eBook sales are down 17%

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So eBook pricing is set to what the masses will pay. Yet we are told eBook sales are falling, year after year. Why is that?

I've been told many things that aren't true. As far as I know, no one has that actual information. Amazon can say if they are selling less ebooks on the Amazon store, each individual publisher can say if they are selling less ebooks, each individual author can say if he is selling less ebooks. I've only seen one author give a detailed, real number comparison in a year to year basis. I've seen a lot of estimates, but we know that those estimates can be way, way off. For that matter, other estimates that I've read say that ebook sales continue to grow and that ebook sales if anything are being under counted since platforms such as Kindle Unlimited are not being included.

Here is the figures that Scalzi gave for the same time from for Redshirts and Locked-in

2013 2015
ebook - 35,667 24,000
audiobook - 17,008 41,000
paper book - 26,604 22,500
total 79,279 87,500

Obviously, one can't make an sweeping statements based on that one set of numbers.

What's interesting there is that the audiobook sales, a much more expensive format, are more than doubled. In this case, it appears the audiobooks took sales from both ebooks and paper books. Yet, overall sales are up.

Perhaps, if ebook sales really are down it's not price so much as new formats are more appealing, backlist sales are slowing down, few people actually market ebooks and we haven't had many huge blockbusters in books in recent years, no Harry Potter or Hunger Games. There are a lot of possibilities other than price point.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So eBook pricing is set to what the masses will pay. Yet we are told eBook sales are falling, year after year. Why is that?

Because a big chunk of the "masses" aren't willing to pay what they are supposedly "willing to pay." (I know, "obviously.") I used to buy a whole lot more eBooks before the new "what you're willing to pay" regime took over. Now I nearly always borrow them from the library. Or I buy eBooks not published by the "Big 5." And, as you say, I'm not the only one, because eBook sales keep falling.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

So eBook pricing is set to what the masses will pay. Yet we are told eBook sales are falling, year after year. Why is that?

Because the masses are getting smarter or are like my parents and want hardbacks of the auto buy authors.

Or just possibly, there are no falling ebook sales but WSJ needs subscribers and falling anything gets more attention than sales are up.

I am still suspicious with the exact same number.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I am still suspicious with the exact same number.

And you are wise to be. But at any rate, the figures come from a Nielson survey in the UK, the publisher's association in the UK and the Association of American Publishers. So if they're full of hot air, you'd think it would be in the publisher's interest to correct the information.

I can only say that based on the information their publisher association provides, it would seem that the price point of eBooks is too high, causing sales to fall year after year while according to those same reports, physical book sales rose.

Audio books might be taking off as well, but that doesn't explain why eBook sales declined and physical book sales went up.

[ekbell]

I've a sneaking suspicion that the Big Name Publishers are charging more for new ebooks then most indies because they think they are selling a premium product.

I do think that a policy of charging premium prices at first to catch those who don't really care about prices, lowering the regular price as time goes on for those who do care with the occasional deep sale to catch the cheapskates like me isn't a bad way to maximize profit. Ebooks allow for a very long tail, much longer than the standard print book would have and it's possible to have very short steep discounts across all stores.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Because the masses are getting smarter or are like my parents and want hardbacks of the auto buy authors.

Unrelated: why is it smarter for the masses to buy a hardback of their favorite author than an eBook?

I love Stephen King and John Irving, but I'd still rather read an eBook than a hardback.

Edit: Nevermind. I misread your quote!

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ekbell

I've a sneaking suspicion that the Big Name Publishers are charging more for new ebooks then most indies because they think they are selling a premium product.

Except the prices are set by the publisher. And to be honest, they are selling a premium product. I don't expect John Grisham or Amy Tan to sell their books for $2.99 (not that I'd mind!). I just don't think they need to be ten bucks either.

I do think that a policy of charging premium prices at first to catch those who don't really care about prices, lowering the regular price as time goes on for those who do care with the occasional deep sale to catch the cheapskates like me isn't a bad way to maximize profit. Ebooks allow for a very long tail, much longer than the standard print book would have and it's possible to have very short steep discounts across all stores.

That I don't disagree with. Mostly when I talk about Big 5 prices being too high, I am talking about decades old backlist books that are being sold at +$8.00

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Except the prices are set by the publisher. And to be honest, they are selling a premium product. I don't expect John Grisham or Amy Tan to sell their books for $2.99 (not that I'd mind!). I just don't think they need to be ten bucks either.



That I don't disagree with. Mostly when I talk about Big 5 prices being too high, I am talking about decades old backlist books that are being sold at +$8.00

Hey, I pick up back list ebooks for $1.99 on a regular basis. New and old. Yes from the big publishers.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Hey, I pick up back list ebooks for $1.99 on a regular basis. New and old. Yes from the big publishers.

As do I. I actually bought The Martian about a month ago for $2.99. It's back up to $9.99 now.

Shari

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Hey, I pick up back list ebooks for $1.99 on a regular basis. New and old. Yes from the big publishers.

An interesting experiment on backlist prices by an author that I like, Katherine Kurtz. She prices the Deryni series at different price points.

The Original Deryni series
Deryni Rising - $2.00
Deryni Checkmate - $7.00
High Deryni - $6.00

Legends of Camber of Culdi
- The set - $10.00
Camber of Culdi - $6.15
Saint Camber - $5.23
Camber the Heretic - $4.31

I would love to know what the sales are at the various price points.

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by shalym

As do I. I actually bought The Martian about a month ago for $2.99. It's back up to $9.99 now.

Shari

That's a good example of the occasional deep sale to pick up cheapskates! I have a love/hate relationship with the Deals and Freebies forum and the various mailing lists for ebook bargains. So many irresistible bargains! So little time to read

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ekbell

That's a good example of the occasional deep sale to pick up cheapskates! I have a love/hate relationship with the Deals and Freebies forum and the various mailing lists for ebook bargains. So many irresistible bargains! So little time to read

Mine is a love/hate relationship with Bookbub.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Hey, I pick up back list ebooks for $1.99 on a regular basis. New and old. Yes from the big publishers.

Yes, I post in the Deals/Freebies forum as well.

[disconnected]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Mostly when I talk about Big 5 prices being too high, I am talking about decades old backlist books that are being sold at +$8.00

I'm still waiting for John D MacDonald's Travis McGee mysteries to drop below 11.99.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by disconnected

I'm still waiting for John D MacDonald's Travis McGee mysteries to drop below 11.99.

That right there.