07-10-2011, 03:18 PM | #1 |
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Even more confused by Agency Publishers
So I'm just back from a trip to my neighborhood Walmart and as usual I took a cruise through the book section just for a looksie. I was surprised to see that the Agency Einsteins have come up with a new format, the dimensions of which remind me of a Children's book (~5" high x ~7" wide) with a cover price of $9.99. Almost all of the books available could also be purchased at Amazon as standard MMP at the $7.99 cover price. A quick search lead me to this blog entry. I'm really confused, why would they do this? I always believed that the tall MMP with $9.99 cover was not very popular, I certainly never bought one. And even more disturbing, the books in this format were all romances, who do they think is going to spend $9.99? Are they actively trying to alienate their most prolific readers?
Meanwhile a few shelves down there were a few Sourcebooks titles with stickers and signs advertising free copies of ebooks with purchase of the DTB. Go Sourcebooks! |
07-11-2011, 01:46 AM | #2 |
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Wider would just be annoying for me. I like to bend a book back and hold it in one hand.
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07-11-2011, 02:16 AM | #3 |
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07-11-2011, 02:40 AM | #4 |
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They're grasping at straws.
Last year a publisher was talking about printing a Steve Martin book on vellum as an example of "innovation." There's a thread here about books printed sideways on Bible paper and how that's going to revolutionize publishing. They don't know what they're doing. They're just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. Last edited by J. Strnad; 07-11-2011 at 02:43 AM. |
07-11-2011, 06:35 AM | #5 |
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Apparently when dealing with romance, size does matter.
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07-11-2011, 07:17 AM | #6 |
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Anything to try and convince buyers that they should pay higher prices.
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07-11-2011, 07:39 AM | #7 |
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"Never mind the quality, feel the width!"
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07-11-2011, 07:45 AM | #8 |
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These are call premium books and have premium book prices. They are simply something that I am unwilling to payfor. I am unwiling to pay more for book however I will gladdly play leess for book. Right now I have been concentrating on lower cost novels from Amazon and I am finding some excellent books that way.
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07-11-2011, 12:14 PM | #9 |
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Oversized paperbacks
Of all book formats I hate those oversized paperbacks most. Too large to carry conveniently or to fit on your shelves, as cheap in quality as a paperback, and too expensive. All the worst features of the various formats combined in one overpriced package.
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07-11-2011, 12:24 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Exactly! At a time when MMPB sales are bottoming out they make their product less attractive and charge more for it. Just goes to show they're still not listening to their customers. Good thing I've discovered several new authors outside the Agency line ups and have a HUGE TBR pile. |
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07-11-2011, 05:01 PM | #11 |
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07-11-2011, 05:21 PM | #12 |
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MMP - mass market paperback
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07-11-2011, 05:45 PM | #13 |
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Sounds like they listened to the folks screaming that ebooks shouldn't cost more than paperbacks.
It is only a matter of time before they kill the MMPB formfactor, so going to the old Pulp digest formfactor and jacking up prices is marginally less blatant than a straight price hike. But never fear, the hike is coming anyway. |
07-11-2011, 06:58 PM | #14 |
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This has nothing to do with agency publisher. Trade paperback or other formats have existed for a very long time.
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07-11-2011, 10:36 PM | #15 |
Is that a sandwich?
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Doesn't Walmart offer 25% discount on books?
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