiliate thread (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=177087) that there are a bunch of HarperCollins mystery series backlists now with $3.99 prices, and even $1.99 for a few (mostly first-in-series) titles. See posts 3, 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, and 26 in that thread.

This is much closer to where I think backlist pricing should be, although $3.99 is still not cheap enough for me to replace DTBs I already own, unless from a particularly loved series. But $3.99 is definitely a price that I would buy backlist e-books at, in preference to buying used or checking out from the library, if I were to find a previously unknown (to me) series that I liked and didn't already own in DTB.

Still, I'm tempted to go ahead and buy a few in some one of the series I like (although none are ones I love), to encourage this sort of pricing on HC's part...we'll see how rich I feel tonight...

Synamon · 05-01-2012, 06:46 PM

They have been putting some of their backlist stuff on sale, moreso than any of the other big publishers certainly. It's been regular enough that I've been doing an advanced search for ebooks by HarperCollins on Amazon every week to scan for their sales. I found some Paulo Coelho ebooks for $0.99 last night that way and some Lawrence Block ebooks a few weeks back (still available at $3.99).

It's the first of the month and some of their stand alone titles are included in the 100 ebooks under $3.99 at Amazon and whatever the equivalent is at the other bookstores, so those are showing up right now as well.

ETA: HarperCollins is one of my favourites since they will sell their ebooks to libraries (Random House is the other one still selling to libraries), plus they don't jack up their prices by $2-5 because I'm in Canada and actually include Canadians in their sales (I'm looking at you Simon & Schuster and MacMillan).

AnemicOak · 05-01-2012, 07:00 PM

I know they are doing some price experimentation with their Avon line and paying close attention to how sales were going at various price points. Wouldn't be surprised if they're doing the same thing under other lines.

taming · 05-01-2012, 07:24 PM

Harper Collins also adjusts individual prices when something related to one of them happens. For example, ‘Bring Up the Bodies,’ a ‘Wolf Hall’ Sequel by Hilary Mantel was just released/reviewed in the NY Times. Wolf Hall price dropped to $4.99 (Kobo Canada). The rest of her books are waaaay more.

andreabc · 05-01-2012, 07:29 PM

I've noticed that for their YA series they've heavily discounted the first book when there's a sequel or new book coming out.

Right now Die For Me is at $1.99. A few weeks ago The Body Finder was at $2.99 and on the 15th they are releasing Starcrossed for $0.99.

Next week they are releasing Hereafter by Tara Hudson for $0.99.

For the summer they have 10 teen books priced at $2.99:
http://www.epicreads.com/page/edeals/

05-01-2012, 06:30 PM	#1
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 8,063 Karma: 61341458 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	Harper Collins doing some price experimenting???? I noticed in arcadata's wonderful May affiliate thread (https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=177087) that there are a bunch of HarperCollins mystery series backlists now with $3.99 prices, and even $1.99 for a few (mostly first-in-series) titles. See posts 3, 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, and 26 in that thread. This is much closer to where I think backlist pricing should be, although $3.99 is still not cheap enough for me to replace DTBs I already own, unless from a particularly loved series. But $3.99 is definitely a price that I would buy backlist e-books at, in preference to buying used or checking out from the library, if I were to find a previously unknown (to me) series that I liked and didn't already own in DTB. Still, I'm tempted to go ahead and buy a few in some one of the series I like (although none are ones I love), to encourage this sort of pricing on HC's part...we'll see how rich I feel tonight...

05-01-2012, 06:46 PM	#2
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	They have been putting some of their backlist stuff on sale, moreso than any of the other big publishers certainly. It's been regular enough that I've been doing an advanced search for ebooks by HarperCollins on Amazon every week to scan for their sales. I found some Paulo Coelho ebooks for $0.99 last night that way and some Lawrence Block ebooks a few weeks back (still available at $3.99). It's the first of the month and some of their stand alone titles are included in the 100 ebooks under $3.99 at Amazon and whatever the equivalent is at the other bookstores, so those are showing up right now as well. ETA: HarperCollins is one of my favourites since they will sell their ebooks to libraries (Random House is the other one still selling to libraries), plus they don't jack up their prices by $2-5 because I'm in Canada and actually include Canadians in their sales (I'm looking at you Simon & Schuster and MacMillan). Last edited by Synamon; 05-01-2012 at 06:54 PM.

05-01-2012, 07:29 PM	#5
andreabc Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 1226339 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle (4th gen)	I've noticed that for their YA series they've heavily discounted the first book when there's a sequel or new book coming out. Right now Die For Me is at $1.99. A few weeks ago The Body Finder was at $2.99 and on the 15th they are releasing Starcrossed for $0.99. Next week they are releasing Hereafter by Tara Hudson for $0.99. For the summer they have 10 teen books priced at $2.99: http://www.epicreads.com/page/edeals/ Last edited by andreabc; 07-25-2012 at 01:18 PM.

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05-01-2012, 07:00 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I know they are doing some price experimentation with their Avon line and paying close attention to how sales were going at various price points. Wouldn't be surprised if they're doing the same thing under other lines.

05-01-2012, 07:24 PM	#4
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	Harper Collins also adjusts individual prices when something related to one of them happens. For example, ‘Bring Up the Bodies,’ a ‘Wolf Hall’ Sequel by Hilary Mantel was just released/reviewed in the NY Times. Wolf Hall price dropped to $4.99 (Kobo Canada). The rest of her books are waaaay more.

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