Full price for e-books if - Page 3

CyGuy · 02-10-2012, 03:59 PM

I have "cut off" prices for any digital media. I will never go over this even if I really really want the item. But these are max prices, I usually pay less.

ebook = $5
DVD = $8
BluRay = $12

BeccaPrice · 02-10-2012, 04:07 PM

I will happily pay $15 for the eARC of Lois Bujold's new book (Ivan's story! finally!) if it's available a few months before the HB comes out - and then I may buy the HB too, just to support Lois. But for lesser authors, no way. And $15 is pretty much my limit.

spindlegirl · 02-10-2012, 04:26 PM

Ironically, I will gladly pay about $12-15 for a lovely paperback with a pretty cover, smooth pages, and nice binding, even without a discount. The criteria being that I had to have read it from the library and to me will get a good $15 worth of re-reads for many years to come.... Buying a paper book is self-contained and needs nothing else to support it. It *is* the reader.

It's for this reason I likely won't pay that much for an e-book without very very serious consideration. It has to be my last resort.

CRussel · 02-10-2012, 04:31 PM

IF and only IF I knew that all the extra beyond the paperback price went directly to the author. (And since we all know THAT isn't going to happen, I also selected "what planet are you from?")

carpetmojo · 02-10-2012, 05:31 PM

I have , in a few instances, found a hard-cover book, of an author I really admire, on a special "one-day" offer at 1/2 price or less, so bought that and the ebook for less than the price of the original price.

It always makes perfect sense when I do it.......

FizzyWater · 02-10-2012, 06:41 PM

This has probably been said, but I would - and HAVE - paid more for ebooks when the print books are initially released as hard-back books. I have considered it "fair" as long as I could get the same or similar (or better!) discounts that were being offered on the print books.

I feel the same for "paperback" books. If I can get a $7.99 paperback at Wal-Mart for $5.24, I should be able to pay no more than $5.24 for the ebook. And if some online bookstore wanted to offer it for less, all the better. I miss Fictionwise's micropay deals SO much...

bgalbrecht · 02-10-2012, 09:27 PM

I have such a large TBR pile, I don't have any authors that are "must read the day of release". If I have any expectation that the ebook will eventually be lowered in price, I will wait until that happens. The Agency publishers really irritate me when they price their books at a parity with paperback books, since I can easily get the paperback with a discount which means that I'm paying a premium for the ebook. I too miss Fictionwise's micropay deals.

theducks · 02-11-2012, 12:18 PM

Hardbacks are for Reference in my house.
I only buy (bought, since e-books are now my prime format) mass market paper. If I want to read it before it hits paper, I head to the public library

Catlady · 02-11-2012, 12:48 PM

I can't pick a response from the poll. The mention of "best-seller" in the first option is the problem. I will and do pay full price for an e-book if it's a title I want. Period. I'm not guided by the best-seller lists or the author's fame--if it sounds interesting to me and I want to read it right away, I buy it. If not, I don't.

Joykins · 02-11-2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

No. Although I have been known (very occasionally) to pay $15 for a Baen eARC.

For Cryoburn I paid for the Baen eARC and the hardcover. Which, incidentally, came with a CD of the entire Vorkosigan series omitting only Memory. I feel I got my $40 worth.

Andrew H. · 02-11-2012, 03:57 PM

I will pay the same for an e-book as I would for a hardback. But there are very few HBs that I would pay $20 for. Maybe if Dorothy Sayers were resurrected and wrote a new Wimsey.

BeccaPrice · 02-12-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

For Cryoburn I paid for the Baen eARC and the hardcover. Which, incidentally, came with a CD of the entire Vorkosigan series omitting only Memory. I feel I got my $40 worth.

This.

Lois Bujold is one of the few (the only?) author for whom I'll gladly pay for the eARC, hardback, and audio book.

(Ivan's book is coming out, maybe in November. And Spirit Ring will be in audio at the end of this month!)

Joykins · 02-12-2012, 07:30 PM

I am slobbering in anticipation of the Ivan book!!

geenp · 02-13-2012, 02:32 AM

I see no reason why I would pay the same amount for something that cost less to create. It's a matter of principle really. No matter the cost of the paperback, the ebook should always cost less.

Pinecone · 02-13-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

If there's no physical production or distribution cost for an ebook, why am I paying for it? I realize those costs are actually smaller than most people would think (something like $3.50 for a hardback), but an ebook should at least be that much cheaper than its physical counterpart.

Except that time and time again, it has been shown that the ebook costs to produce are about the same as the pbook. And both are VERY small compared the price you pay.

You still have the price of editing and publishing. Data storage, bandwidth to deliver.

And it is under $3.50.

View Poll Results: I am willing to pay full price
if it is a brand new book by a recognized best seller author	7	4.93%
if I knew for certain that the premiuim I'm paying goes straight to the author	17	11.97%
if it is a book I have been excited about three months before its release	29	20.42%
if i get access to it a month before it comes from the printer	8	5.63%
if by full price you mean paperback level	61	42.96%
What planet are you from?	59	41.55%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 142. You may not vote on this poll

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02-10-2012, 03:59 PM	#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 have "cut off" prices for any digital media. I will never go over this even if I really really want the item. But these are max prices, I usually pay less. ebook = $5 DVD = $8 BluRay = $12

02-10-2012, 04:07 PM	#32
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I will happily pay $15 for the eARC of Lois Bujold's new book (Ivan's story! finally!) if it's available a few months before the HB comes out - and then I may buy the HB too, just to support Lois. But for lesser authors, no way. And $15 is pretty much my limit.

02-10-2012, 04:26 PM	#33
spindlegirl Wizard Posts: 1,594 Karma: 21245891 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra h20, Paperwhite 2017, Phone & Tablet w Moonreader	Ironically, I will gladly pay about $12-15 for a lovely paperback with a pretty cover, smooth pages, and nice binding, even without a discount. The criteria being that I had to have read it from the library and to me will get a good $15 worth of re-reads for many years to come.... Buying a paper book is self-contained and needs nothing else to support it. It is the reader. It's for this reason I likely won't pay that much for an e-book without very very serious consideration. It has to be my last resort.

02-10-2012, 04:31 PM	#34
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,287 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	IF and only IF I knew that all the extra beyond the paperback price went directly to the author. (And since we all know THAT isn't going to happen, I also selected "what planet are you from?")

02-10-2012, 05:31 PM	#35
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	I have , in a few instances, found a hard-cover book, of an author I really admire, on a special "one-day" offer at 1/2 price or less, so bought that and the ebook for less than the price of the original price. It always makes perfect sense when I do it.......

02-10-2012, 06:41 PM	#36
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	This has probably been said, but I would - and HAVE - paid more for ebooks when the print books are initially released as hard-back books. I have considered it "fair" as long as I could get the same or similar (or better!) discounts that were being offered on the print books. I feel the same for "paperback" books. If I can get a $7.99 paperback at Wal-Mart for $5.24, I should be able to pay no more than $5.24 for the ebook. And if some online bookstore wanted to offer it for less, all the better. I miss Fictionwise's micropay deals SO much...

02-10-2012, 09:27 PM	#37
bgalbrecht Wizard Posts: 1,806 Karma: 13399999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Device: Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle 4	I have such a large TBR pile, I don't have any authors that are "must read the day of release". If I have any expectation that the ebook will eventually be lowered in price, I will wait until that happens. The Agency publishers really irritate me when they price their books at a parity with paperback books, since I can easily get the paperback with a discount which means that I'm paying a premium for the ebook. I too miss Fictionwise's micropay deals.

02-11-2012, 12:18 PM	#38
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,938 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Hardbacks are for Reference in my house. I only buy (bought, since e-books are now my prime format) mass market paper. If I want to read it before it hits paper, I head to the public library

02-11-2012, 12:48 PM	#39
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I can't pick a response from the poll. The mention of "best-seller" in the first option is the problem. I will and do pay full price for an e-book if it's a title I want. Period. I'm not guided by the best-seller lists or the author's fame--if it sounds interesting to me and I want to read it right away, I buy it. If not, I don't.

02-11-2012, 03:57 PM	#41
Andrew H. Grand Master of Flowers Posts: 2,201 Karma: 8389072 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Naptown Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)	I will pay the same for an e-book as I would for a hardback. But there are very few HBs that I would pay $20 for. Maybe if Dorothy Sayers were resurrected and wrote a new Wimsey.

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02-12-2012, 07:30 PM	#43
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I am slobbering in anticipation of the Ivan book!!

02-13-2012, 02:32 AM	#44
geenp Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 16628 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: none	I see no reason why I would pay the same amount for something that cost less to create. It's a matter of principle really. No matter the cost of the paperback, the ebook should always cost less.