The e-book pricing debate: ‘Why are their books so cheap?’
“…Because there’s another side to this. Price too cheaply and people think you’re selling crap. I mean we’re conditioned to believe that there’s no such thing as a free lunch and you get what you pay for. I know I’ve learned that lesson the hard way a time or twenty. So if I were looking at a publisher, the question would be: Why are their books so cheap ?Nothing against Books for a Buck or other publishers who have similar pricing models, but really, if it’s only a dollar, how come?” - Post in the blog of Pink Petal Books.
The TeleRead take: OK, Rob, take it away. As proprietor of BooksForABook, how would you respond to that quote and the rest of the item? Meanwhile people need to keep in mind that, no, Rob Preece does not price every book at that level—far from it. Midlife Murder, Amy Eastlake’s novel shown above, is going for $1 during its introductory month, ending May 13, after which the price will be $3.99.
My own feeling: It’s a book-by-book decision, and as a trained economist, Rob is in a better position than most to consider all the variables. The more chances shoppers take, such as on a new writer, the less pricing power the publisher will enjoy. Good marketing and publicity, including the right blurbs, can increase pricing power for e-publishers. So can interactivity between readers and writers. Good writing? Sure. But first readers have to discover the author and the work. OK, gang, what other factors? And how about fiction vs. nonfiction pricing, and also pricing among genres and topics?
Related: Rob’s guidelines FAQ for writers.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I am completely flummoxed at the pricing of ebooks.
I am the new owner of an iPhone and am searching for ebooks to read on it. But I am repeatedly coming across current newly published books where the ebook is significantly MORE EXPENSIVE than the paperback version !
What on earth is going on ? I am a capitalist and a commercial director of a hitec business.
I see parallels with the ‘head in the sand’ music industry. A blind effort to screw as much money out of the reader before the inevitable explosion of e-reading and the parallel explosion of hackers who will start distributing these books free on torrent sites happens.
And to be honest I am so incensed at the appalling prices being charged that I am now going to follow this route to torrent sites.
I don’t mind one bit paying a FAIR price. But I am not a complete fool and willing to pay 20 quid for a book that is available on the high street for 10 quid.
Most ebooks of leading writers should in my view be priced at approx 5 to 7 dollars, with recent publishings of best sellers at 10 dollars. That is my absolutely upper limit and I believe it is MORE than fair considering there is NO PRINTING, NO DISTRIBUTING ! and very limited web based distribution. Only marketing remains and that is quite small.
Non best sellers should be prices at approx. 3-5 dollars.
Howard
Ireland