What is up with eBook prices?

[eReader]

I don't know what is going on with Simon and Schuster, but the prices of books and in particular eBooks has become ridiculous. Last october I bought the two Myriad of Universes ebooks for $7.79 each. Now they are $16. How does an ebook double in price in less than a year? Why are the prices of books ordered direct from Simon and Schuster the same as the cost to walk into a bookstore and buy the book? In fact some retailers offer a discount if you order from their website, making it cheaper than ordering direct from the publisher!!!

And finally why do eBooks cost the same as Mass Market Paperback? Shouldn't the lack of having to actually print and ship a physical book, plus not having a retail mark up from a book store, translate to some savings for the consumer?

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a bit fed up. I have bought 40 plus eBooks from Simonsays.com over the last year and a half, but I dont think I will continue!

 

[ATimson]

1) S&S used to offer discounts from the list price on their ebooks that they don't anymore.

2) S&S now charges $9.99 list for ebooks of mass-market books that list $7.99, or the same list as print for more expensive trade paperbacks/hardcovers. So it's worse than you think.

3) It should translate to some savings, but companies suck.

 

[JWolf]

We should boycott all books that S&S put out until S&S decides that it's in their best interest to lower eBook prices.

 

[shanejayell]

Ebook prices should deduct the cost of printing, paper, and whatever fees they pay a book seller. It only makes sense.

 

[FalTorPan]

Ebook prices should deduct the cost of printing, paper, and whatever fees they pay a book seller. It only makes sense.

I disagree with this, since the eBook format affords certain conveniences not available to printed books. Having said that, the price difference between a printed book and its eBook counterpart seems ill-reasoned to this person who admittedly knows nothing about the mass-market publishing industry.

 

[JWolf]

It is ill-reasoned. Why charge more for the eBook when it costs no more to make? Not only is S&S raising the price, but S&S is also giving us less. They are dropping eBook formats as well. They used to offer MS Reader. Now they don't and I cannot find the Mobipocket edition of Troublesome Minds. I'm hoping it's just a tad late instead of yet another format dropped.

 

[sparky99]

Convienience factor should play only a small part in the pricing, since they expect us to drop hundereds for an electronic reader, too. Since the publisher saves on printing, fabrication, shipping and store profit, some of that savings should be passed along to the consumer.

Speak with your hard earned dollars. I refuse to give another penny to S&S until they are in-line with their competition.

Please check out the same books @ booksonboard.com and diesel-ebooks.com. You will find all new ebooks cheaper there. Diesel even has it in mobi-pocket as well, JWolf.

 

[JWolf]

But Diesel's price is still higher then I can get the book in paper form. So that's still no good.

 

[sparky99]

Oh, I agree. Everyon'e prices on ebooks are pretty bad right now, but since i refuse to buy paperback, I'll go for the cheapest offering.