Publishers Agonize(?) Over Ebook Release Dates

poohbear_nc · 07-15-2009, 07:56 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/bo...books.html?hpw

Comments from several publishers & authors on the timing of ebook releases versus hardcover release dates.

Plus: John Grisham MAY be coming to ebooks.

Sweetpea · 07-15-2009, 08:11 AM

They have a good point there. I personally think Amazon's way of pricing all books at $9,99 is hurting the business. I read somewhere else (on this forum) an idea which I would find much better: an ebook released together with a hardcover is the price of that hardcover (maybe a little less, or even a little bit more), the price drops with the coming of the pocket, etc.

That way, the sale of ebooks won't hurt the sale of hardcovers (they get the same amount of money for each sold book, no matter the format) and people who really want the book (and would formerly buy the hardcover) can still get it.

poohbear_nc · 07-15-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

They have a good point there. I personally think Amazon's way of pricing all books at $9,99 is hurting the business. I read somewhere else (on this forum) an idea which I would find much better: an ebook released together with a hardcover is the price of that hardcover (maybe a little less, or even a little bit more), the price drops with the coming of the pocket, etc.

That way, the sale of ebooks won't hurt the sale of hardcovers (they get the same amount of money for each sold book, no matter the format) and people who really want the book (and would formerly buy the hardcover) can still get it.

But what about Amazon allowing readers to resell their new hardcovers? If you're willing to wait a few days or a few weeks after a popular hardcover release, you can usually pick up a brand new (read once) book at pennies on the dollar. Offering the ebook with the hardcover allows impulse ebook purchases to occur immediately - during all the publicity over the hardcover release. During the latest release of the Sookie Stackhouse hardcover, ebook sales at $14.00 topped the Amazon sales charts. Folks didn't wait for the drop to $9.99.

zelda_pinwheel · 07-15-2009, 09:39 AM

poohbear makes a good point about reselling hardcovers. it seems to me that it would be in the publishers best interest to try to regain some of those truly lost sales by making ebooks available even at a lower price, at the same date as the hardcover. but regardless, the idea of "cannibalising" hardcover sales seems dubious at best to me ; first because (as has been pointed out) typically the people buying hardcovers are not the same as the people buying ebooks, and vice-versa, secondly because there apparently *are* people who will buy an ebook to read, and a hardcover to put on a shelf (for an author / series they really treasure). which will make *two* sales, IF the ebook is available simultaneously. i'm not so sure these people will be willing to buy the hardcover, then wait 6 months for the release of the ebook before they read it. and once they've read the hardcover, will they be as eager to buy the ebook in addition ? not so sure...

Moejoe · 07-15-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/bo...books.html?hpw

Comments from several publishers & authors on the timing of ebook releases versus hardcover release dates.

Plus: John Grisham MAY be coming to ebooks.

Wants me to register to read the article

zelda_pinwheel · 07-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Wants me to register to read the article

that's odd, i can read it...

Sweetpea · 07-15-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

and once they've read the hardcover, will they be as eager to buy the ebook in addition ? not so sure...

Highly doubtful...

But then publishers are a weird people (the Dutch must be the weirdest of them all, with their remark that ebooks are one of the 3 most hopeless developments while 61% of them see themselves publishing ebooks in 2011. I still can't understand that one...)

Moejoe · 07-15-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

that's odd, i can read it...

I get this:

JSWolf · 07-15-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

At least one publisher has made a decision to withhold an e-book edition of a forthcoming book to preserve demand for a hardcover edition. Sourcebooks, an independent publisher, is releasing “Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse,” a novel aimed at children, in September in hardcover. It will hold back the e-book until six months later.

All this will do is kill off demand for this book. People that do not buy hardcovers and do buy eBooks will not buy this because of being treated like second class citizens. So way to go killing off sales.

And the article keeps going on about the Kindle. Not everyone has a Kindle and without a Kindle or an iPhone/iPod Touch, you cannot purchase eBooks from Amazon. So if you don't have a Kindle, it's not a matter of get the hardcover or get the eBook from Amazon.

Sweetpea · 07-15-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

All this will do is kill off demand for this book. People that do not buy hardcovers and do buy eBooks will not buy this because of being treated like second class citizens. So way to go killing off sales.

And the article keeps going on about the Kindle. Not everyone has a Kindle and without a Kindle or an iPhone/iPod Touch, you cannot purchase eBooks from Amazon. So if you don't have a Kindle, it's not a matter of get the hardcover or get the eBook from Amazon.

But we've already found out (by several sources) that only Amazon sells ebooks. And that the Kindle is the default ereader, all others are inferior...

poohbear_nc · 07-15-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Wants me to register to read the article

Yikes - didn't ask me to register. If you visit there a lot you may have cookies it is picking up. Clear your cookies & temp files & try again.

Moejoe · 07-15-2009, 09:57 AM

Apparently it's a Firefox 3.5 issue (at least I think it is). It opens immediately in Chrome, go figure. *shrugs*

zelda_pinwheel · 07-15-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Apparently it's a Firefox 3.5 issue (at least I think it is). It opens immediately in Chrome, go figure. *shrugs*

how odd. glad you can read it now, anyway.

poohbear_nc · 07-15-2009, 10:04 AM

IMNSHO - the bottom line for publishers is money. Offering ebooks with hardcovers snags 2 impulse buyer markets immediately - those ebook & hardcover readers salivating for the release of the next book by their favorite author. Those waiting for paperback editions to read obviously don't have ereaders if they want to buy paperbacks. There is a clear separation of markets developing now that publishers are not grasping. Ebook readers want to read new titles immediately, and are apparently willing to pay higher prices for this, just like the folks that buy hardcovers. Offering ebooks at higher prices with hardcovers, and then lowering prices when the paperbook release occurs hits all buying levels and maximizes sales opportunities.

Sweetpea · 07-15-2009, 10:33 AM

Actually, what they are saying is that people will buy both the hard cover and the paperback (or ebook). If you leave the ebook out of the equation... How many people buy the hard cover and the paperback? If they bring out the hard cover together with the (more expensive than normal) ebook, I wonder how much less they would actually make... (I personally think they'd make more money than waiting with the ebook till the pocket came out...)

07-15-2009, 07:56 AM	#1
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,744 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Publishers Agonize(?) Over Ebook Release Dates http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/bo...books.html?hpw Comments from several publishers & authors on the timing of ebook releases versus hardcover release dates. Plus: John Grisham MAY be coming to ebooks.

07-15-2009, 10:04 AM	#14
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 62,744 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	IMNSHO - the bottom line for publishers is money. Offering ebooks with hardcovers snags 2 impulse buyer markets immediately - those ebook & hardcover readers salivating for the release of the next book by their favorite author. Those waiting for paperback editions to read obviously don't have ereaders if they want to buy paperbacks. There is a clear separation of markets developing now that publishers are not grasping. Ebook readers want to read new titles immediately, and are apparently willing to pay higher prices for this, just like the folks that buy hardcovers. Offering ebooks at higher prices with hardcovers, and then lowering prices when the paperbook release occurs hits all buying levels and maximizes sales opportunities. Last edited by poohbear_nc; 07-15-2009 at 10:10 AM.

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07-15-2009, 08:11 AM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	They have a good point there. I personally think Amazon's way of pricing all books at $9,99 is hurting the business. I read somewhere else (on this forum) an idea which I would find much better: an ebook released together with a hardcover is the price of that hardcover (maybe a little less, or even a little bit more), the price drops with the coming of the pocket, etc. That way, the sale of ebooks won't hurt the sale of hardcovers (they get the same amount of money for each sold book, no matter the format) and people who really want the book (and would formerly buy the hardcover) can still get it.

07-15-2009, 09:39 AM	#4
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?	poohbear makes a good point about reselling hardcovers. it seems to me that it would be in the publishers best interest to try to regain some of those truly lost sales by making ebooks available even at a lower price, at the same date as the hardcover. but regardless, the idea of "cannibalising" hardcover sales seems dubious at best to me ; first because (as has been pointed out) typically the people buying hardcovers are not the same as the people buying ebooks, and vice-versa, secondly because there apparently are people who will buy an ebook to read, and a hardcover to put on a shelf (for an author / series they really treasure). which will make two sales, IF the ebook is available simultaneously. i'm not so sure these people will be willing to buy the hardcover, then wait 6 months for the release of the ebook before they read it. and once they've read the hardcover, will they be as eager to buy the ebook in addition ? not so sure...

07-15-2009, 09:57 AM	#12
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Apparently it's a Firefox 3.5 issue (at least I think it is). It opens immediately in Chrome, go figure. shrugs

07-15-2009, 10:33 AM	#15
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Actually, what they are saying is that people will buy both the hard cover and the paperback (or ebook). If you leave the ebook out of the equation... How many people buy the hard cover and the paperback? If they bring out the hard cover together with the (more expensive than normal) ebook, I wonder how much less they would actually make... (I personally think they'd make more money than waiting with the ebook till the pocket came out...)

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