HarperCollins pricing problems

pdurrant · 02-14-2009, 10:44 AM

HarperCollins seems to be having problems with its ebook pricing. On one site, newly released hardbacks with ebook have the ebook with a lower list price than the hardback, but when you go to buy, the ebook is shown with the hardback's list price.

I'd guess that somewhere the hardback price is being used instead of the ebook price. Hopefully they'll sort it out soon.

Some examples:

Remember Sweet Things by Ellen Green
$15.95 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...ngs/index.aspx
$19.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...F-57596DBF67D9

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey
$18.99 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...Man/index.aspx
$23.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...2-ABA14EFC807A

The Miracles of Prato by Laurie Albanese and Laura Morowitz
$19.95 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...ato/index.aspx
$24.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...2-75CC9C22995E

Of course, their ebook prices are still a bit high for my liking, but it seems they are currently trying to charge even more than they think the ebooks are worth!

Lemurion · 02-14-2009, 12:26 PM

Yeah, they were doing very well for a while there. Pity things seem to be changing.

AnemicOak · 02-14-2009, 02:01 PM

Yeah, there are a couple of threads around here about this. When I've emailed them I've gotten no answer back.

Andybaby · 02-16-2009, 02:30 AM

all the ebooks have 20% off currently, and are within $1 of the hard backs, but true. its outrageous.

Gaurnim · 02-16-2009, 05:20 AM

You should mail them about this.
I'm wondering if this isn't something legally reprehensible, like false advertising.
I wouldn't threaten them with a lawsuit, of course, I'm just wondering, that's all.

rhadin · 02-16-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

You should mail them about this.

I emailed them about this problem as regards the new Fiona McIntosh fantasy novel (see the thread HarperCollins Flubs It) and the response was less than satisfactory. The book is still overpriced.

Gaurnim · 02-16-2009, 10:28 AM

Well, then maybe it's time to see if this is a legal practice or not.

AnemicOak · 02-16-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andybaby

all the ebooks have 20% off currently, and are within $1 of the hard backs, but true. its outrageous.

Yes the pricing is outrageous, but the point here is the publishers site has a list price for ebooks which has been their standard ebook pricing for a long time, but their ebook store site, powered by OverDrive, has totally different list prices. The right hand doesn't appear to know what the left hand is doing.

HarryT · 02-17-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

Well, then maybe it's time to see if this is a legal practice or not.

Certainly it's legal. If a publisher want to charge $10,000 for an eBook that sells for $5 as a paperback, there's no law to stop them from doing so. It's their property - they can set whatever selling price they wish.

Xenophon · 02-17-2009, 01:40 PM

The part that may be illegal is advertising a lower price, and then having a higher price in your shopping cart. That might be either false advertising or bait-and-switch -- either of which is an illegal practice on this side of the pond.

Of course it is legal for them to set the prices however they wish from one product to another.

Xenophon

IANAL and all that...

Gaurnim · 02-18-2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

The part that may be illegal is advertising a lower price, and then having a higher price in your shopping cart. That might be either false advertising or bait-and-switch -- either of which is an illegal practice on this side of the pond.

Of course it is legal for them to set the prices however they wish from one product to another.

Xenophon

IANAL and all that...

Yep, that's what I meant.
And false advertising is also illegal in France.
Bait-and-switch might surely be, though I can't say exactly.

02-14-2009, 10:44 AM	#1
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 73,603 Karma: 315126578 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	HarperCollins pricing problems HarperCollins seems to be having problems with its ebook pricing. On one site, newly released hardbacks with ebook have the ebook with a lower list price than the hardback, but when you go to buy, the ebook is shown with the hardback's list price. I'd guess that somewhere the hardback price is being used instead of the ebook price. Hopefully they'll sort it out soon. Some examples: Remember Sweet Things by Ellen Green $15.95 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...ngs/index.aspx $19.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...F-57596DBF67D9 Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey $18.99 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...Man/index.aspx $23.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...2-ABA14EFC807A The Miracles of Prato by Laurie Albanese and Laura Morowitz $19.95 here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9...ato/index.aspx $24.99 here: http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com/e...2-75CC9C22995E Of course, their ebook prices are still a bit high for my liking, but it seems they are currently trying to charge even more than they think the ebooks are worth!

02-17-2009, 01:40 PM	#10
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,487 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	The part that may be illegal is advertising a lower price, and then having a higher price in your shopping cart. That might be either false advertising or bait-and-switch -- either of which is an illegal practice on this side of the pond. Of course it is legal for them to set the prices however they wish from one product to another. Xenophon IANAL and all that... Last edited by Xenophon; 02-17-2009 at 01:41 PM. Reason: I am not a lawyer...

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02-14-2009, 12:26 PM	#2
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Yeah, they were doing very well for a while there. Pity things seem to be changing.

02-14-2009, 02:01 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Yeah, there are a couple of threads around here about this. When I've emailed them I've gotten no answer back.

02-16-2009, 02:30 AM	#4
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	all the ebooks have 20% off currently, and are within $1 of the hard backs, but true. its outrageous.

02-16-2009, 05:20 AM	#5
Gaurnim Final Five n°42 Posts: 789 Karma: 3599 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook Gen3	You should mail them about this. I'm wondering if this isn't something legally reprehensible, like false advertising. I wouldn't threaten them with a lawsuit, of course, I'm just wondering, that's all.

02-16-2009, 10:28 AM	#7
Gaurnim Final Five n°42 Posts: 789 Karma: 3599 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook Gen3	Well, then maybe it's time to see if this is a legal practice or not.

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