Comments on: Kindle e-book pricing too high says Time article

By: Scott Carswell

Scott Carswell — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:13:48 +0000

Take the high road and do not buy it if it is more than $9.99.

That is what I am doing.

By: chris bates

chris bates — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:58:08 +0000

I’m very interested in this ‘price point’ argument.

I used to publish a 180 page glossy niche magazine with a cover price of $14.95. We originally thought $12.95 but found the niche nature of the title meant readers didn’t mind stumping up the extra 2 bucks.

So do readers here mind paying $9.99 for a best selling ebook?

And is anyone put off by the $9.99 price but would happily fork out $4.95 – a la O’Reilly’s experiment?

By: HeavyG

HeavyG — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:54:36 +0000

From what I have read Amazon is taking a loss on most recently released titles they sell for the Kindle for $9.99.

Is it a move designed to “suck you in”? Sure, just like any other retailer that offers teaser prices to get you in the door.

Amazon have been very clear from day one about the $9.99 pricing. It’s unfortunate that those who don’t do their homework beforehand now seem that they are being “treated unfairly” and that Amazon is somehow dishonest.

If publishers find, however, that in this brave new world the vast majority of the market won’t pay more than $9.99 then they will likely adjust their wholesale pricing.

There have been articles here and on other blogs talking about how many publishers feel that ebooks should only be priced a couple of dollars less than the hardcover version. Will that pricing model work? I doubt it but again, don’t blame Amazon.

If you’re not comfortable paying more than a ten spot for a book for your Kindle…don’t. If most buyers draw the line at a ten spot then the publishers will respond…or not. Time will tell.

By: alex s

alex s — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:09:46 +0000

Why is that every time consumers demand fair treatment it becomes a broken record? This is a fight that literally thousands on the Amazon boards have taken upon themselves. I think Amazon is honestly, a disingenuous company. They advertised time and time again that books would be 9.99. They added the legalese of course to cover their backs, so when they eventually cornered the market they could raise prices. For many Kindle owners it feels like being confined to a garrote, of ever increasing ebook prices. Add to it DRM, which contributes to ebabel, and we have a toxic cocktail.

By: Paula B.

Paula B. — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:50:44 +0000

Broken record time. Amazon takes 65% of the selling price–a much higher percentage than they do of p-books (and than other bookstores do). Is it possible that publishers and authors are marking up the prices in order to net the same as they would in other venues and formats?

By: Greg M.

Greg M. — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:49:46 +0000

Amazon has a habit of higher costs on their ebooks for short time, then dropping the price. But not always, some never drop to the $9.99 level.