I know there has been a lot of discussion of ebook vs hardback vs paperback pricing so I'm not going to get into that today. What I am going to vent about is the 'new' paperback. What is with the change in size of the paperback and then charging 9.99 for it? Or even worse, I noticed yesterday, yet another size and a 14.99 price tag.
Are you serious? Fifteen dollars for a paperback?!
I discussed a topic similar to this with several people last year when the price of gas went up. Yes companies are entitled to make a profit. That's the point of having a company – making money (except nonprofits of course who just help people). But there is a difference between profit and gouging. Gas companies get away with it because we need gas. But publishers? Be serious. Why would I pay 10-15 for a paperback book? I can find any even semi popular book for a few dollars used.
If someone can make sense of this, please, help me.
I don't know if I'd be willing to pay that price. Even as a writer, that seems a bit much to ask for.
ReplyDeleteWondering if anyone else noticed this trend?
ReplyDeleteSadly it make no sense to me either! I love reading but if it takes away from my children's or my household's needs it's not a priority, even to a book lover like myself!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Shanna - not when there is a library a mile away
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't know better I'd say they were pushing to bring about the ebook revolution. I know there's plenty of costs involved to make ready and produce a paperback but I'm with you, that's just too much. My Kindle's looking better every day. :)
ReplyDeletePrinter charges me $3.65 to print the book I've written. Another $3.65 to ship it to me. Seven dollars. For a 200 page book that I wrote myself. It goes for $8.99 on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
ReplyDeleteGood Point. For people fighting e-books publishers sure are making it easier to want to buy e-books.
SJ, That just makes me think publisher are really gouging people. You know they don't pay $7 for each paperback. Thanks for the information!
ReplyDeleteI think the big pubs are trying to settle in on $9.99 as the new paperback price, up from $7.99 and $8.99. It's getting costly.
ReplyDeleteHi Todd,
ReplyDeleteI agree. It just seems like they jumped from 7.99 to 9.99 and changed the size as a justification. Where was the slow jump? 8.50, 8.99, etc? You can't just raise the price $2! (My opinion anyway).
If you're on Lulu, for instance, they may force you to charge 10, 11, 12 or more for a paperback. It's annoying, but they want their part. E-books don't give you that trouble, but at lulu they want a minimum of .99 for a "Free" book. ::sigh:: That's the way it goes. Back to my editing, just a bit to go before I put mine up on Amazon. I'm going to pull it from Lulu. It's given me nothing.
ReplyDeleteBTW: "Riley" isn't my name. It's the name of my dog! "Riley Holmes" -- Riley is one dog, Sherlock is the other. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Not Riley:)I have never tried Lulu. Thanks for the information. Love Sherlock Holmes for your dogs name.
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