NYT to Rank Ebook Bestsellers - Page 2

elemenoP · 11-12-2010, 07:45 AM

I also wonder what they are going to do about free books, maybe not include them at all? So then will we start seeing book promotions for $0.01 instead of free? Anyway, I think this can only be good news for readers, as (hopefully) publishers will price some interesting books cheap, in an effort to crack the NYT list.

But also: it looks like they are tracking sales through publishers, not retailers. So what does that mean for indie and self-publishers, which should have higher sales (relatively speaking) in ebook sales vs print sales?

tompe · 11-12-2010, 08:40 AM

For paperbooks only hardcover is included so the same is reasonable for ebooks. Include only ebooks editions that has the same role as a hardcover book.

Kali Yuga · 11-12-2010, 08:46 AM

They didn't say, but my guess is they won't include free books. In a lot of cases, free ebooks are promos anyway.

They are tracking sales through many sources, including a variety of retailers, not just the publishers.

Small publishers may see more ebook sales relative to their own print sales, but I doubt that a small pub will still enough relative to other ebooks to land on the charts, unless that particular book is massively successful anyway.

jhempel24 · 11-12-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Wow this is really a tough room.

I think we're missing the much more important point: having a dedicated ebook bestseller list gathered and endorsed by the New York Times is a significant milestone in the evolution of ebooks from "an excuse to buy a new gadget" to a mainstream reading experience. It marks the shift from device to content.

I agree, the fact that they are recognizing it in this way proves that it will "hopefully" be here to stay. I still think the Agency 5 is a conspiracy for the publishers to get rid of eBooks by pissing off everyone, but that's neither here nor there, getting a list for NYT Bestsellers is HUGE!!! I'm very excited about this.

ProfCrash · 11-12-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

I agree, the fact that they are recognizing it in this way proves that it will "hopefully" be here to stay. I still think the Agency 5 is a conspiracy for the publishers to get rid of eBooks by pissing off everyone, but that's neither here nor there, getting a list for NYT Bestsellers is HUGE!!! I'm very excited about this.

Well they have succeeded in pissing people off but they have not managed to hurt e-book sales.

dsvick · 11-12-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I'll be interested to see if any backlist titles make the top ten.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are a number of them. For example JK Rowlings would relent and offer the Harry Potter books, I bet they'd hit it pretty quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Wow this is really a tough room.

I think we're missing the much more important point: having a dedicated ebook bestseller list gathered and endorsed by the New York Times is a significant milestone in the evolution of ebooks from "an excuse to buy a new gadget" to a mainstream reading experience. It marks the shift from device to content.

Exactly right. Regardless of other factors and how the behind the scenes calculations work, for most average people they'll see this as a sign that maybe those electronic book thingies have something to them.

jhempel24 · 11-12-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Well they have succeeded in pissing people off but they have not managed to hurt e-book sales.

LOL, very true...imagine what they "could" have though if they dropped the price even $2.00

It's not that much, but when you look at it, I bet people would jump all over it more. Kind of like gas....Prices may be .15 different from one to the next, but you are only saving $2.00 to get the cheap stuff on say a 15 gallon tank. But most people tend to get the cheap stuff because it is just a tiny bit cheaper.

JSWolf · 11-12-2010, 11:14 PM

http://www.daemonsbooks.com/2010/11/...nclude-ebooks/

leebase · 11-13-2010, 05:49 PM

I concur that it does offer a bit of "validation" to the ebook market. However, with Amazon controlling 80% of the market, the Amazon top sellers ARE the ebook best seller's list.

Lee

GA Russell · 11-13-2010, 06:58 PM

I agree with Lee.

It's good to see others get into the best selling list game, but I wonder if the NYT list will be considered outdated by the time it is published. Presumably, Amazon's is up to date.

It is not clear to me what Amazon's time frame is - the past week? The past two days?

Fbone · 11-13-2010, 08:03 PM

Assuming Amazon's sales are included why wouldn't the indie publishers post their inventory on Amazon also? Being the publisher of a NYT bestseller is big.

I do believe there may not be much difference from Kindle's list from the NYT's.

Xenophon · 11-14-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Assuming Amazon's sales are included why wouldn't the indie publishers post their inventory on Amazon also? Being the publisher of a NYT bestseller is big.

I do believe there may not be much difference from Kindle's list from the NYT's.

In at least one case (Baen), they don't because Amazon doesn't allow publishers to put their inventory up DRM-free. Note: Amazon allows this for individual authors — it's their setup for publishers that requires DRM.

There's also the secondary issue of requiring that the books not be sold for less anywhere else. Not clear how that would impact Webscriptions pricing. The PTB at Baen have apparently been "in discussion" with Amazon over these issues for quite a while; resolution expected "Real Soon Now." Of course, RSN is one of those indeterminate time frame that can be short, or long, or infinite, or...

Xenophon

Fbone · 11-14-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

In at least one case (Baen), they don't because Amazon doesn't allow publishers to put their inventory up DRM-free. Note: Amazon allows this for individual authors — it's their setup for publishers that requires DRM.

Xenophon

Then let's hope that the NYT includes Baen's ebook sales in their bestseller list.

JSWolf · 11-14-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

Then let's hope that the NYT includes Baen's ebook sales in their bestseller list.

If the NYT does not, then the list is fixed and useless as it would be untrue.

Kali Yuga · 11-14-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the NYT does not, then the list is fixed and useless as it would be untrue.

From what I can tell, the best-selling Baen ebook on Amazon is [u]The Spirit Ring[u] (ranked #35,653), the best-selling in all formats is In Fire Forged: Worlds of Honor V (ranked #7,964).

Baen sells more from their own website, to be sure. But methinks they loom larger in the imagination of MR posters than they do in the book biz.

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11-12-2010, 07:45 AM	#16
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I also wonder what they are going to do about free books, maybe not include them at all? So then will we start seeing book promotions for $0.01 instead of free? Anyway, I think this can only be good news for readers, as (hopefully) publishers will price some interesting books cheap, in an effort to crack the NYT list. But also: it looks like they are tracking sales through publishers, not retailers. So what does that mean for indie and self-publishers, which should have higher sales (relatively speaking) in ebook sales vs print sales?

11-12-2010, 08:40 AM	#17
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	For paperbooks only hardcover is included so the same is reasonable for ebooks. Include only ebooks editions that has the same role as a hardcover book.

11-12-2010, 08:46 AM	#18
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	They didn't say, but my guess is they won't include free books. In a lot of cases, free ebooks are promos anyway. They are tracking sales through many sources, including a variety of retailers, not just the publishers. Small publishers may see more ebook sales relative to their own print sales, but I doubt that a small pub will still enough relative to other ebooks to land on the charts, unless that particular book is massively successful anyway.

11-12-2010, 11:14 PM	#23
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,763 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	http://www.daemonsbooks.com/2010/11/...nclude-ebooks/

11-13-2010, 05:49 PM	#24
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I concur that it does offer a bit of "validation" to the ebook market. However, with Amazon controlling 80% of the market, the Amazon top sellers ARE the ebook best seller's list. Lee

11-13-2010, 06:58 PM	#25
GA Russell Ticats win 4th straight Posts: 7,694 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I agree with Lee. It's good to see others get into the best selling list game, but I wonder if the NYT list will be considered outdated by the time it is published. Presumably, Amazon's is up to date. It is not clear to me what Amazon's time frame is - the past week? The past two days?

11-13-2010, 08:03 PM	#26
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,295 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Assuming Amazon's sales are included why wouldn't the indie publishers post their inventory on Amazon also? Being the publisher of a NYT bestseller is big. I do believe there may not be much difference from Kindle's list from the NYT's.