It is the Worst of Times for Reading EBooks

[leebase]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What I used to do with my mother is I would get the eBooks for her from the library or buy some for her. Then I would call her and have her plug in her Reader. to her laptop I would then remote access in and sort out the eBooks on her Reader. It worked very well. I was able to help her and she was able to easily read the books she wanted. She used to go to the library or bookstore or borrow from friends/family. As she got older, she had less friends to borrow from and only my sister sometimes. But with eBooks, I was able to keep her supplied and I was also able to find books she read that she may not have otherwise read. Even when she want into an assisted living facility I was still able to help her out.

Same for me. My mother passed away this year. I would buy her kindle books and load books to fbreader's online network. She initially had an iPad 2, then a kindle fire HD 8, then another iPad.

Ebooks extended the years she could read. It was sad when her health declined such that she couldn’t even read the ebooks

[Timboli]

Yes, I know there are options for a tech savvy person like myself, however that's not really the point ... and both my mother and wife are terrible when it comes to technology.

So really, it needs to be kept simple, and there is no reason except greed, why that couldn't be the case.

The point being, that if an ebook is the price it should be, most of the issues go away.

And honestly it is a win win for all.

[DiapDealer]

Technology is rarely "simple".

And I think you meant to say "if an ebook is the price I think it should be, most of the issues go away."

[Timboli]

Well clearly, it is what I think, but I am not arrogant to think I am the only one that thinks that ... everythink is relative ... so think on.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Timboli

Well clearly, it is what I think, but I am not arrogant to think I am the only one that thinks that ... everythink is relative ... so think on.

Certainly, there is a group of people that believe that ebooks should be at a price point that generally seems to be anywhere from free to a couple of buck per book.

Of course, supply and demand say that there is a balance between the price people are willing to pay and how much labor an item requires to produce. If one can't sell an item for more that it cost to produce, then one won't stay in business long. Writing a quality book is very labor intensive. While there are some writers who can churn out a lot of words in a short period of time, the norm seems to be anywhere from 1 to 3 books a year for fiction (non fiction is more a book every few years due to research requirements). It's hard for writers to make ends meet when the price point drops below a certain point for the average mid-tier writer who might sale between 10-20 thousand copies (and that is more than most writers tend to sell).

There are many items where I don't particular want to pay the price that the item commands on the market. As long as other people are willing to pay that price, there is no reason for the producer to drop the price.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Timboli

Yes, I know there are options for a tech savvy person like myself, however that's not really the point ... and both my mother and wife are terrible when it comes to technology.

So really, it needs to be kept simple, and there is no reason except greed, why that couldn't be the case.

The point being, that if an ebook is the price it should be, most of the issues go away.

And honestly it is a win win for all.

I suspect you are ignoring the obvious solution in post #222 because you just want to stand on your soapbox and lecture us about 'fair' ebook pricing.

To quote myself:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

What stops your wife from installing the Kindle app on your mother's iPad and logging in with her (your wife's) credentials? Indeed, the iPad offers an extra layer of safety as your mother can't accidentally buy a book on your wife's account. Boom. Solved.

If your wife isn't tech savvy enough to log in to her Amazon account or your mother isn't tech savvy enough to launch and run the Kindle app, then ebooks may as well be free. Your problems won't change.

At that point, perhaps your wife should just read large print books so she can share with your mother.

[Timboli]

Mmmm lecturer ... never seen myself as one of those ... just a person with strong well balanced views based on logic not bias .... unlike some.

My wife does fine with the Kindle App on her tablet, she however prefers to read a physical book, so would my mum if it was large print.

As usual, I don't think you really read properly what I wrote ... seems to be a disease these days. There are factors you have clearly not taken into consideration, and you just have tunnel vision about me arguing about fairer ebook prices.

In simple terms, in the past one physical book was bought and shared (sometimes amongst many). Now, that physical book is still bought by my wife, but my mum (because of her eyesight) and others for whatever reason buy additional copies as ebooks.

Pretty clear who is benefiting financially from that scenario, and reaping a much larger reward these days ... it is self evident. I am not saying that needs to change, only that ebooks should be a fairer price, and the facts support me. Everyone still gains a benefit from the new digital regime ... end of story.

You are entitled to your view, just as I am to mine.

I refuse to continue arguing with those who have a clear obvious bias, not based on facts. My facts are cost based, not preference based, and some here seem to be unable to tell the difference ... wonder why. Many publishers do the right thing, but a good number don't ... may they rot in a Hell for their greed and lack of care etc.

P.S. As I stated earlier, large print books are often hard to come by in most cases.

[leebase]

Seriously, Timboli. Why is it the publisher's fault that your wife and mother won't settle on a format that they both like? Why is it even a bad thing that your wife would buy a book for herself and your mother buy her own book....even if it were the SAME format?

You might be mollified somewhat if you considered the entertainment value both your wife and mother receive from reading a book. Is it worth the money for your mother to buy herself a large print book....verses whatever else she would spend her time and money on?

I've found that, in general, it's really hard to beat the value that books bring per hour of entertainment. And I say that as someone who isn't stuck on just books for entertainment. I like tv, movies at home, movies in the theater, social media....and I like to read.

They all have a place and they all have a cost. But books are hard to beat for value for your entertainment dollar.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Timboli

Mmmm lecturer ... never seen myself as one of those ... just a person with strong well balanced views based on logic not bias .... unlike some.

As usual, I don't think you really read properly what I wrote ... seems to be a disease these days. There are factors you have clearly not taken into consideration, and you just have tunnel vision about me arguing about fairer ebook prices.

And you're the arbiter of "fairer."

Pretty clear who is benefiting financially from that scenario, and reaping a much larger reward these days ... it is self evident. I am not saying that needs to change, only that ebooks should be a fairer price, and the facts support me.

Pesky things, facts. They don't become such on your say-so.

You are entitled to your view, just as I am to mine.

The traditional retreat of someone who's lost an argument. All views are not equivalent and no one's entitled to an opinion just because they like to think it.

I refuse to continue arguing with those who have a clear obvious bias, not based on facts. My facts are cost based, not preference based, and some here seem to be unable to tell the difference ... wonder why.

Ah, yes, that popular declension: Your bias, my impartiality. Here's a simple economic fact: an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Many publishers do the right thing, but a good number don't ... may they rot in a Hell for their greed and lack of care etc.

Whoa, that's kind of harsh. Really? Eternal damnation because someone doesn't meet your very personal and unobjective standards of "fairness"? Can't they even work it off in Purgatory?

[Deskisamess]

Everyone still gains a benefit from the new digital regime ... end of story.

Except the author's or publishers shouldn't?

In simple terms, in the past one physical book was bought and shared (sometimes amongst many). Now, that physical book is still bought by my wife, but my mum (because of her eyesight) and others for whatever reason buy additional copies as ebooks.

So, your opinion is that those additional copies should be freebies? Or at less cost? I don't understand your logic. It's not like the publishers are responsible for your mom's eyesight issues. They don't "owe" her anything.

They also don't owe your wife a free digital copy just because she bought a print version.

What if the item in question was a movie. Your wife bought a Blu-ray copy of a movie. Your mom only owns a DVD player. So if she wants a physical copy of that same movie, she needs to buy the correct format for her needs.

The very idea of "fairness" is unstable ground. Because it's subjective. My kids wanted us to be "fair" which meant, to them, that we would treat each child exactly the same. Anyone who has ever raised a child, knows that is a ridiculous basis for decision making.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Timboli

As usual, I don't think you really read properly what I wrote ... seems to be a disease these days.

I was going to write a detailed (and admittedly snarky) response to your message. I don't appreciate the assumption that I didn't read or comprehend what you wrote. But then I realized your arguments just aren't worth the time.

...and you just have tunnel vision about me arguing about fairer ebook prices.

Yeah. I have tunnel vision.

From just this thread:

Your first post!

Originally Posted by Timboli

Then there is the ebook prices in many instances, where some publishers are playing games and no doubt testing what they can get away with, using psychology with a lot of weak minded people for sure. If that isn't bad enough, then we have very little flexibility with prices, as you mentioned, and a real monopoly is going on.

Originally Posted by Timboli

Charge a fair and reasonable price for ebooks is all I ask.

Originally Posted by Timboli

So why should we pay as much or more for ebooks as compared to their physical counterpart, when clearly publishers and authors are reaping a much bigger reward these days?

Most if not all of us, expected to pay less for digital versions, cost of ereader device aside, and the facts and logic certainly show they should be ... significantly so.

Originally Posted by Timboli

So really, it needs to be kept simple, and there is no reason except greed, why that couldn't be the case.

The point being, that if an ebook is the price it should be, most of the issues go away.

Originally Posted by Timboli

I am not saying that needs to change, only that ebooks should be a fairer price, and the facts support me. Everyone still gains a benefit from the new digital regime ... end of story.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

The traditional retreat of someone who's lost an argument. All views are not equivalent and no one's entitled to an opinion just because they like to think it.

I think it's you're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.

I do agree that one generally says "you are entitled to your own opinion" when one is either losing an argument or is dismissive of the otherside's point of view.

[4691mls]

I hope we're not going to recreate the 30-plus-page thread that we just had in June regarding what certain people think of ebook pricing...

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=316201

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

I hope we're not going to recreate the 30-plus-page thread that we just had in June regarding what certain people think of ebook pricing...

The real shame is that all of this could so easily be avoided if those dastardly publishers would just price their books fairly in the first place

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The real shame is that all of this could so easily be avoided if those dastardly publishers would just price their books fairly in the first place

They're probably just waiting for all the members of Mobileread to agree on what a fair price would be, then they'll get right on it 😀