HarperCollins ebooks double the paperback price?

wallflower75 · 11-24-2008, 12:29 PM

I went to Fictionwise today, eagerly anticipating being able to order the new books by Eloisa James and Kathryn Caskie, both Avon romance authors. I'd saved money in my monthly Micropay budget just for this reason. So imagine my surprise...and ANGER...when I discovered that the books, which I'd anticipated spending fourteen dollars for total, were almost thirteen dollars apiece. The freaking paperbacks will only be seven, and that's only if I don't find them cheaper at Walmart!!!

Is HarperCollins looking to tick off their ebook customer base? In this economy??? There's no way I'm paying that price for them. I'm half tempted to wait until I find the books at a used book store rather than give HarperCollins a dime for them, even if it does hurt the authors. I don't have the money to be spending thirteen bucks for a book that's only worth seven.

And what kills me is that on their main website, the price is listed as $7.99 for the ebook. When you follow the link to their ebook site, it's $14.99. Try figuring that one out.

HarryT · 11-24-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallflower75

And what kills me is that on their main website, the price is listed as $7.99 for the ebook. When you follow the link to their ebook site, it's $14.99. Try figuring that one out.

Errors do occur with the best will in the world. I would suggest that, rather than "blowing your top" about it, you contact FW's support, point out the reference to the $7.99 price, and ask them to check it out.

zelda_pinwheel · 11-24-2008, 12:36 PM

that is pretty outrageous, i agree. i recommend that you write directly to HarperCollins to express your frustration and dissatisfaction with their pricing policy ; they need to hear from their customers. you can write to Fictionwise as well, although I don't think they have the authority to change prices, it's good for them to hear too. With a little luck, perhaps the price was an error which will be corrected (also why it's a good idea to write to fictionwise, in case the mistake came from them), or perhaps they will adjust the price (even if it wasn't an error) to something more realistic. Let us know if you hear back from them. you can probably find a contact email or online form on their website.

wallflower75 · 11-24-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

that is pretty outrageous, i agree. i recommend that you write directly to HarperCollins to express your frustration and dissatisfaction with their pricing policy ; they need to hear from their customers. you can write to Fictionwise as well, although I don't think they have the authority to change prices, it's good for them to hear too. With a little luck, perhaps the price was an error which will be corrected (also why it's a good idea to write to fictionwise, in case the mistake came from them), or perhaps they will adjust the price (even if it wasn't an error) to something more realistic. Let us know if you hear back from them. you can probably find a contact email or online form on their website.

It definitely wasn't a Fictionwise mistake, because the price is the same (more or less, depending on the discount) wherever I look.

And I should've been more specific. HarperCollins' website lists the book at the $7.99 price. When you go to the HarperCollins ebook store, that's when the price magically jumps seven bucks.

And I've never written a complaint letter of this sort before, so I'm not sure what I could say that would sound polite but actually get someone's attention.

tompe · 11-24-2008, 01:31 PM

Is the paperback version really published?

wallflower75 · 11-24-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Is the paperback version really published?

It's being released tomorrow. And this is the first time I've ever seen at HarperCollins where the ebooks were priced more than the paperbacks.

tompe · 11-24-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallflower75

It's being released tomorrow. And this is the first time I've ever seen at HarperCollins where the ebooks were priced more than the paperbacks.

Maybe the ebook price will be adjusted tomorrow when the paperback is available?

Richard Herley · 11-24-2008, 01:38 PM

wallflower, I suggest you just email them a link to this thread. Then they'll know (a) what your complaint is and (b) that everyone else is getting to hear about it.

That should secure their attention. If it doesn't, then they deserve to lose sales. Mind you, publishers like that are so big that they develop their own bureaucracy, so don't hold your breath.

Maybe they'll send you the titles FoC. I know I would.

wallflower75 · 11-24-2008, 04:17 PM

Okay, I sent what I think is a polite complaint to customer service. If I hear back from them, I'll let you guys know.

Laine · 11-25-2008, 01:09 AM

Really popular romances like the one you wanted are often released originally in a larger format paperback first and then a normal sized paperback up to a year later. Similiar to the hardback/mass media situation. These larger format books do cost miore than the smaller ones. If you check a physical store or Amazon you may find this is the case with these books. I'd still rather pay that much than miss out altogether and have to buy dead tree.

Laine, who is going to a Romance Reader Convention and has no paper books for the author's to sign.

Dave Berk · 11-25-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laine

Laine, who is going to a Romance Reader Convention and has no paper books for the author's to sign.

That is a problem, isn't it?

Have him/her sign your reader, or the cover...

HarryT · 11-25-2008, 03:30 AM

I'm sure that there is some reasonable explanation for the price anomaly. HarperCollins are one of the most "progressive" publishers when it comes to eBooks; I've bought dozens of books from them via FW and they've all been very reasonably priced.

astra · 11-25-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

that is pretty outrageous, i agree. i recommend that you write directly to HarperCollins to express your frustration and dissatisfaction with their pricing policy ; they need to hear from their customers.

Could not agree more.
Publishers are just very greedy.

bbusybookworm · 11-25-2008, 12:12 PM

Indeed writing to FW customer support and the publisher is the best bet.

I've been doing something similar for a couple of books I'v been wanting to get, but am not willing to pay Hardback prices for the ebook when the paperback has been out for a year.

Being Penguin (in my case) I'm not holding my breath, but fictionwise did get back to me in a couple of days, basicely saying its up to the publishers, and they can't do anything.

Still you might have better luck, and writing in to them will ensure that they know people are concerned about prices.

FizzyWater · 11-26-2008, 01:22 AM

Macmillan/St. Martin's Press is doing the same thing on at least some of its releases. If you look at the publisher's page on Fictionwise:

http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/ma...ooks.htm?cache

As far as I've looked (and I've checked at least a dozen of them), all the books listed with an original price of $14.00 here were released simultaneously with MMPB's released for $7.99. I've been trying to find a contact at McMillan in the ebook group to write to, but haven't had any luck so far.

11-24-2008, 12:29 PM	#1
wallflower75 Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 223852 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Device: Kindle Voyage/iPhone 6 Plus/iPad mini	HarperCollins ebooks double the paperback price? I went to Fictionwise today, eagerly anticipating being able to order the new books by Eloisa James and Kathryn Caskie, both Avon romance authors. I'd saved money in my monthly Micropay budget just for this reason. So imagine my surprise...and ANGER...when I discovered that the books, which I'd anticipated spending fourteen dollars for total, were almost thirteen dollars apiece. The freaking paperbacks will only be seven, and that's only if I don't find them cheaper at Walmart!!! Is HarperCollins looking to tick off their ebook customer base? In this economy??? There's no way I'm paying that price for them. I'm half tempted to wait until I find the books at a used book store rather than give HarperCollins a dime for them, even if it does hurt the authors. I don't have the money to be spending thirteen bucks for a book that's only worth seven. And what kills me is that on their main website, the price is listed as $7.99 for the ebook. When you follow the link to their ebook site, it's $14.99. Try figuring that one out.

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11-24-2008, 12:36 PM	#3
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	that is pretty outrageous, i agree. i recommend that you write directly to HarperCollins to express your frustration and dissatisfaction with their pricing policy ; they need to hear from their customers. you can write to Fictionwise as well, although I don't think they have the authority to change prices, it's good for them to hear too. With a little luck, perhaps the price was an error which will be corrected (also why it's a good idea to write to fictionwise, in case the mistake came from them), or perhaps they will adjust the price (even if it wasn't an error) to something more realistic. Let us know if you hear back from them. you can probably find a contact email or online form on their website.

11-24-2008, 01:31 PM	#5
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	Is the paperback version really published?

11-24-2008, 01:38 PM	#8
Richard Herley Author Posts: 203 Karma: 1164907 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	wallflower, I suggest you just email them a link to this thread. Then they'll know (a) what your complaint is and (b) that everyone else is getting to hear about it. That should secure their attention. If it doesn't, then they deserve to lose sales. Mind you, publishers like that are so big that they develop their own bureaucracy, so don't hold your breath. Maybe they'll send you the titles FoC. I know I would.

11-24-2008, 04:17 PM	#9
wallflower75 Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 223852 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Device: Kindle Voyage/iPhone 6 Plus/iPad mini	Okay, I sent what I think is a polite complaint to customer service. If I hear back from them, I'll let you guys know.

11-25-2008, 01:09 AM	#10
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	Really popular romances like the one you wanted are often released originally in a larger format paperback first and then a normal sized paperback up to a year later. Similiar to the hardback/mass media situation. These larger format books do cost miore than the smaller ones. If you check a physical store or Amazon you may find this is the case with these books. I'd still rather pay that much than miss out altogether and have to buy dead tree. Laine, who is going to a Romance Reader Convention and has no paper books for the author's to sign.

11-25-2008, 03:30 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm sure that there is some reasonable explanation for the price anomaly. HarperCollins are one of the most "progressive" publishers when it comes to eBooks; I've bought dozens of books from them via FW and they've all been very reasonably priced.

11-25-2008, 12:12 PM	#14
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	Indeed writing to FW customer support and the publisher is the best bet. I've been doing something similar for a couple of books I'v been wanting to get, but am not willing to pay Hardback prices for the ebook when the paperback has been out for a year. Being Penguin (in my case) I'm not holding my breath, but fictionwise did get back to me in a couple of days, basicely saying its up to the publishers, and they can't do anything. Still you might have better luck, and writing in to them will ensure that they know people are concerned about prices.

11-26-2008, 01:22 AM	#15
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	Macmillan/St. Martin's Press is doing the same thing on at least some of its releases. If you look at the publisher's page on Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/ma...ooks.htm?cache As far as I've looked (and I've checked at least a dozen of them), all the books listed with an original price of $14.00 here were released simultaneously with MMPB's released for $7.99. I've been trying to find a contact at McMillan in the ebook group to write to, but haven't had any luck so far.