Is this greedy? - Page 3

ATDrake · 04-21-2011, 04:42 PM

Older Kobo books, as I understand it, sometimes used to lack any extra illustrations when "downloaded" in that proprietary old-style Kobo-only format (as opposed to the newer proprietary kepub format).

But generally missing maps are a lazy publisher issue, like those newer biographies which don't include the insert photo sections in the e-book version because someone was working from the "text" version and didn't bother to hunt down the added pictures.

Anke Wehner · 04-22-2011, 11:26 AM

$6.99 sounds like a decent pricepoint for a backlist title to me... though the paperbacks I use as comparison tend to be closer to 400 pages than 200, so, on balance, maybe a bit lower price would be nice.

Sydney's Mom · 04-22-2011, 10:34 PM

Some additional info: it was the mid-70s when I got the books for $2 (I'm not THAT old). Also, I did some searching online - used paperbacks are about 25 cents. As I said, these are real fluff. Luckily, 5 have made it to the library for me to pick up. Now if I can just face the librarian (it is times like these that I really value my kindle!).

BookCat · 04-22-2011, 11:02 PM

When you consider the absence of printing costs and paper etc, ebooks should be far cheaper than a cheap paperback. I think they should be the equivalent of a book bought in a charity shop or car boot (garage) sale, and priced very low. In fact, I'm coming to the conclusion that ebooks should be free so that publishers make their money on the dead-tree versions of books, which will, in time, become rare collector's items in a digitalised age. Before we reach that stage, there are still many people who prefer paper versions of books and who will keep the money rolling in to the publishers/rights holders coffers. E-versions should be free.

sammsmom · 04-22-2011, 11:45 PM

6.99 is too much as far as I am concerned. I don't like to pay more than that but if it is for a book/author/set that I really love I will pay more than that, but I don't like to.

HansTWN · 04-23-2011, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

When you consider the absence of printing costs and paper etc, ebooks should be far cheaper than a cheap paperback. I think they should be the equivalent of a book bought in a charity shop or car boot (garage) sale, and priced very low. In fact, I'm coming to the conclusion that ebooks should be free so that publishers make their money on the dead-tree versions of books, which will, in time, become rare collector's items in a digitalised age. Before we reach that stage, there are still many people who prefer paper versions of books and who will keep the money rolling in to the publishers/rights holders coffers. E-versions should be free.

Now that is really greedy!

Tenhawk · 04-23-2011, 03:24 AM

I wouldn't call it greedy.

It's more an issue of lack of experience with the format, a problem that we're all dealing with to varying degrees at the moment. Where IS the sweet spot for sales? Some people say 2.99, others argue 99 cents. I've seen people find that raising their prices actually *increases* sales.

Right now we're all kind of jockeying for that sweet spot in terms of sales, and I don't think that any of us are really sure where it is. Amazon, at least, has done a lot of artificially regulate the prices to between 2.99 and 9.99 with their 70 percent royalty rate, so I suspect that we'll find that the future 'standard' ebook price will fall into that range.

I myself started my first novel, Thermals, at the 2.99 price point but am thinking about shifting it up to the 3.99 point next month so I can watch the difference in sales. It's not about getting the most money per book, but the most money overall, so we're all sort of looking for that sweet spot.

[promotional content edited - moderation]

shanghaichica · 04-23-2011, 04:58 PM

No. But it depends on the book.

Sydney's Mom · 05-01-2011, 03:38 PM

Well, the $7 price was so overwhelming to me, I ordered 10 books from the library, to see if I really did want to buy ebook versions. After about 5, I returned the rest of the books to the library. Not as good as I remembered. Or my tastes have changed since 18.

Moral of the story - if these ebooks had been price at $1, I would have bought 10, or 15, rather than feel I had to go through the library hardback route first. Yes, ebook readers may pay more for the convenience of getting our books electronically, but, as they say, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

View Poll Results: Is $6.99 too much?
Yes. The estate is greedy	57	55.88%
No. You are cheap	19	18.63%
I'm sick of whining about ebook prices!	26	25.49%
Voters: 102. You may not vote on this poll

04-23-2011, 03:24 AM	#37
Tenhawk Member Posts: 10 Karma: 15000 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: none	I wouldn't call it greedy. It's more an issue of lack of experience with the format, a problem that we're all dealing with to varying degrees at the moment. Where IS the sweet spot for sales? Some people say 2.99, others argue 99 cents. I've seen people find that raising their prices actually increases sales. Right now we're all kind of jockeying for that sweet spot in terms of sales, and I don't think that any of us are really sure where it is. Amazon, at least, has done a lot of artificially regulate the prices to between 2.99 and 9.99 with their 70 percent royalty rate, so I suspect that we'll find that the future 'standard' ebook price will fall into that range. I myself started my first novel, Thermals, at the 2.99 price point but am thinking about shifting it up to the 3.99 point next month so I can watch the difference in sales. It's not about getting the most money per book, but the most money overall, so we're all sort of looking for that sweet spot. [promotional content edited - moderation] Last edited by dreams; 04-23-2011 at 02:49 PM. Reason: [promotional content edited - moderation]

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04-21-2011, 04:42 PM	#31
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Older Kobo books, as I understand it, sometimes used to lack any extra illustrations when "downloaded" in that proprietary old-style Kobo-only format (as opposed to the newer proprietary kepub format). But generally missing maps are a lazy publisher issue, like those newer biographies which don't include the insert photo sections in the e-book version because someone was working from the "text" version and didn't bother to hunt down the added pictures.

04-22-2011, 11:26 AM	#32
Anke Wehner Addict Posts: 249 Karma: 177956 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Device: PRS-650	$6.99 sounds like a decent pricepoint for a backlist title to me... though the paperbacks I use as comparison tend to be closer to 400 pages than 200, so, on balance, maybe a bit lower price would be nice.

04-22-2011, 10:34 PM	#33
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	Some additional info: it was the mid-70s when I got the books for $2 (I'm not THAT old). Also, I did some searching online - used paperbacks are about 25 cents. As I said, these are real fluff. Luckily, 5 have made it to the library for me to pick up. Now if I can just face the librarian (it is times like these that I really value my kindle!).

04-22-2011, 11:02 PM	#34
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	When you consider the absence of printing costs and paper etc, ebooks should be far cheaper than a cheap paperback. I think they should be the equivalent of a book bought in a charity shop or car boot (garage) sale, and priced very low. In fact, I'm coming to the conclusion that ebooks should be free so that publishers make their money on the dead-tree versions of books, which will, in time, become rare collector's items in a digitalised age. Before we reach that stage, there are still many people who prefer paper versions of books and who will keep the money rolling in to the publishers/rights holders coffers. E-versions should be free.

04-22-2011, 11:45 PM	#35
sammsmom Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 192 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 2	6.99 is too much as far as I am concerned. I don't like to pay more than that but if it is for a book/author/set that I really love I will pay more than that, but I don't like to.

04-23-2011, 04:58 PM	#38
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	No. But it depends on the book.

05-01-2011, 03:38 PM	#39
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	Well, the $7 price was so overwhelming to me, I ordered 10 books from the library, to see if I really did want to buy ebook versions. After about 5, I returned the rest of the books to the library. Not as good as I remembered. Or my tastes have changed since 18. Moral of the story - if these ebooks had been price at $1, I would have bought 10, or 15, rather than feel I had to go through the library hardback route first. Yes, ebook readers may pay more for the convenience of getting our books electronically, but, as they say, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

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