Amazon states sometimes ebooks will cost more than pbooks. - Page 2

badgoodDeb · 03-12-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I hear what everyone here is saying, but I have to agree with Deb (the original poster). There is something about paying more for an ebook than for a hardback or paperback that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, and I really don't care what the reason is that Amazon is charging more for an ebook.

Ahh, but that's just the thing. Amazon is free to charge more for the book, but you don't have to pay it. I go to amazon's own site and find the cheapest used copy available. They just lost the sale of an electronic copy, and since it's a re-sale, the author/publisher lost revenue. Eventually they may learn.

dmaul1114 · 03-12-2009, 03:36 PM

Surest solution is to just not buy ebooks that cost more than the paperback.

I agree it should be cheaper since there's no printing or shipping costs to the publisher or Amazon, so I'll just refuse to buy ebooks that aren't cheaper that the physical copies.

AnemicOak · 03-12-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

I hear what everyone here is saying, but I have to agree with Deb (the original poster). There is something about paying more for an ebook than for a hardback or paperback that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, and I really don't care what the reason is that Amazon is charging more for an ebook.

Well you could always wait until the remainders sell out. Then the ebook will be cheaper than the HC again.

Alisa · 03-12-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Surest solution is to just not buy ebooks that cost more than the paperback.

I agree it should be cheaper since there's no printing or shipping costs to the publisher or Amazon, so I'll just refuse to buy ebooks that aren't cheaper that the physical copies.

Yep. Some even go so far as to write the publisher and tell them they're not going to buy either the paper or the digital copy for this reason.

Of course, others will just go get an illegal copy. They really need to figure this out. As Deb says, with print they compete with resale (as well as borrowing from friends or the library). With ebooks, they compete with free. If they try to shaft the customers that are willing to actually give them money, they will just increase the ranks of illegal downloaders. One wrong doesn't justify another but people do use it to rationalize piracy all the time regardless.

kevindorsey · 03-12-2009, 07:35 PM

I'm too impatient sometimes, and will spend the money regardless of the price difference. Time is money.

nelamvr6 · 03-12-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Ahh, but that's just the thing. Amazon is free to charge more for the book, but you don't have to pay it. I go to amazon's own site and find the cheapest used copy available. They just lost the sale of an electronic copy, and since it's a re-sale, the author/publisher lost revenue. Eventually they may learn.

I'm not buying ANY more DTBs.

I have 4 pages worth of books on my K2, I can't think of a situation where I'll HAVE to buy a book.

If a particular title isn't available in Kindle format, I'll click the "I'd like...", and then move on.

If I want to read a book and it's available in Kindle format, it's on my Kindle. I'm not spending any time comparison shopping. except in cases where there are more than one Kindle versions available...

There are simply too many books to read for me to stress about this.

Custos.Morum · 03-18-2009, 01:05 AM

Since it is already digital nobody has to scan it or proof it to pirate it.

[post edited by moderator to remove illegal links. please do not post info about illegal file sharing here. thank you.

--Moderator.]

zelda_pinwheel · 03-18-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Custos.Morum

Since it is already digital nobody has to scan it or proof it to pirate it.

[post edited by moderator to remove illegal links. please do not post info about illegal file sharing here. thank you.

--Moderator.]

REMINDER :

mobileread does not allow information about illegal downloads. Please don't post links to illegal material here.

radamo · 03-19-2009, 08:29 AM

Frankly, book publishers (and Amazon) are struggling with digital media (hopefully eventually they will understand its potential). This is the same thing that the music and movie industry are working through. They are just further along. Fact is that paying more for an ebook than a hard copy from Amazon is rather insulting. We are only purchasing the use of this media on a Kindle. This cannot be loaned to a friend or given as a donation to needy group. I am really struggling with this issue. It is a shame that publishers are not pricing these appropriately. There is more value to a hard copy book than a drm'd ebook, period.

Just my thoughts on this....
RA

AnemicOak · 03-19-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radamo

Frankly, book publishers (and Amazon) are struggling with digital media (hopefully eventually they will understand its potential). This is the same thing that the music and movie industry are working through. They are just further along. Fact is that paying more for an ebook than a hard copy from Amazon is rather insulting. We are only purchasing the use of this media on a Kindle. This cannot be loaned to a friend or given as a donation to needy group. I am really struggling with this issue. It is a shame that publishers are not pricing these appropriately. There is more value to a hard copy book than a drm'd ebook, period.

While I generally agree that pricing should be lower, if you're going to expect ebooks to compete price wise with bargain table books that are highly discounted I don't think your expectations are usually going to be met. That's like expecting an ebook to cost less than a book from a used bookstore.

dschill · 03-19-2009, 10:56 AM

i don't mind paying for books i buy from amazon....cause if the book is worth it...then it will have a decent price. The thing is if people stop paying then the REAL writers will just vanish and we *the readers* will be left with a bunch of garbage wrote by someone who had no idea what they were writing.

radamo · 03-19-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

While I generally agree that pricing should be lower, if you're going to expect ebooks to compete price wise with bargain table books that are highly discounted I don't think your expectations are usually going to be met. That's like expecting an ebook to cost less than a book from a used bookstore.

I feel that if a new book is out in hardcover and is $20 and the ebook is $15 I am ok with that... but when it is in paperback and generally available for $7.50 then the ebook should be $6. In this scenario everybody wins... but I can loan out the paperback and the hardcover so to me, the ebook is worth less.
RA

AnemicOak · 03-19-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radamo

I feel that if a new book is out in hardcover and is $20 and the ebook is $15 I am ok with that... but when it is in paperback and generally available for $7.50 then the ebook should be $6. In this scenario everybody wins... but I can loan out the paperback and the hardcover so to me, the ebook is worth less.
RA

Sounds right. For me $15 would have to be a book I really want. Of course most Hardcovers now retail for more like $26-$30. For paperback 'equivalents' it'd be nice if they could settle in around $4-$6.

Of course they could smarten up and skip DRM, but that'll be awhile yet.

demoric · 03-19-2009, 09:15 PM

Personally I think the appropriate price range for an ebook is between $3-$10.
You are very limited as to what you can do with them. You can't lend them out, you can't donate or re-sale. Each sale produces profit for the publisher, where as the printed versions compete with a used market. (both compete with illegal methods so I won't count those).

The lower operating cost of electronically producing vs. printing / storing physical books should be more than enough to offset the difference in pricing.

Although with all open markets sellers will try to get the most they can, and buyers want the cheapest price. What will be determined as "fair" by consumers and publishers is still being worked out.

fugazied · 03-19-2009, 11:48 PM

They might have a lot of stock of the pbooks, as opposed to the ebook where the stock is 1 virtual copy and they have no incentive to lower the cost (to get rid of the additional copies). It is a crappy situation though.

03-18-2009, 01:05 AM	#22
Custos.Morum Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	Why shouldn't it cost more. Since it is already digital nobody has to scan it or proof it to pirate it. [post edited by moderator to remove illegal links. please do not post info about illegal file sharing here. thank you. --Moderator.]

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03-12-2009, 03:36 PM	#17
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Surest solution is to just not buy ebooks that cost more than the paperback. I agree it should be cheaper since there's no printing or shipping costs to the publisher or Amazon, so I'll just refuse to buy ebooks that aren't cheaper that the physical copies.

03-12-2009, 07:35 PM	#20
kevindorsey Evangelist Posts: 488 Karma: 258 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: kindle	I'm too impatient sometimes, and will spend the money regardless of the price difference. Time is money.

03-19-2009, 08:29 AM	#24
radamo Addict Posts: 331 Karma: 175766 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Device: Oasis 9th Gen	Frankly, book publishers (and Amazon) are struggling with digital media (hopefully eventually they will understand its potential). This is the same thing that the music and movie industry are working through. They are just further along. Fact is that paying more for an ebook than a hard copy from Amazon is rather insulting. We are only purchasing the use of this media on a Kindle. This cannot be loaned to a friend or given as a donation to needy group. I am really struggling with this issue. It is a shame that publishers are not pricing these appropriately. There is more value to a hard copy book than a drm'd ebook, period. Just my thoughts on this.... RA

03-19-2009, 10:56 AM	#26
dschill Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	i don't mind paying for books i buy from amazon....cause if the book is worth it...then it will have a decent price. The thing is if people stop paying then the REAL writers will just vanish and we the readers will be left with a bunch of garbage wrote by someone who had no idea what they were writing.

03-19-2009, 09:15 PM	#29
demoric Kindle 2 User Posts: 98 Karma: 496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: S.E. Kansas Device: Kindle 2	Personally I think the appropriate price range for an ebook is between $3-$10. You are very limited as to what you can do with them. You can't lend them out, you can't donate or re-sale. Each sale produces profit for the publisher, where as the printed versions compete with a used market. (both compete with illegal methods so I won't count those). The lower operating cost of electronically producing vs. printing / storing physical books should be more than enough to offset the difference in pricing. Although with all open markets sellers will try to get the most they can, and buyers want the cheapest price. What will be determined as "fair" by consumers and publishers is still being worked out.

03-19-2009, 11:48 PM	#30
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	They might have a lot of stock of the pbooks, as opposed to the ebook where the stock is 1 virtual copy and they have no incentive to lower the cost (to get rid of the additional copies). It is a crappy situation though.

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