ebook prices

[twa]

I am in the same boat I'm looking to by an ereader for christmas. I really like some of the features (like a removeable battery) of the nook. But it does come down to the books. I mean who wants an ereader you either can't afford books for or can't find the books you want. I would hate to pay $260 something for a ereader and still have to buy  paper backs because the ones I want are not offered in e format or are just to high priced. I think B&N should really pay attention to this or there device is going to seriouslly bomb! I will be choosing a kindle 2 if I don't start seeing a bigger selection of books and they could at least offer amazon prices to people who are B&N members. Right now there not even letting you use your member's discount at all. I think thats just wrong and it makes them seem very greedy and consumer stupid!!!!

[theluckiest]

Not to mention you can use books from ereader.com which is awesome. they have a great rewards system which basically gives you free books.  If you love the nook, but hate the prices, try buying them elsewhere in an acceptable format

[penname12]

I agree. ereader.com and fiction wise.com are owned by BN and their prices are much lower than the BN site. This fact alone is my deciding factor in getting the nook. Not to mention- the nook has not even been released yet (28 more days as of Nov 2, 2009). I am sure BN are not stupid- they have been down this road before 10 years ago and I am sure they have learned their lessons and will have more competitive pricing in the coming weeks....

[StarGirlD]

Just a note on ereader books.  I'd been an ereader customer for years.  I read them on two old Palm Pilots and now on my iPod Touch.  They still don't have quite the selection Amazon does for the Kindle.  Since there's a Kindle app for the iPod Touch now, I've sometimes bought Kindle editions when they weren't available at ereader.com, or were just more expensive.  The last two books I bought from ereader were Lyra's Oxford (Phillip Pullman) and The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown).  Both books contain graphics.  The graphics in the ereader version were of such poor quality as to be useless in some cases, even zoomed in.  I tried viewing the ereader books on my computer to see if it was just the iPod software causing the problem.  They were just as grainy and hard to make out on my computer.  Ereader issued me a refund for Lyra's Oxford, but not for The Lost Symbol.  Still, I wanted to see what I was missing.  I ordered the Kindle version and viewed that on my iPod.  The graphics were very clear in the Kindle version.

So for those of you who think you'll save money buying ebooks for the nook from ereader, keep the quality of what you're getting in mind.  For books with no graphics, it should be fine (assuming the DRM'd books will open on the nook), but don't waste your time or money on books with graphics...even black and white graphics.

[LookingCloser]

Remember, the more people who buy Nooks, the more people who buy b&N ebooks for their nooks on Bn.com will create higher demand. And higher demand brings forth lower prices. Another reason Amazon in addition to other reasons currently has lower prices.

I want the nook for its sleekness, its technicogical awe compared to the Kindle, but am not blinded to the price issue. But I am also not blinded to common business knowledge. Remember the Nook is in its infancy. Let's create a demand for these books! a demand through quanity. Where B&N sees through quanity of their sales lower prices will not smack them in the face.

In the words of Mr. Snider "You can do it!!!!!!" (Must use the accent when reading)

[thelinuxman]

"And higher demand brings forth lower prices."

I think that is a little off (or rather some wishful thinking).  Higher demand will normally bring lower prices in a physical product economy when supply is exceeding demand on a large scale.  Digital wares are different - supply is not an issue, and as demand rises, prices tend to remain constant, not lower.

Seriously, if the demand for the Nook is so high that people buy it regardless of the price gap between Amazon and BN eBooks, why would they ever lower eBook prices?  Just because it's the "right thing to do"(HA!)?

The only thing that would motivate a organization like BN to actually lower prices (and thus lower potential profits) is competition; and right now, Amazon has them beat hands down.

I would say that, if less people buy, THAT might motivate BN to be more competitive with eBook prices.

Right now Amazon is leading on what I believe is the most important aspect of ereaders - content pricing.  Sure, Nook has the better hardware from the spec sheets, but how long until someone (like Amazon) gets both the pricing and the hardware part right?  What is the justification to buy the Nook then - apart from simple brand loyalty?

I understand the ereader.com and fictionwise comments - but it still isn't clear if you can use the Nook's bookmark/annotation features on those files.  Why would I want an entire library of books from other sources that I can't even bookmark?  No thank you ... not for me.

I looked at the prices - and given the rewards programs at the other websites, I still see a noticeable savings at the Amazon store.

I am by no means an Amazon shrill - but no way am I investing into a e-reader that is such a loser in the content department.

I'm still open to go with the Nook if things improve - but at this point, considering the lack of a statement regarding prices, I'm not holding my breath.

[JustCurious25]

I am considering a Nook purchase but this thing about the expensive ebooks is worrying! Can you purchase ebooks for the kindle to use on the Nook? Or are they mutually exclusive? Do you have to purchase ebooks from BN/Fictionwise? Sorry if this has already been answered....

[thelinuxman]

JC25 - Amazon Kindle books will only load on a Kindle - as their DRM is device specific. 

Nook will load Ebooks from BN.com, Fictionwise, Ereader.com - etc.  Pretty much any book that is epub, .pdf, and a few other standards.  Nook will support Adobe Epub DRM - but it is not certain if it will support overdrive DRM on library books (doesn't look good).

Basically, if you want Amazon ebook prices - you need an Amazon device.

[StevenP]

---

JustCurious25 wrote:

I am considering a Nook purchase but this thing about the expensive ebooks is worrying! Can you purchase ebooks for the kindle to use on the Nook? Or are they mutually exclusive? Do you have to purchase ebooks from BN/Fictionwise? Sorry if this has already been answered....

---

No, their DRM (Digital Rights Management) would prevent that.

[spthomas]

I LOVE the "feature" where you can read any book in the BN ebookstore FREE when you're in the store.  How new, how innovative, how...wait a minute!  I can go to the BN store NOW, read ANY book in the store (a lot more than are in the ebook store) for FREE!  So, what do I gain with this "feature"?  Well, the uber-geek panache of letting everyone see ME, Mr. 21st century, reading on a Nook instead of that old, antiquated, totally YUCKY paper!

A marketing triumph.  Convince folks to spend $300 or so to do something they can do NOW, for free.  And then convince them it's FREE!  And THEN make them excited about it!

Steve

[ExileJelly]

[Stephen King's The Stand is 7.19 at Amazon. The Stand at Barnes&Noble is 40.00. Perhaps B&N is offering the complete and uncut version as an ebook. And Amazon is not. But 40 dollars?]

I bought The Stand, complete and uncut, new in paperback for $7.99 at B&N.  So there is no excuse for the e-book to be 40.00.

[ScottFreelanci…]

When I first got the email about the nook I was super excited. It sounded like such a great idea. I love technology & have been considering an ebook reader at some point. Great for traveling when you have limited space. It won't replace my love of physical books. I'm into art journaling and there's absolutely no way you would want to buy a book like that for a reader. You need to see the graphics. But plenty of other books would be perfect for that. Especially large sets like HP, Dune, LOTR.. and maybe even Proust at some point.

But price is a huge factor for me. If I'm going to buy something in paperless format, so much of the manufacturing process is bypassed and I EXPECT to see that reflected in the price. The high price of the books is the deal breaker right now.

I had started saving for one, and will continue to save and watch. But getting one for Christmas seems further and further away.

And as far as the free content in the store? Our local store is tiny and barely even has any seating (in fact, they keep getting rid of more & more seating in favor of display tables). I think there are 6 or 7 chairs in the place total. For a busy store, even if it's small, it's not enough. If they aren't going to bother with seating, it discourages me from hanging around to browse through stuff & see what I like before buying. When I do manage to hang around and read a little? I walk out with a purchase. Every time. I really wish they'd get that and add more seating back into the store. (It used to have chairs all over the place. Not so much in the past couple of years.)

[BrittsPenName]

B&N eBooks are sometimes even more expensive than print copies. Sure, it's nice to bring every book with you on vacation, but I'd prefer the nice feel and reading experience I'm familiar with - print, especially if it's cheaper or equally priced.

Also, the free eBooks they offer (and more!) are available for Kindle, and online at www.gutenberg.org. Both of these sources are also free, and I know for a fact that Gutenberg groups up several translations, audio, HTML, plucker, and rich text formats into the same search, so you look for a title or author and bam! - All of your options are in front of you, along with options for mirror sites. 

And it's not as if the free eBooks or even the samples of many costly eBooks I've downloaded can compare in readability - A Thousand and One Nights has no paragraphs, no indentations.... Where's a reader's favorite white space to write on?! Our eyes need breaks! And the photographs of the book covers are often blurry and blotched with not nearly enough pixels to even make out the title.

Whereas at Gutenberg.org, all the classic (non-copyrighted) titles, such as The Picture of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde, have the stylistic layout of a novel which are only noticed when they are absent, or of course, written on.

[LabRatSB]

Here are some ridiculous examples that I just found.

The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
BN-$7.99
Amazon-$6.39

The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
BN-$11.19
A-$7.99

Outcasts United by Warren St. John
BN-$19.96
A-$9.99

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
BN-Not available
A-$7.96

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
BN-$15.00
A-$9.99

I contacted customer service about the insane differences in book prices.  Can't wait to hear what BS they try to tell me.

[dreamcatcherSM]

The e-mail I recieved from customer service stated "e-books are deeply discounted" this was in regard as to why those with memberships can't use those membership discounts on e-books.  I think you will probably get the same reply in regard to the why the prices are what they are.  Amazon sells The Stand for 7.19 uncut version B&N uncut The Stand is 40.00.  I have priced compared many books and it averages to about have that are cheaper at Amazon half are the same but that is before taxes which I have to pay at B&N.  There are several books that simply are not available at B&N.  I am a Kindle owner (recently) I have had a B&N membership for a few years and have a B&N credit card.  I frequently shop at B&N and I really want the Nook.  I have ordered and canceled the Nook 4 times due to a few reasons.  You cannot use any gift card, pay pal, bank issued gift card, e-book prices are much higher, and membership discounts do not apply to e-books.  I do get a 5% rebate when I use my credit card so that covers some of the tax but I am not willing to pay higher e-book prices.  I do hope these things are adressed but for now I will wait and keep my money.  I know the sale of Nooks are good right now but people are being sold gift cards with their Nook pre-orders thinking they will be able to use them for e-books.  There will be many angry customers and probably returns of the Nook.

[LabRatSB]

Yep.  Just the BS I thought I would get.

Dear Customer,


Thank you for your inquiry.

Barnes & Noble offers very competitive pricing on many items, resulting
in the best value for our customers.  However, as with all retail
products, prices are subject to change due to current promotions.

We do apologize for any confusion.  Thank you for your understanding.

No confusion on my end.  BN is more expensive...pure and simple.

[ExileJelly]

The Stand, Complete & Uncut is $6.47 in paperback.  With a nook, incl. cost of the device on which to read it...$299.00

[kiwismom]

I too have been comparing the prices of the ebooks.  I am simply drooling over the Nook.  The Kindle and Nook are very similar in functionality and features.  However, there are a few benefits the Nook has over the Kindle that I prefer.  The replaceable battery and the color/touch display.  Aside from that they are too similar to say one is better than the other.

With this in mind, you then have to look at the next part of the equation.  The long term recurring cost of book purchases.  Over time $1-$5 dollars per book will add up.

I checked for a book I am interested in called The Hunted.  There was a $5 dollar difference between the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles ebook price.  This is huge for me.

I am a long time library user and to go from free reading to purchasing books is a big leap.  Like I said, I am drooling over the Nook. But the pricing differences are quite concerning.

I do hope that Barnes and Nobles will lower their ebook prices to match those of Amazon so that I can justify purchasing a Nook.

[dsvick]

Just to throw in my $0.02 for anyone from B & N reading this...

I am looking forward to getting an eReader for christmas this year. Regardless of all the features and cool things any particular reader can or cannot do - ultimately their only purpose is to enable the user to read a book. If the cost of getting the books to read is significantly greater on one device as compared to another then I will most likely go with the less expensive device.

If the average difference is just $1 per book then, over the course of a year, I can save enough at Amazon to buy one more book. Considering that the difference almost certainly averages out to more than $1 buying the Nook will cost me several books a year.

I like the Nook' feature set better, the display, and its other functionality, but will most likely tell my wife I want a Kindle if the prices of the books dont come down.

[ps56k]

I was just looking at my bookshelf and did a couple of random samples between Amazon and B&N...

It almost looks like B&N took their hardcover price and merely moved it over to the ebooks world, and is quickly shifting the prices down on a book by book basis.... like with the Best Sellers list

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/bestsellers.asp

or try - Thomas Friedman - of the World is Flat fame -  ebook price same as hardcover as of 11/10/09 ?

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hot-Flat-and-Crowded/Thomas-L-Friedman/e/9781429926072/