Why do NookBooks cost substantially more than Kindle eBooks?

[rotorhead]

Maybe this has been answered before but I still do not understand. Does Amazon get better pricing from the publishers or does B&N make more profit? Why does a NookBook cost more than the paperback version?

[Doug_Pardee Distinguished Bibliophile]

In general, B&N and Amazon prices should be similar for e-books. If you find one that's out of whack, call Customer Service or post a note here.

As for paperbacks, e-books are priced at whatever people will pay. People are paying more for e-books than for paperbacks. The multi-national conglomerates who run the major publishers didn't become multi-national conglomerates by "being nice" about pricing.

If you don't like the price of an e-book, don't buy it. There are a lot more e-books out there. Of the 280,000 non-Google titles that B&N carries, almost half (134,000) are under $7.

[julianka]

I hear this complaint a lot and I personally have yet to find an ebook that costs more at BN than at Amazon, or vice versa.  Every book I've looked for is exactly the same price at both.  And if you do find one that's priced higher at BN they apparently WILL lower the price to match Amazon if you tell them about it. 

The majority of ebooks have prices set by the publisher and the retailers have no say in the matter, which means they more or less have to be the same everywhere.  Books published by Hachette, Penguin, Harper Collins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster should be the same price everywhere.  Random House is probably about the biggest publisher that is not included in this, so there's definitely a possibility of their books being priced differently at different retailers.  But again, from what I've heard on the boards BN does not intend to be undersold by Amazon in ebooks, so if you find a lower ebook price at Amazon, email BN and they should match it.

[rotorhead]

An example, The new Tom Clancy book "Dead or Alive".

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

The new Vince Flynn book "American Assassin"

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

There are many examples. This seems to be pretty typical. Why does Barnes and Noble charge 30% more for it's books?

[rotorhead]

More examples of new books. I guess I could only read older books or books discounted by B&N but I tend to read the new books by authors that I like.

Stephen King "Full Dark, No Stars"

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

Clive Cussler "Cresent Dawn"

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

There are many, many, many examples.

It's easy to find examples, simply look at the new releases on nookbooks and look for any book which costs over $9.99. Almost all of these books are $9.99 at Amazon.

[whiteginger]

When I began reading this thread, I was ready to reply immediately and say that I had found no real differences in B&N and Kindle book pricing. 

I was surprised at your posting 15 min. ago showing 30% price differences on the Clancy and Flynn novels, so I did some quick checking.  Both novels at both stores are now $12.99. 

[rotorhead]

I don't know where you are looking but I have the amazon kindle page in front of me now and all of the books that I mentioned are $9.99

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-or-Alive-ebook/dp/B00466ISKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=digita...

http://www.amazon.com/American-Assassin-ebook/dp/B003UV8T9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=di...

http://www.amazon.com/Crescent-Dawn-ebook/dp/B00457X790/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=digita...

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Dark-No-Stars-ebook/dp/B003YUC3YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=d...

[whiteginger]

---

Stephen King "Full Dark, No Stars"

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

Clive Cussler "Cresent Dawn"

Barnes and Noble nookbook $12.99  Amazon kindle book $9.99

---

Not true--both titles $12.99 at both stores--unless, of course, Amazon site recognizes me as a dedicated NOOK fan and shows increased prices just on my PC to mess with my head!   

[rotorhead]

They show up at $9.99 for me. Below copied from Amazon.com

Dead or Alive [Kindle Edition]Tom Clancy 

Tom Clancy (Author)

› Visit Amazon's Tom Clancy Page

Find all the books, read about the author, and more.

See search results for this author

Are you an author? Learn about Author Central

<script type="text/javascript">// amznJQ.onReady('bylinePopover', function () {}); // </script> (Author)

<script type="text/javascript">// function reviewHistPingAjax() { jQuery.get("/gp/customer-reviews/common/du/recordHistoPopAjax.html", null); } var reviewHistPopoverConfig = { showOnHover:true, showCloseButton:false, width:null, location:'bottom', locationAlign:'right', clone:false, hoverHideDelay:300 }; // </script> <script type="text/javascript">// function constructTriggerPrefix(asin){ return "reviewHistoPop" + '_' + asin; } function getContentDivId(triggerName){ var nameArray = new Array(); nameArray = triggerName.split('__'); return nameArray[1]; } function jQueryInitHistoPopovers(asin, triggerDivPrefix) { if(triggerDivPrefix == null){ triggerDivPrefix = constructTriggerPrefix(asin); } amznJQ.onReady('popover', function(){ jQuery('a[name^=' + triggerDivPrefix + ']').each(function(){ jQuery(this).removeAmazonPopoverTrigger(); var contentDivId = getContentDivId(this.name); var myConfig = jQuery.extend(true, {}, reviewHistPopoverConfig); myConfig.localContent = '#' + contentDivId; myConfig.onShow = reviewHistPingAjax; jQuery(this).amazonPopoverTrigger(myConfig); }); }); } // </script> 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews) <script type="text/javascript">// amznJQ.onReady('popover', function() { jQueryInitHistoPopovers('B00466ISKS','reviewHistoPop_B00466ISKS_6642'); }); // </script>

43 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(11)

› See all 43 customer reviews...

› See all discussions...

---

<script type="text/javascript">// amznJQ.onReady('popover', function() { jQuery('#popsource').amazonPopoverTrigger({ showOnHover: true, showCloseButton: false, width: 246, literalContent: "<div style='font-size:11px'><b>Digital List Price</b> is the suggested retail price set by the publisher</div>", openEventInclude: "CLICK_TRIGGER", }); }); // </script>

Digital List Price:	$28.95 What's this?
Kindle Price:	$9.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save:	$18.96 (65%)

[whiteginger]

Seriously, even using your links--all titles are $12.99.

[PBReilley]

---

rotorhead wrote:

I don't know where you are looking but I have the amazon kindle page in front of me now and all of the books that I mentioned are $9.99

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-or-Alive-ebook/dp/B00466ISKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=digita...

http://www.amazon.com/American-Assassin-ebook/dp/B003UV8T9A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=di...

http://www.amazon.com/Crescent-Dawn-ebook/dp/B00457X790/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=digita...

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Dark-No-Stars-ebook/dp/B003YUC3YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1FHKKNIHLGHGP&s=d...

---

I just clicked on each one of these links and every price shows $12.99 for me. 

[rotorhead]

They must like me better because they are all $9.99 for me. I copied and posted one of them.

I have a nook not a kindle so I don't know why they would sell them to me cheaper than you.

[rotorhead]

Dead or Alive [Kindle Edition] Tom Clancy Tom Clancy (Author) › Visit Amazon's Tom Clancy Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author Are you an author? Learn about Author Central (Author) 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews) 43 Reviews 5 star: (12) 4 star: (5) 3 star: (6) 2 star: (9) 1 star: (11) › See all 43 customer reviews... › See all discussions... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital List Price: $28.95 What's this? Kindle Price: $9.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet You Save: $18.96 (65%) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Available on these devices Text-to-Speech: Enabled Don't have a Kindle? Get yours here. Formats Amazon Price New from Used from Expand Collapse Kindle Edition Kindle Edition $9.99 Available for download now. Publisher: Putnam Adult Published: December 7, 2010 $9.99 -- -- Expand Collapse Hardcover Hardcover $15.55 In Stock. Publisher: Putnam Adult Published: December 7, 2010 $15.55 $12.35 $13.02 See # more hardcovers Show fewer hardcovers Expand Collapse Audio, CD, Abridged, Audiobook, CD Audio, CD, Abridged, Audiobook, CD $6.47 In Stock. Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Published: December 7, 2010 $6.47 $6.47 $16.98 See # more audio books Show fewer audio books Expand Collapse Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $20.99 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial Available at Audible.com. Publisher: Brilliance Audio Published: December 7, 2010 $20.99 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial See # more audio downloads Show fewer audio downloads ExpandShow 11 more formats ExpandShow 1 more format CollapseShow fewer formats

[rotorhead]

1.

Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy (Kindle Edition - Dec. 7, 2010) - Kindle eBook

Buy: $9.99

Auto-delivered wirelessly

   (43)

1.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn (Kindle Edition - Oct. 12, 2010) - Kindle eBook

Buy: $9.99

Auto-delivered wirelessly

   (262)

1.

Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King (Kindle Edition - Nov. 9, 2010) - Kindle eBook

Buy: $9.99

Auto-delivered wirelessly

   (263)

1.

Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler (Kindle Edition - Nov. 16, 2010) - Kindle eBook

Buy: $9.99

Auto-delivered wirelessly

   (44)

[AlanNJ Inspired Bibliophile]

I just clicked on each of those 4 links and they all came up $12.99 for me.   Maybe you have some sort or Amazon promotion or something?

For example:

Crescent Dawn [Kindle Edition]Clive Cussler 

Clive Cussler (Author)

› Visit Amazon's Clive Cussler Page

Find all the books, read about the author, and more.

See search results for this author

Are you an author? Learn about Author Central

(Author), Dirk Cussler (Author)

2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

44 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(23)

› See all 44 customer reviews...

› See all 2 discussions...

---

Kindle Price:	$12.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
Sold by:	Penguin Publishing
	This price was set by the publisher

[rotorhead]

I wish my nook would read kindle books so that I could take advantage of the discount. Maybe I could download the Android Kindle app to my Nook.

I haven't bought a book from Amazon in over a year so I don't know why they would be giving me a discount. At $3 a book less I could quickly pay for a kindle.

[bklvr896]

I'm with everyone else, every single one of those links shows $12.99 for me also.  And they are agency 5 books, so they should be priced the same everywhere and Amazon should not be able to discount them at all.  

I also don't see any information stating a digital list price or how much you saved as shown on your Tom Clancy post.

[ZeroTX]

They come up as $12.99 on Amazon for me, too. 

[rotorhead]

I am located in the US Virgin Islands. Maybe Amazon discounts down here and B&N doesn't.

That would be very unusual, most things cost more down here.

Except of course heating and snow shoveling.

[very-simple]

Funny, I was just listening to something yesterday on NPR about the fact that more and more stores are getting into the "flexible pricing" business.  Airlines and hotels have always done this, but the internet is allowing more traditional retailers to charge different users different prices, without very much (or any) transparency.  

Perhaps that's what's going on here?