Pricing sucks!

Daithi · 11-30-2011, 11:48 PM

Ok, I'm about to bitch and moan, you've been forewarned. I would like to buy Watership Down by Richard Adams. Supposedly one of the greatest books of fantasy -- with bunnies as the main characters. Who doesn't love a kick butt bunny book? Remember Peter Rabbit, Mr. McGregor's garden, and lost mittens? I'd like to relive that fast paced excitement.

Here's the problem. The Kindle edition is $13.99 but the Mass Market Paperback edition is $3.98. Yes, I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price, and that is exactly what I'm doing -- not buying it. Nevertheless, it still ticks me off and I feel like moaning.

FizzyWater · 12-01-2011, 12:05 AM

Preachin' to the choir here, dude. Well, not including the publishing shills that visit here, but you know, most of us.

I wish there was a place to send this (and all other posts in this line) to people who could actually do something.

1611mac · 12-01-2011, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

Ok, I'm about to bitch and moan, you've been forewarned. I would like to buy Watership Down by Richard Adams. Supposedly one of the greatest books of fantasy -- with bunnies as the main characters. Who doesn't love a kick butt bunny book? Remember Peter Rabbit, Mr. McGregor's garden, and lost mittens? I'd like to relive that fast paced excitement.

Here's the problem. The Kindle edition is $13.99 but the Mass Market Paperback edition is $3.98. Yes, I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price, and that is exactly what I'm doing -- not buying it. Nevertheless, it still ticks me off and I feel like moaning.

hummmm.... guess you haven't heard the news about Mr. McGregor... He failed to impress the parole board and he won't be gettin' out anytime soon. That's what you get for harming poor 'ol bunny rabbits...

Perhaps the ebook edition has super duper newly added pics? Collectors edition? Writers commentary? (or perhaps someone is just taking advantage of a new technology?)

xg4bx · 12-01-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1611mac

(or perhaps someone is just taking advantage?)

fixed

bgalbrecht · 12-01-2011, 12:18 AM

To be fair to Amazon, that $4 MMPB price is for an out of print edition some sellers are claiming as new. Simon & Schuster's cheapest pbook edition in print has a list price of $17, which Amazon is discounting to $11.56 (cheaper than what S&S is setting for the ebook). I think it's price gouging by S&S in all all formats. Unfortunately for ebook customers, there's no legitimate used market like there is for pbooks.

Oh, and another S&S price-gouge: Fahrenheit 451, $6.99 MMPB, $9.99 ebook. I guess S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy lied when she predicted the price of ebooks would gravitate to a couple dollars less than print.

tubemonkey · 12-01-2011, 12:33 AM

How about the audiobook? It's free at many libraries?

HarleyB · 12-01-2011, 01:03 AM

Have you tried other options besides Amazon?
I just looked at kobobooks.com and it's only $7.19 in Australia - still not $3.98 but better than $13.99.
I don't know how much it might be in the US but it's always better to check different sources as no one store is always the cheapest.

Fbone · 12-01-2011, 01:08 AM

As was mentioned Watership Down list price is $17.00. So the ebook is less expensive than the paperback. Amazon chooses to discount the paperback to $11.56. This is out of the publisher's control.

Regarding Fahrenheit 451- The ebook is published by Simon & Schuster and the MMPB by Random House. The MMPB is a 1987 re-issue. RH is selling off remaining stock before their contract ends.

jmasta · 12-01-2011, 01:39 AM

Sure I will probably get banned for this but that is fine I will simply re-register using a proxy! However [site removed - moderation] has that specific book all over so if your truly sick of being ripped off simply download it for free!

rogue_librarian · 12-01-2011, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

So the ebook is less expensive than the paperback.

Theoretically, perhaps , because ...

Quote:

Amazon chooses to discount the paperback to $11.56. This is out of the publisher's control.

I hate to break it to you, but I really don't care how those prices come about. All that matters to me, as a consumer, is that the ebook has a higher street price than the pbook. It's an automatic no-buy.

HansTWN · 12-01-2011, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

As was mentioned Watership Down list price is $17.00. So the ebook is less expensive than the paperback. Amazon chooses to discount the paperback to $11.56. This is out of the publisher's control.

It is NOT out of the publisher's control that the Amazon is not allowed to discount the ebook. That is what most of us are angry about. Price fixing for ebooks. In the good old days the ebook would have been 9.99, which is reasonable when the paperback is 11.56.

HansTWN · 12-01-2011, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmasta

Sure I will probably get banned for this but that is fine I will simply re-register using a proxy! However [site removed - moderation] has that specific book all over so if your truly sick of being ripped off simply download it for free!

No need to join the publishers in the gutter, either don't buy it at all or buy the cheapest pbook and scan it.

HarryT · 12-01-2011, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

I hate to break it to you, but I really don't care how those prices come about. All that matters to me, as a consumer, is that the ebook has a higher street price than the pbook. It's an automatic no-buy.

Why? eBooks are more valuable than pbooks. They never deteriorate, no matter how often you read them, and they occupy no physical storage space.

Fbone · 12-01-2011, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogue_librarian

I hate to break it to you, but I really don't care how those prices come about. All that matters to me, as a consumer, is that the ebook has a higher street price than the pbook. It's an automatic no-buy.

If it makes you feel better, B&N has the pbook for $14.98.

In any case, the ebook will almost always be pricier than the pbook if you count (as the OP did) all the used pbook prices.

Fbone · 12-01-2011, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

It is NOT out of the publisher's control that the Amazon is not allowed to discount the ebook. That is what most of us are angry about. Price fixing for ebooks. In the good old days the ebook would have been 9.99, which is reasonable when the paperback is 11.56.

I was referring to Amazon discounting the print edition. That is out of the publisher's control. At least it is in the US.

11-30-2011, 11:48 PM	#1
Daithi Publishers are evil! Posts: 2,418 Karma: 36205264 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Rhode Island Device: Various Kindles	Pricing sucks! Ok, I'm about to bitch and moan, you've been forewarned. I would like to buy Watership Down by Richard Adams. Supposedly one of the greatest books of fantasy -- with bunnies as the main characters. Who doesn't love a kick butt bunny book? Remember Peter Rabbit, Mr. McGregor's garden, and lost mittens? I'd like to relive that fast paced excitement. Here's the problem. The Kindle edition is $13.99 but the Mass Market Paperback edition is $3.98. Yes, I don't have to buy it if I don't like the price, and that is exactly what I'm doing -- not buying it. Nevertheless, it still ticks me off and I feel like moaning.

12-01-2011, 12:18 AM	#5
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	To be fair to Amazon, that $4 MMPB price is for an out of print edition some sellers are claiming as new. Simon & Schuster's cheapest pbook edition in print has a list price of $17, which Amazon is discounting to $11.56 (cheaper than what S&S is setting for the ebook). I think it's price gouging by S&S in all all formats. Unfortunately for ebook customers, there's no legitimate used market like there is for pbooks. Oh, and another S&S price-gouge: Fahrenheit 451, $6.99 MMPB, $9.99 ebook. I guess S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy lied when she predicted the price of ebooks would gravitate to a couple dollars less than print. Last edited by bgalbrecht; 12-01-2011 at 12:31 AM.

12-01-2011, 01:39 AM	#9
jmasta Banned Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: None	Sure I will probably get banned for this but that is fine I will simply re-register using a proxy! However [site removed - moderation] has that specific book all over so if your truly sick of being ripped off simply download it for free! Last edited by dreams; 12-01-2011 at 12:49 PM. Reason: [site removed - moderation]

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12-01-2011, 12:05 AM	#2
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	Preachin' to the choir here, dude. Well, not including the publishing shills that visit here, but you know, most of us. I wish there was a place to send this (and all other posts in this line) to people who could actually do something.

12-01-2011, 12:33 AM	#6
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,746 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	How about the audiobook? It's free at many libraries?

12-01-2011, 01:03 AM	#7
HarleyB Fanatic Posts: 565 Karma: 1113286 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Device: Kobo (RIP), iPad, iPhone 4, Kobo Touch x2, Kobo Glo	Have you tried other options besides Amazon? I just looked at kobobooks.com and it's only $7.19 in Australia - still not $3.98 but better than $13.99. I don't know how much it might be in the US but it's always better to check different sources as no one store is always the cheapest.

12-01-2011, 01:08 AM	#8
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,280 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	As was mentioned Watership Down list price is $17.00. So the ebook is less expensive than the paperback. Amazon chooses to discount the paperback to $11.56. This is out of the publisher's control. Regarding Fahrenheit 451- The ebook is published by Simon & Schuster and the MMPB by Random House. The MMPB is a 1987 re-issue. RH is selling off remaining stock before their contract ends.

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