Waterstones - Dreadful Prices

PieOPah · 03-06-2009, 11:57 AM

I am really gutted...

Whilst I very rarely use Waterstones any more, there is the odd occasion when the book I am after is either only available in the UK or Waterstones for some reason have it cheaper than the US.

Recently I wanted to purchase Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) but on principle refuse to since it is about 65% more expensive than the paperback version. Another book I was interested in - The Gargoyle is again more expensive for the E-book version by almost double!

I have been mailing Waterstones, but their general reply is 'we are sorry you are unhappy'. On the last occasion they did say that they would forward my mail to the 'Managing Team' (whoever they are!)

Fair enough, these books are on offer, but why does the paperback get a 50% discount while the ebook only gets a 20%.

Hopefully something will be done to rectify this.

My biggest gripe is that when I bought my Sony Ebook Reader from Waterstones, I asked what the price difference was and they told me that in general the Ebook was 10% CHEAPER...

EDIT - Title is a typo, meant 'prices' - seems I can't edit the title now

HarryT · 03-06-2009, 12:00 PM

One reason that eBooks can be more expensive is simply down to the fact that eBooks are subject to VAT, while paper books are zero rated.

PieOPah · 03-06-2009, 12:08 PM

That's fair enough. I would happily accept that if Waterstones explained it to me. I would also accept it if the staff had told me that when I first purchased the reader rather than telling me the books would be cheaper. I would also accept it if the support staff said that in their response to my mails.

As it is, Waterstones have never explained why other than several months ago when they said the prices where dictated by the publisher - something I happily explained meant they should have both versions at the same price as that is what the publisher sold them as (based on a mail I received from the publisher when asking their price reasoning)

I rarely buy from Waterstones as Fictionwise is much cheaper (usually) so it isn't much of a problem. Just would be nice to have the choice - even if both versions were the same price or really similar! A 15% difference (tax) would almost be acceptable (still annoying) but the 50% - 65% markups are unjustifiable.

And thank you for fixing the title

bathos · 03-06-2009, 01:52 PM

I bought my Sony when it first came out in the UK last year. Since then I have bought several hundred ebooks but not a single one from Waterstones. I do have a look at their books every now and then but I just laugh and go somewhere else.

justlizz · 03-06-2009, 01:59 PM

Have you tried WH Smiths?
lizz

PieOPah · 03-06-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justlizz

Have you tried WH Smiths?
lizz

Their prices are worse... They advertise one price and then slap on tax at checkout!

TetraKM · 03-07-2009, 06:56 AM

I am in total agreement. The prices are just rediculous!!!! I cannot even spend my points. And why don't Waterstones do books in the proper Sony format?? And if they want to save VAT then they should sell them from Jersey like Play.com do. In fact when you think about it why don't Play sell ebooks?

gwynevans · 03-07-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieOPah

Their prices are worse... They advertise one price and then slap on tax at checkout!

So does MobiPocket, which is something to remember when comparing prices...

HarryT · 03-07-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieOPah

Their prices are worse... They advertise one price and then slap on tax at checkout!

They don't know what country you're in until you check-out, so they cannot reasonably know whether or not you're liable for VAT until that time.

PieOPah · 03-07-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

They don't know what country you're in until you check-out, so they cannot reasonably know whether or not you're liable for VAT until that time.

It should be fairly easy to determine what country you are in based on your IP address... Many other places use this as a reliable method! Fair enough there are ways around this (such as proxies) but the number of people who know about this are far less than those who do!

Penguin Books UK manage to give a price inclusive of Tax as do waterstones. Why can't Whsmith?

amjbrown · 03-07-2009, 07:14 PM

I have also been writing to Waterstones pointing out that their prices are crazy. I got...

Quote:

Thank you for your email.

I am sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the price difference between
ebooks and other formats online.

There are a number of reasons why the prices are different online but as
this is an exclusive product prices may vary, I would like to inform you
that in the future there will be reductions and promotions as the item
becomes more popular.

I do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Kind regards,

They have most current eBooks discounted by 20% against the jacket price. However, given they have many paperbacks on the site discounted by 40%, and many books in store on a 3 for 2 deal, this is pretty hopeless.

In my mail that warranted the above response, I did point out that they had a brief period of Kindle free time to establish themselves. Their book prices seem to indicate they don't see eReaders as part of the long term UK business model. I think they are mad!

RickyMaveety · 03-07-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieOPah

I am really gutted...

Whilst I very rarely use Waterstones any more, there is the odd occasion when the book I am after is either only available in the UK or Waterstones for some reason have it cheaper than the US.

Recently I wanted to purchase Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) but on principle refuse to since it is about 65% more expensive than the paperback version. Another book I was interested in - The Gargoyle is again more expensive for the E-book version by almost double!

I have been mailing Waterstones, but their general reply is 'we are sorry you are unhappy'. On the last occasion they did say that they would forward my mail to the 'Managing Team' (whoever they are!)

Fair enough, these books are on offer, but why does the paperback get a 50% discount while the ebook only gets a 20%.

Hopefully something will be done to rectify this.

My biggest gripe is that when I bought my Sony Ebook Reader from Waterstones, I asked what the price difference was and they told me that in general the Ebook was 10% CHEAPER...

EDIT - Title is a typo, meant 'prices' - seems I can't edit the title now

Now that the title has been edited, I wish I knew what the typo was?? I'm imagining all sorts of interesting possibilities .... my favorite so far is:

Waterstones Dreadful Pricks.

PieOPah · 03-08-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amjbrown

I have also been writing to Waterstones pointing out that their prices are crazy. I got...

Damn... It is a standard E-mail. That is the exact mail I received, word for word!! After pushing it further they politely told me to F Off and write to Head Office...

HarryT · 03-08-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieOPah

It should be fairly easy to determine what country you are in based on your IP address... Many other places use this as a reliable method! Fair enough there are ways around this (such as proxies) but the number of people who know about this are far less than those who do!

Penguin Books UK manage to give a price inclusive of Tax as do waterstones. Why can't Whsmith?

My point is that WH Smith's are not alone in adding the VAT at the point of checkout. It's an entirely standard practice which many web sites use. You cannot say that they are doing something "bad" in doing this.

PieOPah · 03-08-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

My point is that WH Smith's are not alone in adding the VAT at the point of checkout. It's an entirely standard practice which many web sites use. You cannot say that they are doing something "bad" in doing this.

In all my internet shopping, I have very rarely come across a site that adds VAT at checkout. It is quite annoying when trying to compare prices! Basically I don't use WHSmith and only use Waterstones if cheaper than fictionwise (with some of their offers, there are some actually cheaper) or not available at fictionwise.

My main gripe is that Waterstones
a) stated ebooks would be cheaper
b) offer huge discounts on PB but next to nothing on ebook
c) have a stock answer (as per above) meaning that enough people have compained but they don't seem to be doing much about it!

03-06-2009, 11:57 AM	#1
PieOPah Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 914 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Waterstones - Dreadful Prices I am really gutted... Whilst I very rarely use Waterstones any more, there is the odd occasion when the book I am after is either only available in the UK or Waterstones for some reason have it cheaper than the US. Recently I wanted to purchase Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) but on principle refuse to since it is about 65% more expensive than the paperback version. Another book I was interested in - The Gargoyle is again more expensive for the E-book version by almost double! I have been mailing Waterstones, but their general reply is 'we are sorry you are unhappy'. On the last occasion they did say that they would forward my mail to the 'Managing Team' (whoever they are!) Fair enough, these books are on offer, but why does the paperback get a 50% discount while the ebook only gets a 20%. Hopefully something will be done to rectify this. My biggest gripe is that when I bought my Sony Ebook Reader from Waterstones, I asked what the price difference was and they told me that in general the Ebook was 10% CHEAPER... EDIT - Title is a typo, meant 'prices' - seems I can't edit the title now

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03-06-2009, 12:00 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	One reason that eBooks can be more expensive is simply down to the fact that eBooks are subject to VAT, while paper books are zero rated.

03-06-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
PieOPah Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 914 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	That's fair enough. I would happily accept that if Waterstones explained it to me. I would also accept it if the staff had told me that when I first purchased the reader rather than telling me the books would be cheaper. I would also accept it if the support staff said that in their response to my mails. As it is, Waterstones have never explained why other than several months ago when they said the prices where dictated by the publisher - something I happily explained meant they should have both versions at the same price as that is what the publisher sold them as (based on a mail I received from the publisher when asking their price reasoning) I rarely buy from Waterstones as Fictionwise is much cheaper (usually) so it isn't much of a problem. Just would be nice to have the choice - even if both versions were the same price or really similar! A 15% difference (tax) would almost be acceptable (still annoying) but the 50% - 65% markups are unjustifiable. And thank you for fixing the title

03-06-2009, 01:52 PM	#4
bathos Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 727000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: iPhone XS, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, kindle Oasis	I bought my Sony when it first came out in the UK last year. Since then I have bought several hundred ebooks but not a single one from Waterstones. I do have a look at their books every now and then but I just laugh and go somewhere else.

03-06-2009, 01:59 PM	#5
justlizz Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Device: sony prs 505	Have you tried WH Smiths? lizz

03-07-2009, 06:56 AM	#7
TetraKM Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 114 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Sony 505	I am in total agreement. The prices are just rediculous!!!! I cannot even spend my points. And why don't Waterstones do books in the proper Sony format?? And if they want to save VAT then they should sell them from Jersey like Play.com do. In fact when you think about it why don't Play sell ebooks?