Australia V New Zealand E Book Prices

[molman]

@kiwipippa: Interesting replies. I will say that it is nice that you did get replies even if the Hachette one was as you said rather terse. It also does not make sense if the hardback is being retailed for $40 and the ebook is a whole $10 more, I don't see how that is good value as he/she contended. Curious if you replied pointing out such?

@rjcroy: I like you would prefer to support local industry if possible, but as you said not at an excessive premium. With the $AU having been so strong lately it really has shone a light on some goods that haven't adjusted accordingly which has made ordering overseas (even taking shipping into account) rather attractive. Like you said it's a global economy now, information travels fast an freely (I can easily see the prices they are paying in the US or UK etc).

@redweka: ereaders 'are' simple if you just stick to the main store for your purchases. You'll pay a premium overall but as an experience I think it isn't too bad. The complexity comes with wanting the best value or desiring material that said main store doesn't provide.

[kiwipippa]

Molman, I didn't use the Steve Jobs example as it was a few weeks ago that I wrote. I used an Alexander Mccall Smith example and a few others. Hachette simply ignored them and said that the prices were "...all well below the current print edition prices". Perhaps below the RRP but unlike ebooks retailers seem to be able to discount paperbacks so the examples I had used we simply not below the print price no matter what Hachette said. I never bothered to reply

[molman]

@kiwipippa: After that reply I can understand not replying to the email. My frustration lately (and reason I'm digging this thread up) is the regional restrictions. Got some eGift cards for Christmas for the Kobo store, but a lot of the books I wished to read aren't available to me downunder. Annoyingly some were available from Amazon, though not all.

[kiwipippa]

Molman, I agree things are getting worse not better. I used to use WH Smiths to buy books that were only available in the UK/Europe market but now that they have tied in with kobo that door is shut as well. Since I started ereading 18 months ago retailers have slowly tightened up. (Waterstones, Book Depository and WH Smith are the 3 that immediately come to mind).

However, I still use booksonboard quite successfully and their books are epub. I also use Amazon and convert, a hassle but if it is the only way I can get the book I'll do it.

The publishers really aren't doing themselves any favours. By making it harder and harder for us to give them money, less than honest people will simply turn to piracy and the publishers will lose out anyway. The last strike from a dying breed.

[Blue Tyson]

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

Conversely I contacted the CEO of Hachette in New Zealand and got a terse
"The Kobo prices you quote are all well below the current print edition prices. I am afraid that I am unable to comment on the prices charged by Amazon, but we believe that our pricing offers the reader good value for an electronic edition". This is bollocks as my examples clearly show - and the Steve Jobs one today where the hard cover is $40. They simply don't care.

(I could make rude comments about the French and their love of New Zealand such as we beat them at rugby and they blew up the Greenpeace ship in Auckland harbour - but that wouldn't be very professional would it! This is what I'd like to do to Hachette )

You should write back and say 'you are full of crap, here's a current dead tree price. If you don't know greater than and less than, go back to primary school. You certainly shouldn't be running a company.'