PotterMore AudioBooks

[zebradude]

I was wondering if anyone has purchased these books yet?

Can they be purchased somewhere else?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by zebradude

I was wondering if anyone has purchased these books yet?

Can they be purchased somewhere else?

They're too expensive. If I were to listen to them, I'd check them out from the library.

I do believe that Pottermore is the only place you can buy them.

[zebradude]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They're too expensive. If I were to listen to them, I'd check them out from the library.

I do believe that Pottermore is the only place you can buy them.

I thought the same thing the pricing was ridiculous! Well I guess I will just stick to the Ebooks!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by zebradude

I thought the same thing the pricing was ridiculous! Well I guess I will just stick to the Ebooks!

Check your library for the audiobooks. My libraries have them, though I'd be on a waiting list.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by zebradude

I was wondering if anyone has purchased these books yet?

Can they be purchased somewhere else?

I've got them all, though I bought them years ago. If I recall correctly, I got them from the iTunes store. IMPO, they are worth every penny, but then again, I have listened to them a number of times, so I definitely get my money's worth. If PotterMore ever releases the British version in the US, I might spring for them just to see who is better.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They're too expensive. If I were to listen to them, I'd check them out from the library.

I do believe that Pottermore is the only place you can buy them.

Have you ever bought an audio book? Yes, they are a bit pricey, though they are somewhat long. The last book weighs in at 22 hours.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Have you ever bought an audio book?

Sure; and the most I've ever paid for one is $2.99 via Audible promo credits. Since I have access to free audiobooks from libraries, promos, and LibriVox, I see no need to pay more than $3 for one.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Have you ever bought an audio book? Yes, they are a bit pricey, though they are somewhat long. The last book weighs in at 22 hours.

I'm currently listening to an audiobook of over 66 hours, and it cost only one Audible credit, i.e., no more than $14.95. I think the Pottermore prices for audiobooks are prohibitive, but presumably it's the sweet spot for them to maximize revenues.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'm currently listening to an audiobook of over 66 hours, and it cost only one Audible credit, i.e., no more than $14.95. I think the Pottermore prices for audiobooks are prohibitive, but presumably it's the sweet spot for them to maximize revenues.

The law of supply and demand. A lot more people want to hear Jim Dale or Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter books than most other audio books. It seems a bit high, but it also apparently does not have any sort of DRM. The ebooks were the same way. One does hope that the voice talents get a royalty.

I'm not arguing that you ought to buy it, but I can see why it's priced the way it is.

$35 seems to be a fairly standard list price for an audiobook that is 22 hours long. Both Sword of the South and Cauldron of Ghosts, two David Weber books about the same length are priced there.

Armada, the new book by Ernest Cline (of Ready Player One fame) has a list price $33.60, and it's only 12 hours long.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

$35 seems to be a fairly standard list price for an audiobook that is 22 hours long. Both Sword of the South and Cauldron of Ghosts, two David Weber books about the same length are priced there.

Back in the day I can remember when even abridged audiobooks were in the $20-30 range on cassette and unabridged into the $40-$60 range, but with digital came companies like Audible and Downpour which make the effective cost for most audiobooks around $12-$15 (which you can get those Weber books for), for a while there were books that cost more than one credit, but I can't think of any anymore. List prices haven't adjusted, but publishers have gone along with the monthly credit system and accepted these lower prices for their titles. Of course one can still pay list price, but many of the audiobook users have adjusted their thinking to $15ish being the top end price for audiobooks. Rowling never bought into the credit scheme. Digital for the Potter books was first iTunes only (even though supplied by Audible) and then went to Pottermore when that opened up. They've never been available cheap.

Being a big audiobook person even before Audible I have the Potter books on CD and paid well for the privileged.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The law of supply and demand.

Well, no. It's digital; there's an infinite supply. The term is elasticity of demand,

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I've got them all, though I bought them years ago. If I recall correctly, I got them from the iTunes store. IMPO, they are worth every penny, but then again, I have listened to them a number of times, so I definitely get my money's worth. If PotterMore ever releases the British version in the US, I might spring for them just to see who is better.

I've heard them both from Stephen Fry and from Jim Dale. They're both good, but I prefer the Stephen Fry version.

And yes, they're expensive, but in my opinion worth every cent... (I pay in Euro's so no pennies! )

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I've heard them both from Stephen Fry and from Jim Dale. They're both good, but I prefer the Stephen Fry version.

And yes, they're expensive, but in my opinion worth every cent... (I pay in Euro's so no pennies! )

I really would love to hear one of the Fry books, just to be able to compare.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by issybird

Well, no. It's digital; there's an infinite supply. The term is elasticity of demand,

Well, there is only one place to buy Harry Potter books and there are only seven of them, so there isn't exactly an infinite supply. I suppose that some could start pirating the Harry Potter books, but so far people seem to be honoring the lack of DRM and not putting them on the pirate sites, just like they did with the Baen ebooks.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Back in the day I can remember when even abridged audiobooks were in the $20-30 range on cassette and unabridged into the $40-$60 range, but with digital came companies like Audible and Downpour which make the effective cost for most audiobooks around $12-$15 (which you can get those Weber books for), for a while there were books that cost more than one credit, but I can't think of any anymore. List prices haven't adjusted, but publishers have gone along with the monthly credit system and accepted these lower prices for their titles. Of course one can still pay list price, but many of the audiobook users have adjusted their thinking to $15ish being the top end price for audiobooks. Rowling never bought into the credit scheme. Digital for the Potter books was first iTunes only (even though supplied by Audible) and then went to Pottermore when that opened up. They've never been available cheap.

Being a big audiobook person even before Audible I have the Potter books on CD and paid well for the privileged.

Basically, I think they are rewarding repeat buyers, plus the membership cost. I have a standard membership, which means no credits, but a reduced member price. I have a different membership for my niece and nephew, 1 credit each per month.

Yes, I originally bought the Harry Potter audio books on cds, then bought them on iTunes when they finally came out that way. Rowling has gotten a pretty big chuck of money from me.