For those who think $9.95 too much for a new book/bestseller...

sherman · 08-15-2009, 05:49 AM

I've seen plenty of posts around mobileread the past while of people thinking 9.95 USD too much to pay for a new release or bestseller ebook. Not to mention the complaints about backlist title prices...

I thought I'd give some of our international readers (and I very carefully won't mention any specific country) a small glimpse as to what book prices can be like in another country.

I would like to direct your attention here. This is really the only option NZer's have when it comes to buying books. Those lucky enough to live in the main centres have access to Borders, but, surprise surprise, prices are generally the same.

For those who haven't followed the link, let me summarize for you.
In general, adult paperbacks START at around $19 NZD, and hardbacks are generally priced anywhere from about $45 NZD all the way up to about $65 NZD. The only adult books that are significantly cheaper than this are a select few "popular" books (for eg: Dan Brown).

The current exchange rate at the moment is 1.00 NZD = 0.678 USD

There, got that off my chest...

Sparrow · 08-15-2009, 06:10 AM

Gulp!

I'd imagine those sort of prices make ebooks look like a pretty attractive alternative in New Zealand.

Anggun · 08-15-2009, 06:25 AM

Its the same here. I live in Singapore. We may have Borders, Kinokuniya but prices aren't nowhere close to those in North America.

A US$7.99 paperback will cost around SGD$16. At the current exchange rate, its about US$11. Which is why I fully embraced ebookstores. The amount of money I saved a year switching from physical books to ebooks is enough to get me one ebook reader even if the ebook are all priced at US$9.95.

zelda_pinwheel · 08-15-2009, 11:10 AM

crikey !

and i thought books were expensive here (france). a new book in large-sized paper back (called "broché" meaning it's sewn now glued, but still not hardcover ; most new books are first published in this format) costs usually around 20€. second-printing pocket edition paperback books are usually around 7€ or more which is a bit more reasonable (although still high, i think). ebooks are so far wildly varying, with most of them being closer to broché prices than pocket, with a few (public domain, usually, or small / independent authors and publishers) exceptions.

sherman · 08-15-2009, 07:04 PM

Yeah, I definitely find ebooks to be rather low priced, and I've actually bought more books since I've had my Sony reader than I ever did before.

Put it this way, I can completely full my car with petrol for cheaper than I can buy a new hardback book...

Steven Lyle Jordan · 08-15-2009, 07:57 PM

to all my prospective customers... uh, I mean friends... in New Zealand!

More than once, I've thought about the differences in costs and cost of living in various countries, and how e-books stand elsewhere. For instance, who's going to buy even a $3.50 e-book when your monthly wage equals the equivalent of about $30?

These discrepancies could often be dealt with when the merchandise was physical. But with electronic merchandise, the equations have changed. Some online payment systems are evolving to give the seller some more control over prices in different countries/currencies, but we aren't quite there yet.

HarryT · 08-16-2009, 03:15 AM

The "standard" price for a paperback in the UK is generally either £6.99 or £7.99 - that's about $11.60 or $13.20 respectively.

"New release" hardbacks in the UK cost anywhere from about £15 to £20 ($25 to $33). For example, the full UK price of Dan Brown's new book is $18.99 ($32), although many bookshops are offering it for half price for pre-order, so that's £9.50, or $16.

So, from a UK perspective, $10 for a new release is a bargain.

08-15-2009, 05:49 AM	#1
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	For those who think $9.95 too much for a new book/bestseller... I've seen plenty of posts around mobileread the past while of people thinking 9.95 USD too much to pay for a new release or bestseller ebook. Not to mention the complaints about backlist title prices... I thought I'd give some of our international readers (and I very carefully won't mention any specific country) a small glimpse as to what book prices can be like in another country. I would like to direct your attention here. This is really the only option NZer's have when it comes to buying books. Those lucky enough to live in the main centres have access to Borders, but, surprise surprise, prices are generally the same. For those who haven't followed the link, let me summarize for you. In general, adult paperbacks START at around $19 NZD, and hardbacks are generally priced anywhere from about $45 NZD all the way up to about $65 NZD. The only adult books that are significantly cheaper than this are a select few "popular" books (for eg: Dan Brown). The current exchange rate at the moment is 1.00 NZD = 0.678 USD There, got that off my chest... Last edited by sherman; 08-15-2009 at 05:53 AM.

08-16-2009, 03:15 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The "standard" price for a paperback in the UK is generally either £6.99 or £7.99 - that's about $11.60 or $13.20 respectively. "New release" hardbacks in the UK cost anywhere from about £15 to £20 ($25 to $33). For example, the full UK price of Dan Brown's new book is $18.99 ($32), although many bookshops are offering it for half price for pre-order, so that's £9.50, or $16. So, from a UK perspective, $10 for a new release is a bargain. Last edited by HarryT; 08-16-2009 at 03:38 AM.

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08-15-2009, 06:10 AM	#2
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Gulp! I'd imagine those sort of prices make ebooks look like a pretty attractive alternative in New Zealand.

08-15-2009, 06:25 AM	#3
Anggun Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 657 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Its the same here. I live in Singapore. We may have Borders, Kinokuniya but prices aren't nowhere close to those in North America. A US$7.99 paperback will cost around SGD$16. At the current exchange rate, its about US$11. Which is why I fully embraced ebookstores. The amount of money I saved a year switching from physical books to ebooks is enough to get me one ebook reader even if the ebook are all priced at US$9.95.

08-15-2009, 11:10 AM	#4
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	crikey ! and i thought books were expensive here (france). a new book in large-sized paper back (called "broché" meaning it's sewn now glued, but still not hardcover ; most new books are first published in this format) costs usually around 20€. second-printing pocket edition paperback books are usually around 7€ or more which is a bit more reasonable (although still high, i think). ebooks are so far wildly varying, with most of them being closer to broché prices than pocket, with a few (public domain, usually, or small / independent authors and publishers) exceptions.

08-15-2009, 07:04 PM	#5
sherman Guru Posts: 875 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Yeah, I definitely find ebooks to be rather low priced, and I've actually bought more books since I've had my Sony reader than I ever did before. Put it this way, I can completely full my car with petrol for cheaper than I can buy a new hardback book...

08-15-2009, 07:57 PM	#6
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	to all my prospective customers... uh, I mean friends... in New Zealand! More than once, I've thought about the differences in costs and cost of living in various countries, and how e-books stand elsewhere. For instance, who's going to buy even a $3.50 e-book when your monthly wage equals the equivalent of about $30? These discrepancies could often be dealt with when the merchandise was physical. But with electronic merchandise, the equations have changed. Some online payment systems are evolving to give the seller some more control over prices in different countries/currencies, but we aren't quite there yet.

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