Paying Full Price for a Book

ownedbycats · 04-18-2025, 02:50 PM

I'm not going to make a poll for this because I don't know what options to put, but what criteria do you pay full price for a book?

- Never? Always?
- Preorders?
- As a holiday/birthday treat?
- If you've had it wishlisted a long time with no sign of a sale?
- If its part of a series?
- If it looks really interesting?

DiapDealer · 04-18-2025, 02:57 PM

I probably won't even know what "Full Price" is on any particular book. So my rule is simple: if I want to read it, I'm going to buy it. Fiction is typically not priced at a point that's going to cause me any real hardship. Not because I'm rich, but because I don't read as much as I used to.

Sirtel · 04-18-2025, 03:37 PM

I don't keep track of sales. If it's less than 10€/$, I'll usually buy it; if not, I'll wait until it is. Most books will drop under that limit eventually. There are a few books I might be willing to pay more for, but that's rare (unless they're omnibus editions).

ownedbycats · 04-18-2025, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I don't keep track of sales. If it's less than 10€/$, I'll usually buy it; if not, I'll wait until it is. Most books will drop under that limit eventually. There are a few books I might be willing to pay more for, but that's rare (unless they're omnibus editions).

Around $10 CAD (or 11.49, considering tax) is my limit too. This count excludes omnibuses:

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salamanderjuice · 04-18-2025, 03:53 PM

Is it at the library and how long is the waitlist? Do I really want it?

I don't buy books that often anymore. Have too many.

Uncle Robin · 04-18-2025, 03:59 PM

Ebooks are my only major leisure purchase, I don't have any streaming providers (except YuouTube Premium), so I don't mind paying a bit more for a book occasionally. THat said, 80%+ of the books I buy are in the range of what would be under $7US, only the occasional nonfiction purchase has gone over $20US

ownedbycats · 04-18-2025, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salamanderjuice

Have too many.

Blasphemy.

rkomar · 04-18-2025, 04:08 PM

I don't mind paying full price if the book is from an author I want to support. What better way to encourage more output in the future?

Sirtel · 04-18-2025, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Blasphemy.

You can never have too many books!

Apache · 04-18-2025, 04:29 PM

If I want to read it price does not matter. As my wife says, "at least you aren't buying cigarettes or booze".

Also, eBooks are mostly cheaper than DT books, so I am saving money that way.
Apache

Cactus Chef · 04-18-2025, 04:56 PM

Under the following circumstances:

1) Someone gave me a gift card and it's on my wishlist.
2) The book just came out, I want to read it immediately, and I want to support the author.
3) The book has been on my wishlist forever, I want to read it, and it doesn't seem like it's ever going to go on sale.

j.p.s · 04-18-2025, 05:25 PM

If a book is $6 or lower and I want to read it now, I don't bother to wait for a sale.

If a book is $15 or lower and I am eager to read it "soon" or if I think it is unlikely to ever go on sale, then I might buy it right away.

MegDreamsofBooks · 04-18-2025, 05:43 PM

I have a few criteria I consider when buying a book:

1 - is it an auto-buy author? Then I'll generally pay full price under $10, over $10 I'll wait for a sale or get it from the library
2 - is it available from the library or Kindle Unlimited? If so, read it from there first, then decide if I want to buy (I do re-read fairly frequently but I'm trying to reduce my purchases somewhat)
3 - did I read the book elsewhere and liked it enough to re-read, or it wasn't available from KU or library? If yes and under $10 buy, preferably using reward points
4 - if none of the above and over $10 (or often $6,) probably don't buy.

Uncle Robin · 04-18-2025, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

If I want to read it price does not matter. As my wife says, "at least you aren't buying cigarettes or booze".

Also, eBooks are mostly cheaper than DT books, so I am saving money that way.
Apache

Seeing "DT books" so close to "booze" caused me a moment's confusion at first

Dazrin · 04-18-2025, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.p.s

If a book is $6 or lower and I want to read it now, I don't bother to wait for a sale.

If a book is $15 or lower and I am eager to read it "soon" or if I think it is unlikely to ever go on sale, then I might buy it right away.

That seems backwards to me. Why only 6 if you want to read it now vs 15 if you only want it soon?

04-18-2025, 02:50 PM	#1
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,388 Karma: 79699999 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Paying Full Price for a Book I'm not going to make a poll for this because I don't know what options to put, but what criteria do you pay full price for a book? - Never? Always? - Preorders? - As a holiday/birthday treat? - If you've had it wishlisted a long time with no sign of a sale? - If its part of a series? - If it looks really interesting?

04-18-2025, 02:57 PM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,919 Karma: 207182180 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I probably won't even know what "Full Price" is on any particular book. So my rule is simple: if I want to read it, I'm going to buy it. Fiction is typically not priced at a point that's going to cause me any real hardship. Not because I'm rich, but because I don't read as much as I used to. Last edited by DiapDealer; 04-18-2025 at 03:05 PM.

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04-18-2025, 03:37 PM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 14,103 Karma: 243831037 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I don't keep track of sales. If it's less than 10€/$, I'll usually buy it; if not, I'll wait until it is. Most books will drop under that limit eventually. There are a few books I might be willing to pay more for, but that's rare (unless they're omnibus editions).

04-18-2025, 03:53 PM	#5
salamanderjuice Guru Posts: 978 Karma: 13558066 Join Date: Jul 2017 Device: Boox Nova 2	Is it at the library and how long is the waitlist? Do I really want it? I don't buy books that often anymore. Have too many.

04-18-2025, 03:59 PM	#6
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,667 Karma: 52758936 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra Colour	Ebooks are my only major leisure purchase, I don't have any streaming providers (except YuouTube Premium), so I don't mind paying a bit more for a book occasionally. THat said, 80%+ of the books I buy are in the range of what would be under $7US, only the occasional nonfiction purchase has gone over $20US

04-18-2025, 04:08 PM	#8
rkomar Wizard Posts: 3,074 Karma: 18821071 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	I don't mind paying full price if the book is from an author I want to support. What better way to encourage more output in the future?

04-18-2025, 04:29 PM	#10
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	If I want to read it price does not matter. As my wife says, "at least you aren't buying cigarettes or booze". Also, eBooks are mostly cheaper than DT books, so I am saving money that way. Apache

04-18-2025, 04:56 PM	#11
Cactus Chef Guru Posts: 688 Karma: 8196132 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: East Coast, United States Device: Kobo Sage, Kobo Clara HD, Galaxy Tab S5e, Kindle 4th Gen	Under the following circumstances: 1) Someone gave me a gift card and it's on my wishlist. 2) The book just came out, I want to read it immediately, and I want to support the author. 3) The book has been on my wishlist forever, I want to read it, and it doesn't seem like it's ever going to go on sale.

04-18-2025, 05:25 PM	#12
j.p.s Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,865 Karma: 106050809 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: pb360	If a book is $6 or lower and I want to read it now, I don't bother to wait for a sale. If a book is $15 or lower and I am eager to read it "soon" or if I think it is unlikely to ever go on sale, then I might buy it right away.

04-18-2025, 05:43 PM	#13
MegDreamsofBooks Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 1218912 Join Date: Jun 2021 Device: Pocketbook InkPad Lite, iPad	I have a few criteria I consider when buying a book: 1 - is it an auto-buy author? Then I'll generally pay full price under $10, over $10 I'll wait for a sale or get it from the library 2 - is it available from the library or Kindle Unlimited? If so, read it from there first, then decide if I want to buy (I do re-read fairly frequently but I'm trying to reduce my purchases somewhat) 3 - did I read the book elsewhere and liked it enough to re-read, or it wasn't available from KU or library? If yes and under $10 buy, preferably using reward points 4 - if none of the above and over $10 (or often $6,) probably don't buy.