Answer as to why ebooks cost more than print books (1 publisher) - Page 3

CyGuy · 01-12-2011, 10:35 AM

I mostly blame the consumer for this. If people would stop falling for these ridiculous eBook prices they would not get away with charging so much.

I have read all of the excuses made for high eBook prices, not one of them holds any water...

vulcan_girl · 01-12-2011, 11:50 AM

Posting again because it's too hard to edit on my phone: Kali got it right about Harlequin and ebboks. They have a solid base of readers and they also put their books on sale at their site over a month prior to the street date. They do price the paperbacks at 20% off cover while ebooks are 10% off. I realize that when I buy the ebook that I'm also paying for the convenience of getting the book 2 weeks earlier than I would if I had bought the paper version that's for sale at the same time. Some books are worth it to me. Some aren't, so I buy them later or get them at the library.

Blossom · 01-12-2011, 02:26 PM

Harlequin is the one publisher that gets most of my money because they do get it right on ebooks. I usually wait for a good Kobo coupon then buy the month's latest titles there at a really good price. I never buy at full price unless I want to read the book right at that moment. I have no complaints because their prices are really reasonable. They have good formatting unlike some agency books I have bought.

I also love how they are now publishing backlist titles into ebooks monthly.
They are making old titles available again which I had to previous hunt down at used bookstores or through merchants online. I wish more publishers would do that. I prefer ebooks over a used smelly spine creased paperback because most people don't take care of their books properly. Buying a used paperback books online you never know what "real" condition the book is in till it arrives. I have lost money that way. Harlequin has the right idea by offering back titles in ebook form. I know what I am getting and it's usually at a good price.

Fbone · 01-12-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

They were also unhappy with the $10 price point that Amazon was pushing, and the prevailing wisdom was that eventually Amazon would lock up the market and demand that the publishers lower the wholesale price.

You can't blame them. Amazon was selling too many ebooks below cost some as much as $5. Publishers didn't like it. Other bookstores didn't like it. Apple didn't like it. Non-Kindle owners didn't like it.

The only happy people were Kindle owners and we don't even know how long that would last.

leebase · 01-12-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Something to bear in mind is that the bigger the publisher, the more likely it is to opt for the Agency 5 Model. This does not allow discounting of ebooks.

It means that the PUBLISHERS will decide WHEN to discount an ebook. eBooks by the Agency 5 do go up and down in price.

Lee

GA Russell · 01-12-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

It means that the PUBLISHERS will decide WHEN to discount an ebook. eBooks by the Agency 5 do go up and down in price.

Lee, can you give us examples of the Agency 5's books that have gone down in price?

Andrew H. · 01-12-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyGuy

I mostly blame the consumer for this. If people would stop falling for these ridiculous eBook prices they would not get away with charging so much.

If people are falling for the eBook prices, they are not ridiculous.

Quote:

I have read all of the excuses made for high eBook prices, not one of them holds any water...

Everything in the capitalist world is based on the value someone will pay for it.

Sydney's Mom · 01-12-2011, 05:42 PM

Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL. Yes, I remember my economics class and supply and demand and what the market will bear. My little tax-obssessed statistical mind looks at the price of the ebook in relation to the pbook. If it is a book I want to read, and it is at least 10% less than the pbook, I will buy it. But if it is the same price or even 3 cents over, that darn principal is offended, and I won't buy it. I can get most of the Harlequin novels (can I even call them that?) at the library. There have been backlists I have bought, when the ebook was cheaper than the pbook. It just irritates me when the basic costs are lower, but the bookseller is asking for more, just because he/she can. I can go online and reserve the pbooks, and the library calls me up when they are ready. That is pretty darn convenient, too. It isn't like these books are massive volumes, that people don't want to cart around. They are short, tiny little books, with embarrasing covers and embarrasing titles. What the publisher should have said is

Ebooks cost more, because you can hide the cover (you may not get one) and the title of the book. You can pretend you are reading something worthwhile.

Now, don't flame me - I read these books all the time. I just don't kid myself that they are well written, have unique plots, or should otherwise be on the bestseller list. But if I am having trouble going to sleep, I can knock one of these babies out in 90 minutes!

screwballl · 01-12-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL. Yes, I remember my economics class and supply and demand and what the market will bear. My little tax-obssessed statistical mind looks at the price of the ebook in relation to the pbook. If it is a book I want to read, and it is at least 10% less than the pbook, I will buy it. But if it is the same price or even 3 cents over, that darn principal is offended, and I won't buy it. I can get most of the Harlequin novels (can I even call them that?) at the library. There have been backlists I have bought, when the ebook was cheaper than the pbook. It just irritates me when the basic costs are lower, but the bookseller is asking for more, just because he/she can. I can go online and reserve the pbooks, and the library calls me up when they are ready. That is pretty darn convenient, too. It isn't like these books are massive volumes, that people don't want to cart around. They are short, tiny little books, with embarrasing covers and embarrasing titles. What the publisher should have said is

Ebooks cost more, because you can hide the cover (you may not get one) and the title of the book. You can pretend you are reading something worthwhile.

Now, don't flame me - I read these books all the time. I just don't kid myself that they are well written, have unique plots, or should otherwise be on the bestseller list. But if I am having trouble going to sleep, I can knock one of these babies out in 90 minutes!

Agreed... my limit is +/-$2.. If I see the ebook more than $2 (even if it is 2.01) above the pbook price I will refuse to buy it. i will find another way to get the book, either from the authors site, or another place (without DRM) where I can just convert to a file to mobi or prc to work on my Kindle..

vulcan_girl · 01-12-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL. Yes, I remember my economics class and supply and demand and what the market will bear. My little tax-obssessed statistical mind looks at the price of the ebook in relation to the pbook. If it is a book I want to read, and it is at least 10% less than the pbook, I will buy it. But if it is the same price or even 3 cents over, that darn principal is offended, and I won't buy it. I can get most of the Harlequin novels (can I even call them that?) at the library. There have been backlists I have bought, when the ebook was cheaper than the pbook. It just irritates me when the basic costs are lower, but the bookseller is asking for more, just because he/she can. I can go online and reserve the pbooks, and the library calls me up when they are ready. That is pretty darn convenient, too. It isn't like these books are massive volumes, that people don't want to cart around. They are short, tiny little books, with embarrasing covers and embarrasing titles. What the publisher should have said is

Ebooks cost more, because you can hide the cover (you may not get one) and the title of the book. You can pretend you are reading something worthwhile.

I did a little research at the eHarlequin site. I thought paperback and ebooks had the same base price, but they don't. I looked across several lines to be sure. For instance, one book was 14.95 in paper, but 9.89 as an ebook, and then percentage off discounts applied to those. Maybe it was a bizarre pricing fluke?

Kali Yuga · 01-12-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL....

No, it isn't.

Countless companies figure out how to reduce their costs, and use the savings to increase their profit margins rather than reduce the price. This is downright common-place behavior -- especially during a recession.

So what, exactly, is the "principle" upon which you are standing? Does no one have the right to maximize profits from a cost savings? Are companies that are not monopolies, and produce goods that are not critical to human survival, obligated to stay within a specific profit margin? If so, what's the magic number -- is it OK for Harlequin to make a 15% profit from a paper book, but not a 16% profit from an ebook? Does it only apply to books? If they save 3¢ per paper book and don't pass the cost on to the consumers, is that equally wrong? Does this moral standard only apply to digital books?

There also isn't any real reason for price to be fixed to costs. Prices are complicated and based on numerous factors, including demand and what people are willing to pay. They could charge $5 for paper and $50 for the ebook, and it still isn't a moral failing.

Sorry, but I'm not really seeing any genuine moral principles at stake here, let alone consistently applied. Perhaps you should reconsider what's really going on here?

FF2 · 01-12-2011, 09:46 PM

Dear Professional Contrarian:

You are absolutely right - seller can pick any price they want. Their goods, their decision. And the seller can equally decide that the price is unfair and unrelated to the value of the product. And more so, can bad mouth the seller if they want for any principle they want include three cents is too much.

Obviously ebook prices have almost nothing to do with supply and demand. It is not like a unique coffee table, limited edition printing or even an early printing of the hardback. It is bits and bytes that can be reproduced (supplied) over and over with almost not additional cost (obviously, there is some, if almost nil).

I am pretty sure the rules will change as we move more and more into ebooks and people's valuation of same.

OtterBooks · 01-12-2011, 10:58 PM

Honestly it seems that for the moment consumers are just as confused about what they're willing to pay for ebooks as publishers are about pricing them. Personally, I wouldn't pay more for digital than a trade paperback or hardcover.

I tell ya what, though: I am absolutely willing to pay more for an ebook than a mass-market paperback. I hate those things. I don't care if it's made from the finest handcrafted paper and glued together with the pulverized bones of leprechauns; I'll pay more for one that gives me a better reading experience, via paper or e-ink.

DarkRoast · 01-13-2011, 05:21 AM

I am really fuming. I was just looking at Borders and A&R Australian website and noticed that their prices have gone up. I can't believe it. I thought they were ridiculous before. Kobo was only slightly better. I thought I must have imagined it but looking again, I am sure they have increased the prices. Some of the books I was just looking at have now gone up to $16 -$19 and they aren't new releases. I'm at a loss to know what to say and who to say it to, to get some reasonable ebook prices in Australia.

jhempel24 · 01-13-2011, 05:52 AM

Im almost starting to view ebooks like a 20oz soda compzred to a 2litre. You are paying more for convenience than content.

2 litre soda is .99
20 oz soda is 1.60 but you get less. But you can carry it around easier, its not as bulky and weighs less.

I still don't like it, and think the prices could come down though.

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01-12-2011, 10:35 AM	#31
CyGuy Avid Reader Posts: 769 Karma: 7777778 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PocketBook 902, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, ASUS TF700, and Cybook Gen III	I mostly blame the consumer for this. If people would stop falling for these ridiculous eBook prices they would not get away with charging so much. I have read all of the excuses made for high eBook prices, not one of them holds any water...

01-12-2011, 11:50 AM	#32
vulcan_girl Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 1010345 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: PRS 350	Posting again because it's too hard to edit on my phone: Kali got it right about Harlequin and ebboks. They have a solid base of readers and they also put their books on sale at their site over a month prior to the street date. They do price the paperbacks at 20% off cover while ebooks are 10% off. I realize that when I buy the ebook that I'm also paying for the convenience of getting the book 2 weeks earlier than I would if I had bought the paper version that's for sale at the same time. Some books are worth it to me. Some aren't, so I buy them later or get them at the library.

01-12-2011, 02:26 PM	#33
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	Harlequin is the one publisher that gets most of my money because they do get it right on ebooks. I usually wait for a good Kobo coupon then buy the month's latest titles there at a really good price. I never buy at full price unless I want to read the book right at that moment. I have no complaints because their prices are really reasonable. They have good formatting unlike some agency books I have bought. I also love how they are now publishing backlist titles into ebooks monthly. They are making old titles available again which I had to previous hunt down at used bookstores or through merchants online. I wish more publishers would do that. I prefer ebooks over a used smelly spine creased paperback because most people don't take care of their books properly. Buying a used paperback books online you never know what "real" condition the book is in till it arrives. I have lost money that way. Harlequin has the right idea by offering back titles in ebook form. I know what I am getting and it's usually at a good price.

01-12-2011, 05:42 PM	#38
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	Why do I care about a 3 cent price differential? The same reason anyone goes off the deep end over something small - IT IS THE PRINCIPAL. Yes, I remember my economics class and supply and demand and what the market will bear. My little tax-obssessed statistical mind looks at the price of the ebook in relation to the pbook. If it is a book I want to read, and it is at least 10% less than the pbook, I will buy it. But if it is the same price or even 3 cents over, that darn principal is offended, and I won't buy it. I can get most of the Harlequin novels (can I even call them that?) at the library. There have been backlists I have bought, when the ebook was cheaper than the pbook. It just irritates me when the basic costs are lower, but the bookseller is asking for more, just because he/she can. I can go online and reserve the pbooks, and the library calls me up when they are ready. That is pretty darn convenient, too. It isn't like these books are massive volumes, that people don't want to cart around. They are short, tiny little books, with embarrasing covers and embarrasing titles. What the publisher should have said is Ebooks cost more, because you can hide the cover (you may not get one) and the title of the book. You can pretend you are reading something worthwhile. Now, don't flame me - I read these books all the time. I just don't kid myself that they are well written, have unique plots, or should otherwise be on the bestseller list. But if I am having trouble going to sleep, I can knock one of these babies out in 90 minutes!

01-12-2011, 09:46 PM	#42
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	Dear Professional Contrarian: You are absolutely right - seller can pick any price they want. Their goods, their decision. And the seller can equally decide that the price is unfair and unrelated to the value of the product. And more so, can bad mouth the seller if they want for any principle they want include three cents is too much. Obviously ebook prices have almost nothing to do with supply and demand. It is not like a unique coffee table, limited edition printing or even an early printing of the hardback. It is bits and bytes that can be reproduced (supplied) over and over with almost not additional cost (obviously, there is some, if almost nil). I am pretty sure the rules will change as we move more and more into ebooks and people's valuation of same.

01-12-2011, 10:58 PM	#43
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	Honestly it seems that for the moment consumers are just as confused about what they're willing to pay for ebooks as publishers are about pricing them. Personally, I wouldn't pay more for digital than a trade paperback or hardcover. I tell ya what, though: I am absolutely willing to pay more for an ebook than a mass-market paperback. I hate those things. I don't care if it's made from the finest handcrafted paper and glued together with the pulverized bones of leprechauns; I'll pay more for one that gives me a better reading experience, via paper or e-ink.

01-13-2011, 05:21 AM	#44
DarkRoast Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 55272 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Australia Device: Sony Reader 650	I am really fuming. I was just looking at Borders and A&R Australian website and noticed that their prices have gone up. I can't believe it. I thought they were ridiculous before. Kobo was only slightly better. I thought I must have imagined it but looking again, I am sure they have increased the prices. Some of the books I was just looking at have now gone up to $16 -$19 and they aren't new releases. I'm at a loss to know what to say and who to say it to, to get some reasonable ebook prices in Australia.

01-13-2011, 05:52 AM	#45
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Im almost starting to view ebooks like a 20oz soda compzred to a 2litre. You are paying more for convenience than content. 2 litre soda is .99 20 oz soda is 1.60 but you get less. But you can carry it around easier, its not as bulky and weighs less. I still don't like it, and think the prices could come down though.

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