The maximum you will pay for a book - Page 3

GA Russell · 10-26-2010, 07:38 PM

I have a collection (not exhaustive) of hardback books on a subject I am very interested in. If a new title came out that I wanted, I think I would spend as much as $30 for the hardback edition.

supermighty · 10-26-2010, 07:39 PM

It really depends on the book. For a new paperback type fiction I wouldn't want to pay more than 6 or 7.

However I've paid $60 for an out of print book about web development because I really wanted it.

viviena · 10-26-2010, 10:48 PM

For ebooks, I'll be willing to pay up to $18, considering that a lot of paperbacks here start from $24. $10 really hits the sweet spot though, and I'm becoming rather spoiled by the lower prices at places such as Baen and Kobo.

brecklundin · 10-26-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What's the max you will pay for any book? I am getting to the point where I will pay $8 tops.

I spend between $2000-$4000/yr for reference books. Usually it hovers on the lower end but when I have/need either new or updated references I buy them as soon as it's in the budget. This is not recreational reading material it's business related and required if I want to earn a living and ahead of the curve with the competition. While I always have a budget to stick with I don't mind the prices for well researched and accurate reference books. Most are in the $40-$200 range but a few run nearly $1000 these days.

As for ebooks...I have paid $9.99 a couple times but did not like it. My true comfort zone is just under to cost of a matinee movie where I live, or $6 max.

A book is only worth what it gives me...reference books have made me 1000x their cost over the decades but recreational books never made me a penny. I stopped buying paperbacks new when the cover prices reached the $6.99 and went exclusively used. As I recall that was around 15-yrs back. I do admit a fondness for trade Pb's over mass market Pb's but don't care when they are used. I find that most all of my trade Pb's are much better constructed and last for many more readings. But anymore I have zero need to buy printed recreational reading books. And as a bonus my references are moving to ebook format though quite slowly as until we have large format color readers (don't care about screen tech just need slate form factor) the current readers are useless.

bjones6416 · 10-26-2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

A book is only worth what it gives me...reference books have made me 1000x their cost over the decades but recreational books never made me a penny.

Well, my cat never made me a penny, either, but he's worth more than $9.99 to me.

Nah, just kidding -- I know what you're saying. Recreational books mean more to me than just recreation, though. Favorite books are like old friends to me, and I can't (and often don't) put a price on how much my life has been enriched by a particular book. I love my books, even if they are all in one device now.

ardeegee · 10-27-2010, 01:26 AM

For a work of fiction, maybe around $10 (in deadtree) and preferably less for an ebook (I have, in years past, bought new hardbacks, but that isn't something I'd do now-- except maybe for an anthology.) For non-fiction, it depends on how bad I want the book and how much I can afford to spend. I believe that the most I've ever paid for a book is under $100, though.

My non-fiction tastes lean toward science books that will either soon cost pennies for a ex-libris hardcopy (in barely touched condition) or else become a sought-after OOP rarity that sells for multiples of the original cover price (and unfortunately I can't predict which it will become.)

Just for fun, I checked to see what the most expensive book on my Amazon wish list is-- $192.99 new, $28.82 used. (At least a couple, I see, are not available at all new and are over $200 used. But on the other hand for example, this book, filled with glossy color photos, many of them full page-- makes a good art and culture book even if you aren't interested in the science-- sells for as little as a measly penny. )

Piper_ · 10-27-2010, 02:02 AM

I don't have a limit for a good hardcover. I collect them, some antique, with handwritten notes and dedications. If my house caught fire, they'd be my first non-living save, after my laptop and backup drive.

For recreational fiction, if it's a new release I'm dying to read, I don't have a limit. I usually wouldn't buy something that important to me in an ebook, though. If I like something that much, I want it on my bookshelf.

For recreational, throw-away fiction, I'm cool with spending up to $8, or, as WorldWalker says, about 25% below what I'll pay for a pbook.

doreenjoy · 10-27-2010, 03:22 AM

I recently paid $250 for an out of print reference book. I suspect I'm several standard deviations beyond the mean.

Bikeridr · 10-27-2010, 05:38 AM

If I were to limit myself to "US$99 or less", I wouldn't get many books from Amazon, since they're US$11,99 including the "international whispernet punishment".
Ayway, since my personal record in high price is ~US$3.000,- for a book (Ok, an Encyclopaedia), and also have several reference book series (history, science) in excess of US$500,- I set no actual limit.
If I want a book and can afford it, I buy it.
So far the most expensive (and wanted) eBook has been US$16,49 off Amazon.

Lemurion · 10-27-2010, 09:03 PM

The last new pBook I got for myself was $49.99 ($34 with a Borders Coupon). It's the DC Wednesday Comics hardcover, and I already own all twelve of the original issues at $3.99 each. I have three hardcover graphic novels/collections on the shelf that are priced at $75 each, and another four with a cover price of $49.99.

So I'll easily spend $75 on recreational reading if I feel the product is worth the price. I try to shop around and get coupons - but everything I have in that price range is something I would have paid full price for or I wouldn't have got it.

Reference books - I'll go up to $100 without thinking. (Not quite true, with my budget I have to consider any expenditure of that amount, but my only qualms are about arranging finances, not spending that much on a book).

As for Ebooks - I've spent $25+ on games rules PDFs. Fiction I'll usually top out at $15 - but I have to really want anything I'm paying more than the price of a paperback for. For me, ebooks have replaced paperbacks, so that's my price point - $5-8.

mldavis2 · 10-27-2010, 10:12 PM

For me, it depends on the type of book. Fiction, fun reading, maybe $10 which is why I don't often buy pBooks anymore. The cheapest paperbacks are around $15 and fall apart after one or two readings and deteriorate with age. Properly bound hardbacks are in the $20 to $50 range or more.

I will spend more on a good coffee-table book which is more decoration than reading material.

But for an eBook? $10.

10-27-2010, 01:26 AM	#36
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	For a work of fiction, maybe around $10 (in deadtree) and preferably less for an ebook (I have, in years past, bought new hardbacks, but that isn't something I'd do now-- except maybe for an anthology.) For non-fiction, it depends on how bad I want the book and how much I can afford to spend. I believe that the most I've ever paid for a book is under $100, though. My non-fiction tastes lean toward science books that will either soon cost pennies for a ex-libris hardcopy (in barely touched condition) or else become a sought-after OOP rarity that sells for multiples of the original cover price (and unfortunately I can't predict which it will become.) Just for fun, I checked to see what the most expensive book on my Amazon wish list is-- $192.99 new, $28.82 used. (At least a couple, I see, are not available at all new and are over $200 used. But on the other hand for example, this book, filled with glossy color photos, many of them full page-- makes a good art and culture book even if you aren't interested in the science-- sells for as little as a measly penny. ) Last edited by ardeegee; 10-27-2010 at 01:35 AM.

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10-26-2010, 07:38 PM	#31
GA Russell Ticats/Als, Riders/Lions Posts: 7,717 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I have a collection (not exhaustive) of hardback books on a subject I am very interested in. If a new title came out that I wanted, I think I would spend as much as $30 for the hardback edition.

10-26-2010, 07:39 PM	#32
supermighty Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 6384806 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walled City Device: Kobo Libre 2	It really depends on the book. For a new paperback type fiction I wouldn't want to pay more than 6 or 7. However I've paid $60 for an out of print book about web development because I really wanted it.

10-26-2010, 10:48 PM	#33
viviena Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 520610 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra, Australia Device: Currently Kobo Clara HD and Aura One, iPad	For ebooks, I'll be willing to pay up to $18, considering that a lot of paperbacks here start from $24. $10 really hits the sweet spot though, and I'm becoming rather spoiled by the lower prices at places such as Baen and Kobo.

10-27-2010, 02:02 AM	#37
Piper_ ~~~~~ Posts: 761 Karma: 1278391 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle 3, Sony 350	I don't have a limit for a good hardcover. I collect them, some antique, with handwritten notes and dedications. If my house caught fire, they'd be my first non-living save, after my laptop and backup drive. For recreational fiction, if it's a new release I'm dying to read, I don't have a limit. I usually wouldn't buy something that important to me in an ebook, though. If I like something that much, I want it on my bookshelf. For recreational, throw-away fiction, I'm cool with spending up to $8, or, as WorldWalker says, about 25% below what I'll pay for a pbook.

10-27-2010, 03:22 AM	#38
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	I recently paid $250 for an out of print reference book. I suspect I'm several standard deviations beyond the mean.

10-27-2010, 05:38 AM	#39
Bikeridr Information Acquirer Posts: 436 Karma: 4265156 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Latvia, Rigas Rajons Device: Kindle 3 International, Pocketbook Color	If I were to limit myself to "US$99 or less", I wouldn't get many books from Amazon, since they're US$11,99 including the "international whispernet punishment". Ayway, since my personal record in high price is ~US$3.000,- for a book (Ok, an Encyclopaedia), and also have several reference book series (history, science) in excess of US$500,- I set no actual limit. If I want a book and can afford it, I buy it. So far the most expensive (and wanted) eBook has been US$16,49 off Amazon.

10-27-2010, 09:03 PM	#40
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	The last new pBook I got for myself was $49.99 ($34 with a Borders Coupon). It's the DC Wednesday Comics hardcover, and I already own all twelve of the original issues at $3.99 each. I have three hardcover graphic novels/collections on the shelf that are priced at $75 each, and another four with a cover price of $49.99. So I'll easily spend $75 on recreational reading if I feel the product is worth the price. I try to shop around and get coupons - but everything I have in that price range is something I would have paid full price for or I wouldn't have got it. Reference books - I'll go up to $100 without thinking. (Not quite true, with my budget I have to consider any expenditure of that amount, but my only qualms are about arranging finances, not spending that much on a book). As for Ebooks - I've spent $25+ on games rules PDFs. Fiction I'll usually top out at $15 - but I have to really want anything I'm paying more than the price of a paperback for. For me, ebooks have replaced paperbacks, so that's my price point - $5-8.

10-27-2010, 10:12 PM	#41
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	For me, it depends on the type of book. Fiction, fun reading, maybe $10 which is why I don't often buy pBooks anymore. The cheapest paperbacks are around $15 and fall apart after one or two readings and deteriorate with age. Properly bound hardbacks are in the $20 to $50 range or more. I will spend more on a good coffee-table book which is more decoration than reading material. But for an eBook? $10.