Same books, different formats, different prices. Why?

neilmarr · 10-18-2009, 09:27 AM

Wonder if anyone can explain this to me:

On recommendation here, I decided to read Margaret Atwood's *Oryx and Crake* before the recent follow-up *Year of the Flood*. So I downloaded it for just under ten dollars from eBookMall.

Being a bit dim, I downloaded the MobiPocket version that won't work on my PRS-505. EBookMall was polite, attentive and understanding. Three days after I asked them what I should do, they refunded my payment via PayPal and suggested I go for the Adobe version.

Now, can anyone tell me why the PDF of this book should cost five bucks more than the MobiPocket version?

Nonsense or wot!? Neil

HansTWN · 10-18-2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Wonder if anyone can explain this to me:

On recommendation here, I decided to read Margaret Atwood's *Oryx and Crake* before the recent follow-up *Year of the Flood*. So I downloaded it for just under ten dollars from eBookMall.

Being a bit dim, I downloaded the MobiPocket version that won't work on my PRS-505. EBookMall was polite, attentive and understanding. Three days after I asked them what I should do, they refunded my payment via PayPal and suggested I go for the Adobe version.

Now, can anyone tell me why the PDF of this book should cost five bucks more than the MobiPocket version?

Nonsense or wot!? Neil

In this case it really doesn't make sense. Anyway, just shows you that DRM removal and conversion to a different format are what helps us to beat them at those silly games. I believe we should pay for the books, but we have a right to get the cheapest version and convert them for our own personal use. I strongly suggest you look into it, surprised you haven't done it yet. In your case it is even more important, since MOBI converted to LRF or EPub will look a lot better than PDF on the Sony.

Direct Ebooks · 10-18-2009, 10:30 AM

We have found with our suppliers that quite often, you may have small price differentiations on formats as the retailer pays for the cost of the drm on top of the cost of the book. The difference is small though.
Thats the only reason I can think of for them to be priced differently.

HansTWN · 10-18-2009, 10:38 AM

That explains the 50 cents difference you have at Fictionwise (ereader being cheaper than the rest), but not 5 USD.

neilmarr · 10-18-2009, 10:39 AM

Plus 50% of a difference, DirectEbooks? I think not. But thanks for the comment. This is about selling machinery and formats, not about selling books honestly. But, I must say, EBookMall does seem to play from a square bat if you point out a hitch. Although I was disappointed that I couldn't read the book I bought, I was delighted by the person-to-person contact. Rare, eh? Neil

poohbear_nc · 10-18-2009, 01:27 PM

A similar price discrepancy occurs with Kindle books. Topaz editions typically sell for less than the .azw versions - of the same title.

Lemurion · 10-18-2009, 04:26 PM

Welcome to the wonderful world of ebooks - where different formats may be sourced from different vendors - and so priced differently.

fugazied · 10-18-2009, 06:44 PM

The format thing is a bit bizarre imo. I can understand the publishers having different fees attached to ebooks because they are out of whack, but when they attached additional fees to different formats it just seems silly.

But yes, this is why we remove DRM and use different formats. Sigh* Hopefully they will get their acts together and offer different useful formats for the same price in the future.

10-18-2009, 09:27 AM	#1
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Same books, different formats, different prices. Why? Wonder if anyone can explain this to me: On recommendation here, I decided to read Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake before the recent follow-up Year of the Flood. So I downloaded it for just under ten dollars from eBookMall. Being a bit dim, I downloaded the MobiPocket version that won't work on my PRS-505. EBookMall was polite, attentive and understanding. Three days after I asked them what I should do, they refunded my payment via PayPal and suggested I go for the Adobe version. Now, can anyone tell me why the PDF of this book should cost five bucks more than the MobiPocket version? Nonsense or wot!? Neil

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10-18-2009, 10:30 AM	#3
Direct Ebooks Hibernian eBook Warrior Posts: 184 Karma: 1264 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cork, Ireland Device: Sony Reader	We have found with our suppliers that quite often, you may have small price differentiations on formats as the retailer pays for the cost of the drm on top of the cost of the book. The difference is small though. Thats the only reason I can think of for them to be priced differently.

10-18-2009, 10:38 AM	#4
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	That explains the 50 cents difference you have at Fictionwise (ereader being cheaper than the rest), but not 5 USD.

10-18-2009, 10:39 AM	#5
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Plus 50% of a difference, DirectEbooks? I think not. But thanks for the comment. This is about selling machinery and formats, not about selling books honestly. But, I must say, EBookMall does seem to play from a square bat if you point out a hitch. Although I was disappointed that I couldn't read the book I bought, I was delighted by the person-to-person contact. Rare, eh? Neil

10-18-2009, 01:27 PM	#6
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 64,228 Karma: 135242149 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	A similar price discrepancy occurs with Kindle books. Topaz editions typically sell for less than the .azw versions - of the same title.

10-18-2009, 04:26 PM	#7
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Welcome to the wonderful world of ebooks - where different formats may be sourced from different vendors - and so priced differently.

10-18-2009, 06:44 PM	#8
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	The format thing is a bit bizarre imo. I can understand the publishers having different fees attached to ebooks because they are out of whack, but when they attached additional fees to different formats it just seems silly. But yes, this is why we remove DRM and use different formats. Sigh* Hopefully they will get their acts together and offer different useful formats for the same price in the future.