Cheapest E-Books Upend the Charts

[leebase]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Yes, there is competition but even with the errors we find in books published by the Agency 6, there is still a general level of qualitative difference between what the Agency 6 publish and the indie market -- again, broadly speaking. I can point to a handful of indie authors whose books are comparable to the quality level of writing -- again, setting aside formatting issues -- of the Agency 6 produced books, but I would not say that the overall indie effort has reached that qualitative level yet. The fact of competition is not enough. The competition has to be comparable qualitatively.

That's what competition is. The higher the quality, the higher the price you can command. Put your price TOO high, and folks will put up with lesser quality rather than pay the price premium. Thus, even with the ability to SET the price an ebook costs, the publisher cannot necessarily SELL the ebook at that price.

We do not require different ebook-stores to compete on price for the same ebook in order to have the benefits of pricing competition. There is competition by other books.

Lee

[Shimarenda]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Although I consider this good news overall, I worry that in pursuit of lower-cost reading material, readers are willing to accept lower-quality to no editing, leading to poor grammar and spelling. I worry about this because clear communication is vital in many areas of life and when we begin to accept sloppy communication skills, we degrade our life experience and can even threaten our lives as a result of misunderstanding. What i would like to see is not only increased indie sales but increased demand for grammar and spelling quality.

Let me preface my comments by noting that many indie authors quality work.

I understand your concern, rhadin, but I am reminded of all those cheap yellowbacks printed on pulp paper from ages gone by. Civilization survived that flood of 10-cent murders and space adventures. Part of me wants to believe that, as a mental activity, reading dreck may be superior than watching quality television.

[Blue Tyson]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Although I consider this good news overall, I worry that in pursuit of lower-cost reading material, readers are willing to accept lower-quality to no editing, leading to poor grammar and spelling. I worry about this because clear communication is vital in many areas of life and when we begin to accept sloppy communication skills, we degrade our life experience and can even threaten our lives as a result of misunderstanding. What i would like to see is not only increased indie sales but increased demand for grammar and spelling quality.

So this would mean getting most editors from outside the USA, where education in such things might just be better?

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

So this would mean getting most editors from outside the USA, where education in such things might just be better?

Only if they had to recruit their editors from low income high schools.

[Canuck_in_Japan]

If anybody is interested in trying the books by Locke, you can get almost his whole catalogue for free on Kobobooks by using the $1 off coupon (KoboSpring1)

[wyndslash]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

So this would mean getting most editors from outside the USA, where education in such things might just be better?

i'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but i've always been complimented on my english, despite it not being my first language

[mldavis2]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

So this would mean getting most editors from outside the USA, where education in such things might just be better

An interesting thought; however I see the increasing deterioration of communicative effectiveness as pervasive in any country in which its inhabitants continue to replace written communication skills with text messaging, and replace reading literature with viewing YouTube videos of skateboard accidents for entertainment.

[Kiteology]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

..."Amazon says its studies have shown that digital titles sold by publishers using agency pricing aren't showing the same rate of unit growth as books that Amazon can discount."

I'm still trying to figure out how any of the e-book players are pricing their product:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...wnandoutint-20

The above link is to a year-old title with a paperback edition in print that Amazon (not the publisher) has set the Kindle price, roughly $3 below the hardcover, but $5 above the paperback.

I'm beginning to suspect that monkeys and dartboards are being employed...

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Kiteology

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...wnandoutint-20

The above link is to a year-old title with a paperback edition in print that Amazon (not the publisher) has set the Kindle price, roughly $3 below the hardcover, but $5 above the paperback.

I'm beginning to suspect that monkeys and dartboards are being employed...

Paperback has not yet been released; maybe the ebook price will drop when the trade version is available. List price of hardcover & ebook are the same; they've both been discounted.

But I agree on the erratic pricing. Somewhere, a dartboard manufacturer is making millions. (I suspect they use interns instead of monkeys; they can pay them less.)

[SameOldStory]

As a person who would like to write but has no talent for doing so, I like to encourage indie writers. Some are worthless, but many are quite good. The same holds true for those published by the big publishers. Add to the mix that the indie books are frequently non-DRM it's an easy choice for me.

On the other hand (aside from DRM), I wouldn't mind paying up to full paperback prices for a writer that I really like.

If the big publishers wish to make their prices and practices meet the purchasers requirements they'll survive just fine.

[elcreative]

No, way too illogical for monkeys, probably an ex-government spin doctor...

Originally Posted by Kiteology

I'm still trying to figure out how any of the e-book players are pricing their product:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...wnandoutint-20

The above link is to a year-old title with a paperback edition in print that Amazon (not the publisher) has set the Kindle price, roughly $3 below the hardcover, but $5 above the paperback.

I'm beginning to suspect that monkeys and dartboards are being employed...

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by Blue Tyson

So this would mean getting most editors from outside the USA, where education in such things might just be better?

One of the mistakes of current publishing is that it believes all editors are equal so hiring the least expensive editor from outside the USA is equivalent to hiring an expensive editor from inside the USA.

As with all other professions, skillsets vary person to person. However, if a book is destined for the American market, even though a Lithuanian may have the same grammar skillset as an American editor, they usually lack the nuanced understanding of grammar, idioms, and idiolects of a skilled American editor. Similarly, if the book is for the Lithuanian market, the American editor is likely to be lacking in those skillsets. There is more to quality editing than knowing the difference between its and it's, were and where, etc.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

On the other hand (aside from DRM), I wouldn't mind paying up to full paperback prices for a writer that I really like.

I really like Ellis Peters and her Inspector George Felse titles -- originally published 1951 through the latter 1960s, I believe -- are only in paperback and at around $20 each.

Can you clarify what you mean by "full paperback prices"?

[Assassin]

Despite all the complaints here about editing I don't think the average reader gives a good damn about a minimal number of errors in their books. As I've stated in several other post you can't get readers to post reviews and state their satisfaction or dissatisfaction of a read. Example: I had 618 downloads of a book, Reverse Metamorphosis, at Smashwords when it was free. Out of that I got three reviews, one a full page by a blogger who later told me there must not have been too many editing errors or he would have noted the deficiency. But the average reader, not the people responding to forums and blogs, won't take the time or make the effort to respond out of political correctness or fear of hurting someones feelings.
All readers should review and rate at least half of the books they read as a service to other readers and to the author. But how do you get them interested in getting involved? I've even put a request at the end of my books practically begging them to write a review.

[Kiteology]

[QUOTE=Elfwreck;1508025]Paperback has not yet been released; maybe the ebook price will drop when the trade version is available. List price of hardcover & ebook are the same; they've both been discounted. [QUOTE]

Oops! Thanks for pointing that out Elfwreck. I looked at both the hardcover and Kindle listings, but I guess I should have glanced at the paperback listing as well. Curious that there is not even a release date mentioned yet Amazon lists a price.