ebook prices

[LADYFITZ]

i decided to go looking myself at some books that I would buy. it seems to me that it all depends on the book.

Terry Pratchett  Unseen Academicals

 Kindle - $14.29

 B&N - $9.99

Ebooks.com - $25.99

L. E. Modesitt  Imager's Challenge

Kindle - $15.39

B&N - $9.99

Lee Child  Gone Tomorrow

Kindle and B&N - $9.99

Richard Castle   Heat Wave

Kindle and B&N - $9.99

Ebooks - $14.99

Jim Butcher  Turn Coat

Kindle - $9.99

B&N - $20.76

Ebooks - $25.95

The most I can say about what I found was that I wouldn't be using ebooks.com. The rest seems about even, depending on the book.

[M9]

Yes, it all depends on the book. That is true.

But there are huge discrepancies throughout the pricing on B&N as compared to Amazon.

Shockingly so, in many many cases.

Too Big to Fail 9.99 on Amazon Kindle.

Too Big to Fail 14.99 on B&N Nook. 

Not cool.

[JimM]

Here's the deal with pricing, folks: B&N is not necessarily the one at fault here.  The problem is the publishers.  Publishers are the ones setting the pricing on eBooks.  Why are Amazon's books cheaper?  Because they're taking a loss on eBook purchases.  They actually lose money by pricing their eBooks below what they pay the publishers to make them available.

If you want to see a price change on eBooks, the pressure really needs to be placed on the publishers, not B&N.

There's an interesting article here. An excerpt:

"This agent noted that, because publishers aren't paying for printing and shipping costs with digital editions, some houses are keeping up to 75% of the net receipts on Kindle sales, thereby making “far more money per copy” than on print books. Publishers counter that printing and shipping is only a small part of the overall cost of producing a book. “The pricing in publishing has very little to do with manufacturing costs and most to do with the cost of author talent. That does not go away when you sell an e-book,” the head of one house asserted."

[JimM]

And another article on eBook pricing here.  In addressing publishers, they say: "Amazon is creating a $9.99 high end price point expectation for readers. Other retailers, retailers you need in this game because competition is good for everyone involved, are less able to subsidize the difference in your price and theirs — your “price”, I think it a better way to frame it — are going to force you to allow them to be competitive with Amazon. They can’t sell ebooks for $26.99 while Amazon plays in the shallow end of the pool."

[bummerbabe]

LOL, fortunately, you don't have to get a new Kindle when the battery dies but you do have to send it back so they can change it. Something that will be tough on me, Kindle has become my security blanket.

[ObviousReader]

I have not purchased an eBook reader yet. As I have been saving my money for such a large investment, I decided to wait a while even after the new Kindle book reader was announced from Amazon.com before purchasing what I thought at the time was going to be the most valuable investement for my money.

Now, after a recent trip to my local Barnes and Noble store; I came across information on the Nook from a pamphlet that was offered to me at check out. I was floored. Too good to be true -and- the same price as Kindle 2? "What is the catch?" I asked myself.

And I could not find one.

Color display, same ability to bookmark and download wirelessly right to the device. Plus audio?! Wonderful!

However, upon comparing prices now I am a little unsure.

Even though the new releases for both companies are offered at $9.99, there are several books that are months to years older that are offered anywhere from $1 - $3 cheaper at the Kindle bookstore. The comparison was done on various books from autobiographies to mystery to romance as I enjoy a large genre.

Is this Nook going to be more or less cost efficient than the Kindle2?

All the devices offered on the Nook are really great. Plus the color display/shopping is wonderful. But will the prices in Barnes and Noble bookstore come down? Or match that of the Kindle bookstore?

I guess is one were to factor in gas, savings on new releases, and Member Pricing; it is all around beneficial. But even the savings of $1-$3 can add up. I'm just torn. I was planning to get an the Kindle2 after the holidays. But now I'm torn by the Nook's new shiny-ness it offers, but leery about the higher book prices.

Any other thoughts?

[YBT]

The question was already asked but it merits repeating;  will B&N re-evaluate their current digital/eBook pricing compared to [1] what competitors are doing (Amazon and Sony) and [2] purchasing the soft-cover  equivalent from either B&N on-line or local store?

Case and point -- on B&N.com the price for a eBook title I would purchase is $11.99 .. The same title on-line in softener is $7.19 (after my B&N discount).  That's a ~ $5 difference ... for a file ... and I'm spending $239+ for the "gadget" to read it.

Now the very same e-book title available via Amazon or Sony ranged $6 - $7  (plus Amazon offered the same title w/four others in series for a total price of $27.69 ... that's a p/unit cost $5.53 or ~ $8 in savings if purchased all 5 e-books over getting the same soft-cover copy equivalent at my nearest B&N store).

I'm seriously considering an e-book reader - and I'd hate to replace my monthly trips to B&N for ~ dozen books with shopping on-line with someone else.

Thanks!

Brandon,FL

[GlennO6]

I see quite a few questions about pricing in these threads. They seem to be:

-- B&N is more expensive than Amazon (except hard covers which are identical starting @ $9.99)

-- B&N Membership doesn't get an EBook discount. For example I just checked two Michael Connelly paperbacks. They were $7.99, w/membership, $7.19. As eBooks they were $7.99, no member discount.

Why would I do that? Are there any plans to quickly resolve the pricing discrepancy?

[VenturaBumm]

It seems these prices are set by the publisher. Other ebook retailers (that are not Amazon) charge about the same. The good thing with this device is you are not locked down to the B&N store. With EPub and Adobe trying to simplify with a common format and DRM you can grab books from other etailers and shop around.

I do think that the e-book market will shake out this year and we will see more and more of a convergence to a single common format for most readers. If you look at all the non-Kindle readers they are support the same common formats. As more and more of these devices make it into the wilde the demand will drive availability and prices. If Amazon is smart they will start to share ePub books.

My reason for wanting a Sony or Nook are the format options and form factors. I have not decided yet between the sony PRS600 and nook (waiting for the nook to appear and the reviews to start). The format support is basiclly the same (sony also supports their propietary format).

Also with the sony store moving to EBub + Adobe DRM we will get another store to shop from. Do I care i can't share my books with friends? NO. The sharing is minor. I am getting this to move my technical library, most of which i can get in compatible formats, and to read classics for free. I don't care about web and internet access. I care about its functionality as an ebook and the formats that it can read without conversion.

[AK_Reader]

I have seen responses to questions asked on other threads.  Have not seen Admin answer or even "We are addressing the question" on these pages.  I have some time to cancel my order, may do it.  For me, the price difference makes enough of a difference that I may go Kindle.  The features promoted are enticing, but I just don't know.  Please at least give us some verbage regarding dealing with prices, negotiating with publishers, etc. 

[Terry10]

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AK_Reader wrote:

I have seen responses to questions asked on other threads.  Have not seen Admin answer or even "We are addressing the question" on these pages.  I have some time to cancel my order, may do it.  For me, the price difference makes enough of a difference that I may go Kindle.  The features promoted are enticing, but I just don't know.  Please at least give us some verbage regarding dealing with prices, negotiating with publishers, etc. 

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Yes, that is interesting. Kevin and the other admin people do not seem to be commenting anymore. I can only guess that they simply do not have the answers to these questions and concerns or the authority to answer them. I think there may be a disconnect between the Nook division at B&N and the people responsible for membership and e-book pricing.  In the absence of substantive answers from them, I will cancel my pre-order. I think waiting a while for the new batch of e-readers next year may be a good idea. I already have a Sony prs-505 now and it is not a shabby e-reader. I can wait   It looks like the Nook is a half-formed idea.  Great in concept and maybe design, but without B&N's ebook and membership divisions providing sensible policies and pricing, it may be another B&N flop. Too bad.

[cash]

Ok. I buy a lot of e-books (probably 100+ per year). right now I use primarly webscriptions (where book prices are $4-6). I often get new hardcovers there at webscriptions for $5 before they hit the shelf in a bookstore and they are completely DRM free in just about any format you could want!!  Note that many of the books availible on webscriptions are not availible in B&N or Amazon last time i checked. but since they are DRM free just about any reader will work with them.  I also buy at fictionwise (at B&N company)  where lots of good discounts and member discounts are availble although many of the problems noted above.

 At this point I too am sitting on the fence, I'd like to get a new ereader, one that can be loaded with my current library but 2 things are stopping be from buying the Nook.

 1) need to be able to read both non DRMed and DRMed files I already have from Fictionwise and webscription and others.

 2) more avaliblity of reasonable priced e-books. I'm sure the publishers are mostly to blaim here. but bottom line. I'm not going to pay $10 for a book I can get in paper back for $7.  And I'm certianly not going to pay more that $10 for a e-book version of a hardcover and even that seems high to me based on the webscriptions pricing.

 Also like to see Mobipocket format support. got lots of books in that format.. although mostly I can re-download those as epub. 

 I guess the bottom line is I'll be waiting to see for a while.....

[jeff_spicoli]

this is the nail in the coffin for me.

Not much I can add that others have not, other than to say.. the eBook prices alone are why I am not buying.

I will be buying the new Jack McDevitt book tonight in paperback, at $7.19 I can lend it to whomever I want, and save $2.80.

There is just no way, no way they can justify eBook prices that are more than the a paperback. A paperback takes more to make, ship, pack, put on shelfs, store in stock. The eBook already takes the computer formatted text used to make a paperback to create a pretty simple electronic file.

[spthomas]

Interesting that this thread has been raging for a week, and nary an Admin to be found. 

If you just look at how they are "encouraging" you to come into the store (free reading ebooks in the store, special offers in the store),  you can see that B&N is mired in the brick and mortar world.  That's what they know, and that's how they think.  So if e-books are more expensive, the thought process could be something like this:

(1) You're getting a service by getting it delivered, and if we delivered a paper book you'd pay for that extra handling

(2) B&N needs to charge a "premium" because if you use this technology you don't go to the store where they really want you.

(3) People will pay it, so let's charge it!

(4) They'll love the device, so they'll buy it.  Then, with all our lock-in by forcing them to buy from us (or you can't use the wireless connectivity), WE OWN THEM!

Or something like that.

[JimM]

EBooks are priced higher because those are the prices the publishers have set.

Amazon eBook prices are lower because they've chosen to take a loss on the sales of eBooks.

[DarkUncle]

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JimM wrote:

EBooks are priced higher because those are the prices the publishers have set.

Amazon eBook prices are lower because they've chosen to take a loss on the sales of eBooks.

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Not that I'm completely doubting it, but do you have something to substantiate the claim that they are taking losses on all their eBook sales? I find that pill a little difficult to swallow.

[JimM]

Sure.  Here's the article from Publisher's Weekly: The E-book Pricing Conundrum.  A relevant quote:

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"Currently, publishers make as much money on Kindle editions as print editions, since Amazon, the largest e-book retailer, pays the same discount for e-book editions as it does for print—off the same list price, whether bound book or e-book. (An Amazon spokesperson would not comment on the discount issue, but a number of publishers confirmed that Amazon pays the standard discount—which is, with some fluctuation among houses, about 50% off list price—for Kindle editions.)

Amazon, which sets the price for everything it sells, is, as many people interviewed point out, losing money on a majority of Kindle editions. Although the price point for Kindle editions varies, the dominant one for hardcover bestsellers is $9.99, a price one publisher called “a killer.” (The e-tailer is pricing some of its Kindle bestsellers even more aggressively, with titles like Stephenie Meyer's New Moon, currently #4 on the Kindle bestseller list, at $6.04.) At $9.99 Amazon is selling its Kindle editions at, generally, a 60% discount; Amazon sells its print bestsellers at, on average, a 45% discount. The reigning price point in the Sony e-book store, with variations, is $11.99."

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In other words, the publisher's list price is $25.  They sell the book (both the physical and the eBook versions) to Amazon for about $12.50 (50% off).  Amazon is then selling to books to us, the consumers, for about $13.75, (meaning they make $1.25 for each physical book sold), and the eBooks for $9.99 (meaning they lose about $2.50 for each eBook sold).

Now, despite being the leaders in the eBook market, those sales a still only a small portion of Amazon's total sales (they sell way more books, not to mention everything else on their site), so they're able to sustain that -- for now.

[PC_FL]

You know, I keep seeing on these post boards about ebook pricing in regards to Kindle vs. nook.  And everyone is comparing Amazon.com prices (Kiindle) to the current B&N eBook prices (nook) to make their comparisons, which makes complete sense.  But are we sure that when we get the nook in our hands, the current B&N eBook price is the price it will be on B&N's online website?  I just don't see how the current B&N eBook "store" is what the nook is touting.  To be specific, I see that the nook claims it will have 1,500+ free titles.  Okay, then I should be able to go to the B&N eBook "store" and see 1,500+ free eBooks.  Makes sense, right?  Now, why is it when I actually go to "free eBooks" on the B&N website do I only see about 70 free eBooks????  Is it possible that the "store" on the nook will be different than the current B&N eBook store, and I mean both in regards to titles AND pricing?  And let's not forget possible special pricing when you have your nook in a physical B&N "brick and mortar" store - they did say there will be specials and exclusives when you have your nook in a store.

Another thing about constantly going on and on about pricing - isn't everyone ignoring the possibility of reading eBooks from their local library (if your library has an online eBook program) for free on their nook, which is impossible on the Kindle, right?  I mean, I just checked my local library's online eBook website - Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" is available for checkout.  And, correct me if I'm wrong, I should be able to connect to my computer via a USB connection and download and read ePub Adobe books (i.e. eBook library books) on my nook.  So, with a nook vs. a Kindle, the price of "The Lost Symbol" just went from $0.00 (nook, by online library eBook checkout) vs. $9.99 (Kindle). 

Just a couple of thoughts...

[SueEllen1214]

The Amazon ebook of The Stand is also the complete and uncut edition. I downloaded a free sample to my ipod touch, and it has the introduction by S. King about why they republished the full edition. That price difference is really something huh?

[M9]

x

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spthomas wrote:

Interesting that this thread has been raging for a week, and nary an Admin to be found. 

If you just look at how they are "encouraging" you to come into the store (free reading ebooks in the store, special offers in the store),  you can see that B&N is mired in the brick and mortar world.  That's what they know, and that's how they think.  So if e-books are more expensive, the thought process could be something like this:

(1) You're getting a service by getting it delivered, and if we delivered a paper book you'd pay for that extra handling

(2) B&N needs to charge a "premium" because if you use this technology you don't go to the store where they really want you.

(3) People will pay it, so let's charge it!

(4) They'll love the device, so they'll buy it.  Then, with all our lock-in by forcing them to buy from us (or you can't use the wireless connectivity), WE OWN THEM!

Or something like that.

I think this is so smart. Absolutely true. That seems to be exactly how they are thinking. From the last century. They don't seem to have a grip on ebooks or the online store is all about.

There are a few people talking about the great selling point of the Nook is being able to go into the B&N sore and read.  But anyone who has had a ereader for any length of time knows that is not a selling point at all.  The whole real point of the ereader is that you really never have to go into a store again. You download the book. It is so much more convenient. And rather than browsing in the bookstore, you browse the website and look at tons and tons of books and customer reviews. It is a different world now. And B&N seem to be holding to the past in their thinking. They are in for a very rude awakening. And spthomas, i think you really nailed it with your assessment up above.

The public is not stupid. And I don't care how bright and shiny and great the Nook is--and it is--if the pricing is off, it will fail.  Read all these posts. They represent a consensus. Person after person is waking up to the fact that the way the pricing is now is ridiculous.  Yes there are a few people for whatever reason who will buy the Nook. But I bet you anything, that the majority of the American public will reject it quickly if these prices are left the way they are.  To me, the prices are actually an insult to my intelligence as a consumer and a shopper.  I am not that materialistic that I have to have this pretty machine while it costs me an arm and a leg in buying all my ebooks for so much more.

I imagine the Nook executives are reading these boards like crazy. And I bet they are not sleeping well. They knew this before they released it. How can they be that miopic? Are they really that full of hubris to think these prices are even a little bit okay? Amazon opened that door and it is not going to be closed. The public will vote with their pocketbooks. Look at how many people here are cancelling their orders. It will continue, believe me, if something is not announced very soon.

This is very sad, because B&N has all the ingredients to hit this out of the ball park. But they failed at this business once before and it seems they learned the wrong lessons. Yes, they learned that the device has to be great. Check. They got that right. But they ignored the other major component. Which is the cost of their ebooks.

I want this thing. I will not cancel yet. I want it to be the great product that it is. I want to read on it.  But I am not going to spend all that extra money on the same books Amazon offers for so much less. Besides  I have a DX and a K2 and they are very very nice machines. I am sure Amazon is reading these boards and it will not be hard for them to be competitive with their newer models. I am sure we will get touch screens etc down the line. We all know that.

B&N, do not drop the ball here. We want the Nook. We all are behind you. But if the prices stay this way...

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