Comments on: Richard Curtis on e-book pricing http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/02/richard-curtis-on-e-book-pricing/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:55:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rob Preece, Publisher http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/02/richard-curtis-on-e-book-pricing/comment-page-1/#comment-1016929 Rob Preece, Publisher Tue, 03 Mar 2009 00:10:56 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18032#comment-1016929 Richard Curtis is exactly right. Large publishers set their eBook prices based on their paper prices. The prices don't depend on the marginal cost of eBooks (whether DRMed or not). Basically, publishers act as if they believe that eBooks are a good substitute for paper books and don't want to undercut one with the other. Actually, I think this makes sense for the big publishers (although as I've pointed out before, it's not the model BooksForABuck.com and many small publishers follow). Why should they care where their sales come from--and the few pennies they save by going digital don't change anything. I hadn't really thought about the commission angle, but yes, sales guys/gals probably really don't like eBook sales as I imagine the eBook distributors are house accounts rather than sales commission accounts. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com Richard Curtis is exactly right. Large publishers set their eBook prices based on their paper prices. The prices don’t depend on the marginal cost of eBooks (whether DRMed or not). Basically, publishers act as if they believe that eBooks are a good substitute for paper books and don’t want to undercut one with the other.

Actually, I think this makes sense for the big publishers (although as I’ve pointed out before, it’s not the model BooksForABuck.com and many small publishers follow). Why should they care where their sales come from–and the few pennies they save by going digital don’t change anything.

I hadn’t really thought about the commission angle, but yes, sales guys/gals probably really don’t like eBook sales as I imagine the eBook distributors are house accounts rather than sales commission accounts.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

]]> By: Greg Schofield http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/02/richard-curtis-on-e-book-pricing/comment-page-1/#comment-1016910 Greg Schofield Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:25:49 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18032#comment-1016910 One reason a print book may be cheaper than an inflated e-book price is that print books get dumped on the market when initial sales do not meet expectations. Another is that some print houses are just not e-book friendly, they do it to look up to date and modern, because the market expects them to -- but it frightens them silly. One reason a print book may be cheaper than an inflated e-book price is that print books get dumped on the market when initial sales do not meet expectations.

Another is that some print houses are just not e-book friendly, they do it to look up to date and modern, because the market expects them to — but it frightens them silly.

]]> By: FrancisT http://www.teleread.org/2009/03/02/richard-curtis-on-e-book-pricing/comment-page-1/#comment-1016888 FrancisT Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:48:26 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=18032#comment-1016888 If you cut out the DRM and the distributor then the sums come out much better - http://www.di2.nu/200903/02a.htm If you cut out the DRM and the distributor then the sums come out much better – http://www.di2.nu/200903/02a.htm

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