The $15 Boycott: Will you be participating?

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Ummm... Have you seen the sheer number of NEW titles released this last week? Most of which are being released as $6.99-$7.99-$8.99 dead-tree paperbacks? Now tell me again that a $14.99 e-book price point is 'eminently reasonable'. Please, do!

And yes, I sometimes get so much of an itch for an upcoming title that I reach out to Baen and buy their 'barely-edited' E-ARC version for $15! (Far more than many may be willing to believe. )

Derek

I think Harry's point is that $14.99 is an eminently reasonable price for the ebook of a new-release hardcover: not a mass market paperback.

Let me quote from John Sargent's first official statement on the matter (emphasis mine).

"At first release, concurrent with a hardcover, most titles will be priced between $14.99 and $12.99. E books will almost always appear day on date with the physical edition."

Macmillan is not saying that the ebook releases of new release paperbacks will be $14.99; they aren't even saying that the ebooks of all new release hardcovers will be $14.99.

So it's completely premature to castigate Macmillan because their new plan will price the ebook editions of new release paperbacks at $15, or even all new releases at $15, when that's not what they are on record of saying.

[tlrowley]

Originally Posted by guyanonymous

I agree that Amazon is NOT making all the right choices as well. Even though it's virtual though, the higher prices may be something Amazon doesn't want clogging up their virtual store-front (and stats they use to sell the kindle, and as some say, grow the ebook market). They have that right too.

A few years ago, in Vancouver, a major Pro shop stopped selling Nikon cameras completely. They did this in response to poor and, according the them, negligent behavior from the <major camera manufactuer>'s service department in Western Canada. Did it frustrate some buyers? For sure...but it also got them more respect from the consumers who considered the reasons behind their decision. They also put a stop to having enraged customers who blamed them for <major camera manufactuer> service's actions. It's been 5+ years and they still, at least on their website, have a single mention of <major camera manufactuer>. I respect their conviction, even if it hasn't produced a required change, as they see

Please note: The <major camera manufactuer> is one of the big 2, and is readily available at other camera shops throughout town.

Ummmm, if you're trying not to plainly state the camera manufacture's name, you should make sure you've caught all the references

Unless the store stopped selling Nikon since Canon had poor service

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by llreader

Copyright infringement not for monetary gain has been classified as criminal in the US only since 1976, and it is not considered such in most other places.

Oh, well, if it's only been since 1976, that's completely different. I suppose a law needs to be on the books for a solid hundred years or so before it really matters, right?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

It's truly pitiful to see how people who grew up with the internet paradigm of file sharing have become so amoral about theft. ....

Yes. To those reading, please note the word "amoral"

[Crusader]

Since I don't have a huge budget for books I view myself as a bargain bin shopper. If I can get a book for a good price I'll buy it. So I can't see any problem with waiting a couple of months for a new release to reach a price point I'm comfortable with.

I think it's early days yet to judge and condemn the publishers for their agency model. $15 for a new release seems reasonable provided that they follow through and discount their books as time goes by to match paperback prices or the $5.99 price they seem to promise.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I think Harry's point is that $14.99 is an eminently reasonable price for the ebook of a new-release hardcover: not a mass market paperback.

And I somewhat disagree, especially when I can go to Costco and get the hardback for that price.

But disagreement is fine; if we were to have a truly functioning market for ebooks, proper pricing would follow.

I also think that the idea that all books (real or electronic) should be sold at the same price is somewhat strange; again, let a functioning market set the price. There are some books/authors I would pay more for, some less.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

I also think that the idea that all books (real or electronic) should be sold at the same price is somewhat strange; again, let a functioning market set the price. There are some books/authors I would pay more for, some less.

But the price will not be the same and it will be adjusted according to the market. Why is that no a functioning market?

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

In almost every case you can still buy the dead tree books at Amazon through 3rd party sellers. Brand new books and used, too. You just can't buy the book directly from Amazon.

Most of those books are either used or remaindered. Authors don't get paid for them, and they don't count toward the sales numbers that determine whether they get to publish the next book.

They still get hurt.

[guyanonymous]

Why? They sold them once already.

Authors can't demand anybody sell their work.

I'm more peeved that Amazon backed down - but since they see the writing on the wall and realize that their stand would cost them 3+ major publishing houses, of course they backed down.

[guyanonymous]

Up here in Canada, we've put up, for years, with CDN/US prices on our books - which haven't remotely reflected exchange rates etc. Those prices aren't following a free-market, they're setting an artificial price point that provides consumers with virtually no choice.

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by guyanonymous

Up here in Canada, we've put up, for years, with CDN/US prices on our books - which haven't remotely reflected exchange rates etc. Those prices aren't following a free-market, they're setting an artificial price point that provides consumers with virtually no choice.

Consumers always have a choice: if the price is not to your liking, why buy it? If the books are priced too high in Canada, why are people still buying them? Evidently they're not priced too high. It sounds to me like it's not that you're "putting up" with high prices, you're accepting them by buying the books. It's not like the publishing companies are putting a gun to your head and forcing you to buy the book; it's not even like books are a necessary staple (like food or water). If the majority of folks voted with their wallets, the prices would change in about a week.

[Pardoz]

Originally Posted by jmaloney

IHe saying that if you want to show some support, the best way to do it is to buy their books from someone who is actually willing to sell them.

Quite. Which is why I don't buy books from Macmillan.

[guyanonymous]

You're right. We don't have to buy them.

Unless we want to read, expand our minds, our perspectives, and be entertained. If there was an alternative choice for similar entertainment, then the issue would be moot. But while not food - one's mind needs stimulation to grow and develop.

If we had a choice, we'd take it.

Alas, while shipping from the US to Canada is low via USPS...most sellers in the US seek to make a profit on the shipping itself. Seeing quoted rates of $8-15 on a $2 pocket book isn't unusual. Considering it costs under $3 to ship (I've had some private sellers send it without profiting), we still lack much choice.

I'd say that one factor in the decline of the book market is cost. So people are reducing their purchases. The industry increases cost to make up for those loses, and surprise...the units sold again decrease.

Was it a coincidence that each time the price of a pocket book from a major manufacturer went up by $1.00 or so, the others followed suit...simultaneously?

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by tompe

But the price will not be the same and it will be adjusted according to the market. Why is that no a functioning market?

Because there are artificial price floors built in, for one thing. The thought that $10 might actually be the optimal price for many new ebooks apparently scares some publishers quite a bit, and they won't allow Amazon (or other retailers) any freedom to experiment with such price points.

Also, the publishers have no real experience dealing directly with market pricing and quickly matching prices to customer demand.

[delphidb96]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Most of those books are either used or remaindered. Authors don't get paid for them, and they don't count toward the sales numbers that determine whether they get to publish the next book.

They still get hurt.

Buy Amazon; MacMillan, Harper-Collins and Hachette are the bullies.

Now *IF* this were an expanding economy, I'd probably just cough up the extra dough. But it's NOT!

So MacM, H-C and mini-tomahawk are complaining that Amazon's pricing doesn't 'give them enough money'. So sad, too bad! *I* ain't getting enough money (I'm on a fixed income, but that's not that relevant.) and MY budget is supposed to take a hit for a higher revenue share for a 'discrectionary' expense???

Yeah. MacM, H-C, Mini-Tom, y'all can go stand in the corner, you ain't getting *MY* money!

Derek