Using coupon codes for ebooks?

[cherrywild]

Yes, this is true. Barnes and noble has set prices from the publisher regarding how much they can sell them for. They choose to sell them for the lowest price and therefore there is not room for a discount.  The publishers are VERY strict about the ebook sales, it's not B&N it is the publisher.

[keriflur]

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cherrywild wrote:

Yes, this is true. Barnes and noble has set prices from the publisher regarding how much they can sell them for. They choose to sell them for the lowest price and therefore there is not room for a discount.  The publishers are VERY strict about the ebook sales, it's not B&N it is the publisher.

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Actually, for Agency model books, B&N isn't actually selling the book at all, the publisher is.  So B&N can't let you use one of their coupons on something they're not actually selling, they're only distributing.  It's not that there's no room for discount, it's that they can't discount because they're not the seller.

[whiteginger]

The book seller DOES set its own selling price for non-agency titles.  

NOOKbook non-agency titles can be identified easily--the first price has a line through it, the B&N price (usu. listed below the strike-through price) ends in something other than .99, and a % saved is given below the B&N price.

These non-agency ebook titles are "coupon friendly" purchases at many other vendors.  For instance, in 2011, I bought 49 non-agency titles from Kobo ($320) using coupons from 15%-35% off.  That's a savings of at least $50, and really much more because I diligently search out those 30%-35% coupons.  I would have happily bought these titles from B&N--the pricing before coupon discount was similar in most cases--if B&N had allowed me to have coupon/membership discounts on them.    

I know many buyers would complain about coupons not working on all titles, but if I can train myself to spot the non-agency titles and use coupons on them, any other marginally intelligent person can do it, too.

NOTE:  I was able, just a few weeks ago, to use a B&N coupon online for the purchase of a new NOOK cover for my NST.  The coupon clearly stated on the back that it could not be applied to the purchase of NOOKbooks or NOOK accessories.  I, however, had seen someone else (on the COMMUNITY board, I think) comment that B&N was going to begin allowing coupon use for NOOK accessories.  It worked for me!  Next time I get a coupon, I'm going to try it online for a non-agency title.

[KingAl]

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cherrywild wrote:

Yes, this is true. Barnes and noble has set prices from the publisher regarding how much they can sell them for. They choose to sell them for the lowest price and therefore there is not room for a discount.  The publishers are VERY strict about the ebook sales, it's not B&N it is the publisher.

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But B&N did not allow coupons for use on ebooks even BEFORE the Agency Model went into effect.

[Ya_Ya]

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whiteginger wrote:

I know many buyers would complain about coupons not working on all titles, but if I can train myself to spot the non-agency titles and use coupons on them, any other marginally intelligent person can do it, too.

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I think you are giving other people far too much credit.  

[keriflur]

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KingAl wrote:

But B&N did not allow coupons for use on ebooks even BEFORE the Agency Model went into effect.

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Before the agency model went into effect, B&N was selling all bestsellers for $9.99, and a lot of those were being sold at a loss.  So it makes sense that you could not use coupons.

[RHWright]

What this, and all other price-related discussions, come down to for me—coupons, discounts, agency model, and just the whole "how much should a book cost" thing—is do I think it is a fair value?

I realize this is a highly personal choice and it does vary from book to book.

I don't have a problem, with certain books, with paying over $10. I don't see the point in comparing DTB v. E. If I wanted a DTB, I'd just get that.

In short: if I don't want to pay $X.xx for a particular book, I don't.

Would I like to live in a world where every book is $1, yet publishers and authors make what they feel is enough money? Sure.

I'm not a "the free market is always right" kinda guy, far from it, but even I know that a buck a book is unlikely to happen.

Without, basically, overturning capitalism though, we are left with influencing things with our purchasing decisions. And that's about it.

[KingAl]

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keriflur wrote:

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KingAl wrote:

But B&N did not allow coupons for use on ebooks even BEFORE the Agency Model went into effect.

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Before the agency model went into effect, B&N was selling all bestsellers for $9.99, and a lot of those were being sold at a loss.  So it makes sense that you could not use coupons.

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True, but it was implied that the publishers were responsible for the inability to use coupons, which is not the case.

[keriflur]

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KingAl wrote:

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keriflur wrote:

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KingAl wrote:

But B&N did not allow coupons for use on ebooks even BEFORE the Agency Model went into effect.

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Before the agency model went into effect, B&N was selling all bestsellers for $9.99, and a lot of those were being sold at a loss.  So it makes sense that you could not use coupons.

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True, but it was implied that the publishers were responsible for the inability to use coupons, which is not the case.

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Well, before the agency model was in effect, it was the pressure on prices.  Now that the model is in effect, it is publishers.  I know it sounds like a lot of excuses, but B&N couldn't offer coupons on agency books even if they wanted to.

[ct13ct]

It is absurd that you cannot use an e-code for an e-book in an e-world. Yet you can use it on a paper book killing more trees. Since there is no printing, paper or shipping costs Nook books should be much less expensive than paper- but there not.. Does anyone know why codes can't be used on Nook books?

[keriflur]

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ct13ct wrote:
It is absurd that you cannot use an e-code for an e-book in an e-world. Yet you can use it on a paper book killing more trees. Since there is no printing, paper or shipping costs Nook books should be much less expensive than paper- but there not.. Does anyone know why codes can't be used on Nook books?

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Yes.  One of the reasons is agency pricing.  You can do a search for the forums for more infomation on agency pricing, as it's been discussed here a lot.

[bklvr896]

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ct13ct wrote:
It is absurd that you cannot use an e-code for an e-book in an e-world. Yet you can use it on a paper book killing more trees. Since there is no printing, paper or shipping costs Nook books should be much less expensive than paper- but there not.. Does anyone know why codes can't be used on Nook books?

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As was stated agency pricing on a large share of the books. Which means that the publisher, as the seller, sets the price of the book and if discounts can or cannot be taken. In these cases BN is only the agent, the book is sold through their store and they get a commission. Google agency pricing or agency model to find out more.