Why eBooks are so expensive ?

[jdefgts]

Let me add my $.02. I have an Android tablet with access to book apps from all of the major ebook sources. Because of the convenience I generally prefer to read an ebook on my tablet to reading the traditionally published book. The prices, however have discouraged me from doing so in many cases.

So here is my rule of thumb: If an ebook is less than $10, I will read the electronic version. If not I will buy it used, mostly online, for a price that is, including shipping, always less. I may not get the books the week they are published that way, but I do save some money.

It seems to me that the price of an ebook should roughly be the same as the paperback version of the original. In fact, while the "premium" prices for the electronic version may be fine for original publication, the ebook price should drop at the same time as the release of the paperback version. Until that time I will continue to be supporting the used book market. I do lament that it may not last forever.

[ialdoboath]

Here's the actual answer to your question from an author and publisher:

The average price for an e-book is $2.99. Big publishers sell for more, but your average publisher with a catalog under 100 books will sell an e-book for 2.99.

The selling site (amazon or iBooks) takes 30% for selling the book. (80 cents or so)
Authors take between 5 and 15%. (about 30 cents).

This nets the publisher 2 bucks per book.

Buy one ad anywhere to market the book and it will cost you at least $500. You now have to sell at least 250 books just to break even on the ad.

You also have to pay a cover designer and layout guy. Say it cost you another 500 bucks to get the design, layout, and editing done. (That's WAY cheap). You now have to sell at least 1000 books just to break even.

All of this is on top of any standard business costs you have as a publisher.

If you have a bestseller, all this is good. But the vast, vast majority of books barely pass muster, and the publisher is lucky to make a dime.

[The Terminator]

Well you save at least 66% compared to a hardcover book*. And a paperback is usually 40%-50% cheaper. So IMO they're not really overpriced.




*(Based on $30 for hardcover and $9.99 for E-book)

[The Terminator]

Take for instance if you where going to buy 10 hardcover new release books at an average of $30 each you would get $300, and if you save on average 60% by buying the E-book you come out with $120 dollars to buy the same books, you've just saved enough money to buy yourself a reader for $140, you get your books and a reader for only $280.