New dead tree edition of Star Trek Encyclopedia—too late?

[Doom Shepherd]

Well, maybe less with pre-order price protection? Certainly free shipping, and up to 333 points on my Amazon Visa. Plus, the 14th is my birthday. Present to myself!

Yeah, I'll be thinking about it.

 

[JoeP]

At 1056 pages, I'd imagine it will probably end up being in two volumes in a single slipcase similar to the Star Wars Encyclopedia from back in 2008, which was three volumes (larger page count - 1224). One reason for the heftier price.

 

[Ronald Held]

Yes it seems expensive, but is it considering the page count? Also everyone is not always connected to high speed internet with unlimited data downloads, so paper references can be convenient.

 

[Leto_II]

Isn't that price just an SRP, though? Like Blu-Rays, the Amazon price will inevitably drop down somewhat to a more comfortable zone the closer we get to October. We're still eight months out yet from release. I wouldn't worry about it too much yet.

 

[RandyS]

As big a Star Trek fan as I am, I just can't see paying that much for the Encyclopedia.

Unless I hit the Powerball!

Agreed but, that said I'll still get it eventually. When it comes to paperback, or a used copy shows up on Amazon, or both. I'd like to have it, but don't need it the instant it comes out.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Ouch, I just checked the price on Amazon.ca... $164. I was expecting it to be around $100; I thought that's what the original press release said.

But I agree with Leto_II... it's currently showing as 12% off a list price of $187. I'm guessing it'll hit a 35-40% discount by release day, which would put it around $112 - $122. Still a bit more than I was expecting, but not by that much.

 

[JoeP]

Ouch, I just checked the price on Amazon.ca... $164. I was expecting it to be around $100; I thought that's what the original press release said.

But I agree with Leto_II... it's currently showing as 12% off a list price of $187. I'm guessing it'll hit a 35-40% discount by release day, which would put it around $112 - $122. Still a bit more than I was expecting, but not by that much.

I had pre-ordered back in January when the listing first appeared and at one point it had lowered to $134 before going back up; but because of their pre-order price guarantee, I'm getting it for at least that much so I suggest pre-ordering then simply cancelling if it doesn't get a price low enough to your liking.

 

[Ben]

There will probably be a paperback edition at some point.

 

[Ronald Held]

Should i preorder now or wait for a downward fluctuation?

 

[Idran]

Should i preorder now or wait for a downward fluctuation?

Like JoeP said, Amazon pre-orders charge you the lowest price the product hit between when you pre-order and when the product ships. If you want the minimum possible price, pre-order as early as possible, and if that minimum is still too expensive for you by the time the pre-order is close to becoming an order, cancel it before it's actually sent out.

 

[C. Cole-Chakotay]

If I ever get it, I think I'll wait until it comes up in the used listings.

 

[Avro Arrow]

I had pre-ordered back in January when the listing first appeared and at one point it had lowered to $134 before going back up; but because of their pre-order price guarantee, I'm getting it for at least that much so I suggest pre-ordering then simply cancelling if it doesn't get a price low enough to your liking.

Like JoeP said, Amazon pre-orders charge you the lowest price the product hit between when you pre-order and when the product ships. If you want the minimum possible price, pre-order as early as possible, and if that minimum is still too expensive for you by the time the pre-order is close to becoming an order, cancel it before it's actually sent out.

Thanks to both of you for the suggestion. One question, though... how do you know when the pre-order is close to becoming an order? I thought books didn't typically have hard release dates?

 

[DimesDan]

Thanks to both of you for the suggestion. One question, though... how do you know when the pre-order is close to becoming an order? I thought books didn't typically have hard release dates?

Amazon tends to have a release date and then releases it just before so you receive it on that date. At the moment, .co.uk has it down for late October and a hundred quid.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Amazon tends to have a release date and then releases it just before so you receive it on that date. At the moment, .co.uk has it down for late October and a hundred quid.

Thanks!

 

[JD]

I don't think I'm probably going to be getting this. I just don't think I can justify getting at that price.
I usually don't bother with reference books with information that can easily be found online unless there is something unique about it, like a really unique presentation or information that isn't online.
I did get the Star Wars TFA Visual Dictionary, at first because the information was online. I almost returned once I found all of it's information on Wookiepedia, but the presentation was unique enough that I decided to keep it.

 

[DimesDan]

I'm going to get it because sometimes I just like to sit down and read a book instead of it being mined from a wiki. There is something very comforting about that.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

For $112, Jeri Ryan better come over to my house to read it to me while sitting on my lap.

 

[DimesDan]

For $112, Jeri Ryan better come over to my house to read it to me while sitting on my lap.

How fucking classy of you.