kobo and agency pricing - Page 3

kiwipippa · 08-19-2011, 03:39 PM

Molman,

Here's the A Dance with Dragons publisher details for the Amazon book - same as yours in Australia:

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 2166 KB
Print Length: 1040 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0002247399
Publisher: Harper Voyager (July 12, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004XISI4A

The kobo one is:
HarperCollins Publishers, July 2011
ISBN: 9780007442454

And the Now you See Her is the same as yours - Amazon is Cornerstone, Kobo is Random House. That also doesn't make much sense - I thought a publisher had "exclusive" rights in a region. How can two publishers share the same rights? Maybe they are part of the same group.

kiwipippa · 08-19-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBlyth

Sadly, I find it extremely rare that Kobo matches or undercuts Amazon.

I tend to look at both sites for a book I might like, and then buy the cheapest, which is Amazon 90% of the time. Often the difference is 50-100%

Borders Australia gets a rare look-in for Australian-centric books.....

John
(Still enjoying Hokkaido, although it is now officially autumn already!)

I'm finding the same thing - but over the last month or so Kobo has NEVER been cheaper. Prior to this most books were cheaper on kobo.

It will start getting cold in Hokkaido soon but first you'll get the gorgeous autumn colours. Will you be up there for the ski season? Enjoy.

molman · 08-20-2011, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

Molman,

Here's the A Dance with Dragons publisher details for the Amazon book - same as yours in Australia:

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 2166 KB
Print Length: 1040 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0002247399
Publisher: Harper Voyager (July 12, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004XISI4A

The kobo one is:
HarperCollins Publishers, July 2011
ISBN: 9780007442454

And the Now you See Her is the same as yours - Amazon is Cornerstone, Kobo is Random House. That also doesn't make much sense - I thought a publisher had "exclusive" rights in a region. How can two publishers share the same rights? Maybe they are part of the same group.

Hmm.. interesting. Well count yourself lucky, for whatever reason it seems Amazon is likely setting the price for GRRM:aDwD for you (NZ region), whilst for us in AU the publisher has dictated a price (hence why it says "This price was set by the publisher" under the price for me. I believe in the infancy of the Kindle store AU uses tended to get the US prices, but I guess the local/regional divisions of the publishers weren't happy about the effect on their efforts. Lots of politics regarding meeting targets etc. in these big old companies.

RE: "Now you see her", you are right, Cornerstone is part of the Random House Group (see:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_House), still it seems like the dynamics are different for some of the Kindle releases. I get the sense there is a more independent negotiation, verses a more generic/dictated price for the .epub retailers.

molman · 08-20-2011, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwipippa

I'm finding the same thing - but over the last month or so Kobo has NEVER been cheaper. Prior to this most books were cheaper on kobo.

That's a real shame as their should be more parity if they are going to do this regional pricing model. Might also be that the authors/books you like fall inline with those Amazon sells cheaper.

taming · 08-21-2011, 10:41 AM

I've been buying some agency priced books from Angus & Robinson AU. It's a Kobo operated website , but not Kobo branded. I always look there if I am interested in a Penguin imprint. Penguin has not been available at all (once again) as a Kindle book, and is usually more on the Kobo site. An example: Three day Road, a Canadian prize winning book, was $20 at Kobo, unavailable as a Kindle book, and was $12.99 AU through A&R. With the exchange rate, buying from A&R is about the same in CAD with GST added in.

HarleyB · 08-25-2011, 01:13 AM

I just noticed that James Patterson's "Now You See Her" is listed at $10.34 on the Australian Kobo website. I tried the $1 off coupon and that brought it down to $9.34.
I just saw a post about a 20% off code which would reduce the price even more - down to about $8.27. This book is still listed at $9.99 on Amazon.
Dance with Dragons is still $15.99 at Kobo - I don't know whether the discount codes would work or not as I haven't tried.

I'm really pleased Kobo has finally decided to do some more discount codes - it really does make them the cheapest option quite often.

winsomnia · 08-25-2011, 02:40 AM

FYI, Kobo's email with the 20% off code save20offer includes a legal disclaimer at the bottom:

This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and cannot be used to adjust amount paid on previous purchases. Discount code is valid for one time 20% off any eBook purchase excluding those from the following publishers: In the UK - Zondervan, Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Wiley and all respective subsidiary imprints. In the US - Hachette Book Group USA, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Macmillan, Zondervan, Wiley, Random House and all respective subsidiary imprints. In CA - Zondervan, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, Penguin, Wiley, and Macmillan. In AU/NZ - Zondervan, Wiley, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins and all respective subsidiary imprints. Newspapers and magazines are excluded from this offer. Promotional code must be entered at time of purchase to qualify for this discount. Discounts cannot be applied nor the discount value refunded once a purchase is complete. We reserve the right to change or end this offer at any time without notice.

molman · 08-25-2011, 03:12 AM

@HarleyB: As I believe I said early on I've found Kobo pretty good (i.e. competitive) when looked at broadly. Kindle seems more oft to have some nice pricing on the more popular books (at least for me downunder, I think the US tends to have some nicer pricing generally).

@winsomnia: I believe it has always been that way for agency books (the publishers listed in the disclaimer). I think from memory it lets you know at checkout that said discount can't be applied if you try (as I found when trying one early on). Anyway thanks for the clarity for those who did not receive the email.

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08-19-2011, 03:39 PM	#31
kiwipippa Fanatic Posts: 578 Karma: 613022 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: kobo glo, kobo touch (dead), kindle touch, android phone	Molman, Here's the A Dance with Dragons publisher details for the Amazon book - same as yours in Australia: Format: Kindle Edition File Size: 2166 KB Print Length: 1040 pages Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0002247399 Publisher: Harper Voyager (July 12, 2011) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services Language: English ASIN: B004XISI4A The kobo one is: HarperCollins Publishers, July 2011 ISBN: 9780007442454 And the Now you See Her is the same as yours - Amazon is Cornerstone, Kobo is Random House. That also doesn't make much sense - I thought a publisher had "exclusive" rights in a region. How can two publishers share the same rights? Maybe they are part of the same group.

08-21-2011, 10:41 AM	#35
taming Trying for calm & polite Posts: 4,012 Karma: 9455193 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mostly in Canada Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura	I've been buying some agency priced books from Angus & Robinson AU. It's a Kobo operated website , but not Kobo branded. I always look there if I am interested in a Penguin imprint. Penguin has not been available at all (once again) as a Kindle book, and is usually more on the Kobo site. An example: Three day Road, a Canadian prize winning book, was $20 at Kobo, unavailable as a Kindle book, and was $12.99 AU through A&R. With the exchange rate, buying from A&R is about the same in CAD with GST added in.

08-25-2011, 01:13 AM	#36
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	I just noticed that James Patterson's "Now You See Her" is listed at $10.34 on the Australian Kobo website. I tried the $1 off coupon and that brought it down to $9.34. I just saw a post about a 20% off code which would reduce the price even more - down to about $8.27. This book is still listed at $9.99 on Amazon. Dance with Dragons is still $15.99 at Kobo - I don't know whether the discount codes would work or not as I haven't tried. I'm really pleased Kobo has finally decided to do some more discount codes - it really does make them the cheapest option quite often.

08-25-2011, 02:40 AM	#37
winsomnia Groupie Posts: 164 Karma: 190082 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: BC, Canada Device: kobo Touch, kobo Aura	FYI, Kobo's email with the 20% off code save20offer includes a legal disclaimer at the bottom: This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and cannot be used to adjust amount paid on previous purchases. Discount code is valid for one time 20% off any eBook purchase excluding those from the following publishers: In the UK - Zondervan, Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Wiley and all respective subsidiary imprints. In the US - Hachette Book Group USA, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Macmillan, Zondervan, Wiley, Random House and all respective subsidiary imprints. In CA - Zondervan, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group, Penguin, Wiley, and Macmillan. In AU/NZ - Zondervan, Wiley, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins and all respective subsidiary imprints. Newspapers and magazines are excluded from this offer. Promotional code must be entered at time of purchase to qualify for this discount. Discounts cannot be applied nor the discount value refunded once a purchase is complete. We reserve the right to change or end this offer at any time without notice.

08-25-2011, 03:12 AM	#38
molman Evangelist Posts: 436 Karma: 538958 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	@HarleyB: As I believe I said early on I've found Kobo pretty good (i.e. competitive) when looked at broadly. Kindle seems more oft to have some nice pricing on the more popular books (at least for me downunder, I think the US tends to have some nicer pricing generally). @winsomnia: I believe it has always been that way for agency books (the publishers listed in the disclaimer). I think from memory it lets you know at checkout that said discount can't be applied if you try (as I found when trying one early on). Anyway thanks for the clarity for those who did not receive the email.

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