New eBooks are a hard buy

Nakor · 03-04-2010, 04:02 AM

Old eBooks seem easy enough to get at a reasonable price, but hunting down new ones at a tolerable cost is proving to be a pain.

Case in point, my current goal: The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques.

The cheapest price is a $9.99US off Barnes & Noble... who can't sell it outside the states.

Next is Amazon.com at $11.99US... who would like to charge me an extra $2 for the wireless transfer I won't be using. (I don't even own a Kindle.) Transfer via computer? Not even listed as an option. Select Kindle for PC, which is basically the same as transfer via computer? Still charging $2 extra.

After that the price goes up, up, up. BooksonBoard wants $14.61US, and Fictionwise wants $23.99US!

I can get the hardcover for $18.81CDN lol.

And honestly, I'm not going to be convinced to buy the hardcover due to all this... I never buy hardcovers. Not just because of the price (though that's part of it - I can't afford to drop $18.81 per book), but because of the space they take up. I'll just end up waiting my turn for it at the local library and maybe (maybe) buy it much later when the prices aren't atrocious. How does any of this runaround benefit anyone at all?

greenapple · 03-04-2010, 04:08 AM

The price that fictionwise charges is shocking! I wonder how many copies they manage to sell at that price.

khalleron · 03-04-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenapple

The price that fictionwise charges is shocking! I wonder how many copies they manage to sell at that price.

Probably not many, but most FWers know to wait for a sale.

FW always has a sale.

DawnFalcon · 03-04-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nakor

Next is Amazon.com at $11.99US... who would like to charge me an extra $2 for the wireless transfer I won't be using. (I don't even own a Kindle.) Transfer via computer? Not even listed as an option. Select Kindle for PC, which is basically the same as transfer via computer? Still charging $2 extra.

Yep, great moneyspinner isn't it. Typical contingency fee...

GeoffC · 03-04-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalleron

Probably not many, but most FWers know to wait for a sale.

FW always has a sale.

a permanent sale, it seems, any excuse for a sale is FW's policy !

pity about that damnable geographic whatsit !!!!

asjogren · 03-04-2010, 11:32 AM

My Seattle Public Library has the eBook in ePub format. Perhaps you can ask your library to add it?

It is also in the London (UK) and Gold Coast (AUS) eBook collections at this time via Overdrive.com

Shaggy · 03-04-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenapple

The price that fictionwise charges is shocking! I wonder how many copies they manage to sell at that price.

Could just be an error (wouldn't be the first time). Sometimes you can email them about a price that looks unusual and they'll fix it.

fugazied · 03-04-2010, 04:26 PM

Yes I think Fictionwise might have a pricing mistake on this one.
But yeah pricing is really bad at the moment, especially when you consider the prohibitive DRM on the e-books and the fact you can lend that hardcorver to 10 friends so they all enjoy it too, THEN you can go and sell it and re-coup 50% of the new price.

Nakor · 03-04-2010, 04:30 PM

Indeed. As far as my local library goes, I think they're working on the eBook library thing, but they're not quite there yet. Actually the local branch has just started a major project -- completely relocating to a new, two-floor building that they haven't actually started building yet! And they only just overhauled their web site as well. So I figure I have to forgive them a bit of lagging behind in the eBook front, they're clearly working hard at getting updated.

And yeah, FictionWise seems to be all about the sales. It's hard to find things that aren't on sale sometimes. I really like the store, but the price on this one was atrocious lol.

I've been in queue at the library for this book (physical version) for a while, I figure at this point I'll just keep waiting.

CleverClothe · 03-04-2010, 06:29 PM

Checking MobiPocket and Amazon, FictionWise has the correct price as set by the publisher.

If you want to complain about price, complain to those responsible. The publishers!

grabit · 03-04-2010, 07:13 PM

think you have troubles.. try buying it in Australia. first online bookshop i tried didn't even have it, Borders online has the hard cover for $AU39.95. that's $37.07 Canadian. no digital copy available at all.

Storm27 · 03-05-2010, 06:15 AM

Am I right in thinking that Fictionwise has an agency model (passing on whatever the publisher charges) but the other stores are still resellers? It would explain the price differences (though not ease the frustration)

CleverClothe · 03-05-2010, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storm27

Am I right in thinking that Fictionwise has an agency model (passing on whatever the publisher charges) but the other stores are still resellers? It would explain the price differences (though not ease the frustration)

Nope. Up until now Fictionwise has been a standard retailer. They just use sales and special promotions instead of a constant discount like most of the other stores.

03-04-2010, 04:02 AM	#1
Nakor Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 511602 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BC, Canada Device: Aluratek Libre	New eBooks are a hard buy Old eBooks seem easy enough to get at a reasonable price, but hunting down new ones at a tolerable cost is proving to be a pain. Case in point, my current goal: The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques. The cheapest price is a $9.99US off Barnes & Noble... who can't sell it outside the states. Next is Amazon.com at $11.99US... who would like to charge me an extra $2 for the wireless transfer I won't be using. (I don't even own a Kindle.) Transfer via computer? Not even listed as an option. Select Kindle for PC, which is basically the same as transfer via computer? Still charging $2 extra. After that the price goes up, up, up. BooksonBoard wants $14.61US, and Fictionwise wants $23.99US! I can get the hardcover for $18.81CDN lol. And honestly, I'm not going to be convinced to buy the hardcover due to all this... I never buy hardcovers. Not just because of the price (though that's part of it - I can't afford to drop $18.81 per book), but because of the space they take up. I'll just end up waiting my turn for it at the local library and maybe (maybe) buy it much later when the prices aren't atrocious. How does any of this runaround benefit anyone at all?

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03-04-2010, 04:08 AM	#2
greenapple Evangelist Posts: 404 Karma: 664 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura HD	The price that fictionwise charges is shocking! I wonder how many copies they manage to sell at that price.

03-04-2010, 11:32 AM	#6
asjogren Addict Posts: 266 Karma: 1378 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Seattle / San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico Device: Kindle & WiFi Nook & PocketBook IQ	My Seattle Public Library has the eBook in ePub format. Perhaps you can ask your library to add it? It is also in the London (UK) and Gold Coast (AUS) eBook collections at this time via Overdrive.com

03-04-2010, 04:26 PM	#8
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	Yes I think Fictionwise might have a pricing mistake on this one. But yeah pricing is really bad at the moment, especially when you consider the prohibitive DRM on the e-books and the fact you can lend that hardcorver to 10 friends so they all enjoy it too, THEN you can go and sell it and re-coup 50% of the new price.

03-04-2010, 04:30 PM	#9
Nakor Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 511602 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: BC, Canada Device: Aluratek Libre	Indeed. As far as my local library goes, I think they're working on the eBook library thing, but they're not quite there yet. Actually the local branch has just started a major project -- completely relocating to a new, two-floor building that they haven't actually started building yet! And they only just overhauled their web site as well. So I figure I have to forgive them a bit of lagging behind in the eBook front, they're clearly working hard at getting updated. And yeah, FictionWise seems to be all about the sales. It's hard to find things that aren't on sale sometimes. I really like the store, but the price on this one was atrocious lol. I've been in queue at the library for this book (physical version) for a while, I figure at this point I'll just keep waiting.

03-04-2010, 06:29 PM	#10
CleverClothe Guru Posts: 618 Karma: 493394 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, WA Device: iRex iLiad, Onyx Boox 60	Checking MobiPocket and Amazon, FictionWise has the correct price as set by the publisher. If you want to complain about price, complain to those responsible. The publishers!

03-04-2010, 07:13 PM	#11
grabit Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NSW Australia Device: iriver Story, iPod Touch	think you have troubles.. try buying it in Australia. first online bookshop i tried didn't even have it, Borders online has the hard cover for $AU39.95. that's $37.07 Canadian. no digital copy available at all.

03-05-2010, 06:15 AM	#12
Storm27 Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 201290 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Sony PRS T3S, android phone	Am I right in thinking that Fictionwise has an agency model (passing on whatever the publisher charges) but the other stores are still resellers? It would explain the price differences (though not ease the frustration)

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