Just trying to get the scoop on Nook book prices . . .

[lopo147]

I was lucky to receive a Nook color as a gift.  However, I ahve not utilized it too much because I have many hard copies that I have not read yet and, the few times I 'window shopped' for Nook books, I discovered that the prices were higher than other offerings (hard copies and ebooks from the other big seller.)

For example, I was interested in purchasing The Hunger Games Trilogy so I just checked it:  the Nook cost is $10 higher than the other site!  I think that is a huge (30%!) difference.

Is this the norm?  I f you are an expereinced Nook reader, please let me know.

Based on my experience to date, I am considering jumping over to the other side.  I am thinking that I can save the cost of the new device in just a few purchases.  Does that sound reasonable?

[flyingtoastr Scribe]

Amazon often sells ebooks at very low margins or at a loss (when able) in order to get people like yourself to jump over from other platforms. You're then locked into Amazon's ecosystem thanks to their proprietary ebook format.

BN always tries to price match where possible, but the fact stands that Amazon simply has so much more cash to subsidize their prices with. If the end-all-be-all for you is saving a couple bucks, perhaps you should go buy a Kindle. Don't be surprised when you're stuck with a Kindle product for the rest of your life, though.

[lopo147]

Hmmm . . . as I mentioned, I view the specific price gap as substantial, so your comment, "If the end-all-be-all for you is saving a couple bucks" doesn't necessarily apply.

As I also mentioned, I am simply asking experienced Nook owners if this large price difference is the norm.

[TnTexas]

flyingtoastr: Amazon often sells ebooks at very low margins or at a loss (when able) in order to get people like yourself to jump over from other platforms. You're then locked into Amazon's ecosystem thanks to their proprietary ebook format.

Actually, the Kindle Fire doesn't lock one in as much as one might think since - the last I heard - one could install the Nook app and other ereading apps on it.

[KingAl]

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TnTexas wrote:

flyingtoastr: Amazon often sells ebooks at very low margins or at a loss (when able) in order to get people like yourself to jump over from other platforms. You're then locked into Amazon's ecosystem thanks to their proprietary ebook format.

Actually, the Kindle Fire doesn't lock one in as much as one might think since - the last I heard - one could install the Nook app and other ereading apps on it.

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That is correct. You can install the Nook app on the Fire (without rooting it.)

[byter67]

And by the same token you can install the Kindle app on a Nook Tablet or NC with the use of an AFN or N2A card. That's what I do, and thus am in a position to take advantage of whichever site is offering the best pricing. I monitor book pricing rather extensively, and since I prefer the Nook reader, I am even willing to pay a small price premium to purchase from B&N. Usually the prices fall in lock step, but often enough there is a $3 - $4 price differential with B&N pricing being the higher in which case I reluctantly purchase from the big A,

[Strayer]

Thanks for the info on the Nook app and app for Kindle. I didn't know this.

[eaglewomanEP]

I have never noticed that big of a difference in the price of the books, even when I buy the books just out.

I buy a lot on the Nook find of the day and also the free fri. For me the convenience of not havint to drive 5 miles to the book store to get a new book is worth something and also not have to have a ton of books setting around.

[Seabreeze-1]

Most of the time, nook prices are the same as or about $1 higher than Kindle books.  Every once in awhile, B&N practices "whopper pricing" like you found - where their price is many $ above Kindle's.  One thing to check when you find this - some other vendors of epub books don't practice whopper pricing in the same way B&N does.  So when I find a particularly high-price nook book, I check Google, Sony, and Kobo.  If I find a lower price there, I buy there and then side load onto my nook.  If I cannot find a lower price, I check the library.

[TnTexas]

byter67: And by the same token you can install the Kindle app on a Nook Tablet or NC with the use of an AFN or N2A card.

Very true. The advantage the Fire has in this particular area is that you don't have to buy something extra to make it happen; you just have to locate a setting and check it. But the Tablet and the Color can both be made to run the Kindle app without rooting the device so both Nooks and Fires have the capability of running the competition's app.