Prices for amazon books

KunoK · 08-08-2010, 07:02 AM

Like a few other people I am tempted by the price of the K3. But I have a few questions about buying ebooks from amazon.

I browsed a few of the popular books and the price on amazon seems to be around 12$. I did the same on kobo, and found the prices centered around 10$ and some cheaper. Is this a general trend, or did i just hit some examples which are more expensive at amazon?

I just bought Dan Brown's The lost symbol on kobo for 7.79$, on amazon it is listed at 12.12$ delivered through whispernet. Is it cheaper if you download it to your pc?

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 07:13 AM

Amazon prices vary depending on where you live. Eg, for buying in the UK, "The Lost Symbol" costs $5.30 in the Kindle Store.

No, it's no cheaper if you download it to your PC.

SamuraiXSendai · 08-08-2010, 08:19 AM

Thanks to our "friends" at Apple prices are much higher now. I've put off multiple purchases for books I want that are now $14.99 which would have been 9.99 had they come out last year (as indicated by the "price set by the publisher" phrase). Thanks, Jobs.

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 08:22 AM

What are you talking about? Apple aren't responsible for "Agency" pricing.

KunoK · 08-08-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Amazon prices vary depending on where you live. Eg, for buying in the UK, "The Lost Symbol" costs $5.30 in the Kindle Store.

No, it's no cheaper if you download it to your PC.

That is quite a jump from 5.30 to 12.12. My location is Denmark, and it says region Europe. 5.30 is the lowest I have seen anywhere, while I have no problems finding it lower than 12.12. The picture is the same if I check Stieg Larsson's books.

carld · 08-08-2010, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What are you talking about? Apple aren't responsible for "Agency" pricing.

Weren't they? As I remember it was Apple's collusion with the Price Fix Five that forced Amazon into accepting agency pricing.

Googling "Apple & Agency Pricing" turns up articles like this one, which implicates Apple directly in publisher's schemes.

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KunoK

That is quite a jump from 5.30 to 12.12. My location is Denmark, and it says region Europe. 5.30 is the lowest I have seen anywhere, while I have no problems finding it lower than 12.12. The picture is the same if I check Stieg Larsson's books.

All three of Stieg Larsson's books are $4.17 for UK customers, and that's including VAT at 17.5%.

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

Weren't they? As I remember it was Apple's collusion with the Price Fix Five that forced Amazon into accepting agency pricing.

Googling "Apple & Agency Pricing" turns up articles like this one, which implicates Apple directly in publisher's schemes.

Apple accepted agency pricing - they had to, to get books into the iBookstore. That doesn't make them responsible for it.

Ben Thornton · 08-08-2010, 03:05 PM

Are all the books that are cheaper in the UK published by other than the price-fixing publishers, or does Amazon have a different arrangement in the UK? For pbooks, they seem to be able to set whatever price they like since the demise of the net book agreement. Can they do the same for ebooks in the UK?

SamuraiXSendai · 08-08-2010, 03:09 PM

Apple is so secretive we may never find out the truth, but I know last year those books I wanted would have been $9.99. Now the publishers can sell them to someone else, I won't buy them.

carld · 08-08-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apple accepted agency pricing - they had to, to get books into the iBookstore. That doesn't make them responsible for it.

Accepted agency pricing, or had a big hand in bringing it about as a tactic against Amazon?

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Thornton

Are all the books that are cheaper in the UK published by other than the price-fixing publishers, or does Amazon have a different arrangement in the UK? For pbooks, they seem to be able to set whatever price they like since the demise of the net book agreement. Can they do the same for ebooks in the UK?

There is no "agency agreement" in the UK (I believe it would be illegal under UK law); Amazon are free to set whatever price they wish for eBooks.

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

Accepted agency pricing, or had a big hand in bringing it about as a tactic against Amazon?

I really don't see how it could be "a tactic against Amazon", given that:

1. Apple are subject to it just as much as Amazon are.

2. Apple are actually benefiting Amazon, in that people who would not have bought a dedicated reading device are buying the iPad and iPhone, and buying books from Amazon's bookstore via the Kindle App for iPhone/iPad.

Can you explain what Apple have to gain from the Agency agreement? I'm afraid I just can't see it myself.

carld · 08-08-2010, 04:12 PM

Once the agency model was in place for Amazon, Apple began negotiating their own pricing limitations with the big 5 and imposed limits on what the publishers could charge, effectively undercutting the new deal forced on Amazon.

Apple Dictates Max E-Book Prices

Apple's Prices for E-Books May Be Lower Than Expected

Quote:

Apple inserted provisions requiring publishers to discount e-book prices on best sellers — so that $12.99-to-$14.99 range was merely a ceiling; prices for some titles could be lower, even as low as Amazon’s $9.99.

Everything I've read clearly says that Apple had a hand in bringing about the agency pricing model and intends to benefit from it.

HarryT · 08-08-2010, 04:43 PM

If that were the case, wouldn't you expect Apple's book prices to be lower than Amazon's? They aren't.

08-08-2010, 07:02 AM	#1
KunoK Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 558 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Device: Gen3, Boox 60, K3, Sony T1, Sandra has a Sony505, 650, K3	Prices for amazon books Like a few other people I am tempted by the price of the K3. But I have a few questions about buying ebooks from amazon. I browsed a few of the popular books and the price on amazon seems to be around 12$. I did the same on kobo, and found the prices centered around 10$ and some cheaper. Is this a general trend, or did i just hit some examples which are more expensive at amazon? I just bought Dan Brown's The lost symbol on kobo for 7.79$, on amazon it is listed at 12.12$ delivered through whispernet. Is it cheaper if you download it to your pc?

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08-08-2010, 07:13 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Amazon prices vary depending on where you live. Eg, for buying in the UK, "The Lost Symbol" costs $5.30 in the Kindle Store. No, it's no cheaper if you download it to your PC.

08-08-2010, 08:19 AM	#3
SamuraiXSendai Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1234 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Earth Device: Kindle 1. Kindle 2. IPAD. KDXG. Kindle 3.Fire	Thanks to our "friends" at Apple prices are much higher now. I've put off multiple purchases for books I want that are now $14.99 which would have been 9.99 had they come out last year (as indicated by the "price set by the publisher" phrase). Thanks, Jobs.

08-08-2010, 08:22 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What are you talking about? Apple aren't responsible for "Agency" pricing.

08-08-2010, 03:05 PM	#9
Ben Thornton Guru Posts: 900 Karma: 779635 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3, iPad 2 (but not for e-books)	Are all the books that are cheaper in the UK published by other than the price-fixing publishers, or does Amazon have a different arrangement in the UK? For pbooks, they seem to be able to set whatever price they like since the demise of the net book agreement. Can they do the same for ebooks in the UK?

08-08-2010, 03:09 PM	#10
SamuraiXSendai Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1234 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Earth Device: Kindle 1. Kindle 2. IPAD. KDXG. Kindle 3.Fire	Apple is so secretive we may never find out the truth, but I know last year those books I wanted would have been $9.99. Now the publishers can sell them to someone else, I won't buy them.

08-08-2010, 04:43 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If that were the case, wouldn't you expect Apple's book prices to be lower than Amazon's? They aren't.