Should ebooks be free or at least much cheaper?
- RonakP
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Should ebooks be free or at least much cheaper?
- Katy Isodo
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- Infidel
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- ImogenKeeper
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- Katy Isodo
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I hadn't thought of this and both agree with the thought but also disagree in some ways. For myself, I don't purchase many ebooks on Amazon anyway but I'm much more likely to take a chance on a 99 cent book from a self-published author than spend $3 or $4 on it, especially if it's a series. I think this is part of why Kindle Unlimited is so popular, for a flat rate readers can try quite a variety of ebooks without as much risk. As far as I understand, authors are compensated better through this program than through regular sales, though I wonder if that's true.ImogenKeeper wrote:My concern with having free books, is more that the reader ascribes a value equal to the cost. So if it's free, they think it's probably not that good. If it's $0.99, it's probably not very good. My book is currently $2.99 which is what amazon recommends for my word length in my genre, but I'm seriously considering raising the price to increase the allure of the book. An extra dollar probably won't chase off any readers, and it may make the book appear to have more value.
- LivreAmour217
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- AliceofX
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While the production cost of physical books may not be as high as many think, even at a low cost - this is an ongoing expense. Every single book produced has a production cost which takes away from the profit. On top of this cost is the added cost of warehouse storage and room on shelves in storage facilities for online stores like Amazon or shelf space for brick and mortar establishments. Even if the initial production cost for an ebook is similar there isn't the ongoing cost of production of each and every title. Digital storage of ebooks is relatively minimal. Now subtract the cost of moving these books from production facilities to stores or warehouses and an ebook is substantially cheaper in the long run or at least should be.AliceofX wrote:I think I read once that the actual production cost of a paper book is very low and not the major reason of it's high cost, so there's really no logical reason why ebooks should be cheaper. Now, I don't really know how the publishing world works and whether or not that's true, but I guess they're still a business and wouldn't keep prices high without a good reason.
I also disagree with the idea that stores wouldn't price items high just to get the most profit. I'm not saying paying the same price for an ebook as a physical book is wrong, just not something I would do personally. If I'm paying the same amount for both I'm more inclined to go with a tangible object I can hold in my hands and have on my physical bookshelf.
- Joela111
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I mean with nearly everything else you would actually pay a premium for convenience. A lot of people will happily pay an extra 10 dollars to get food delivered so they don't have to leave the house, but then think that because its not a physical copy that they shouldn't have to pay any extra.
All things considered i would happily pay a few dollars more to receive a book instantly without having to wait for shipping.
- AliceofX
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That only works if you have a monopoly. When there's plenty of competition there's only so far that a business can raise it's prices before it starts getting eaten by the competition.Katy Isodo wrote:I also disagree with the idea that stores wouldn't price items high just to get the most profit.
- Katy Isodo
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I think that's true to a certain extent and while I wouldn't classify Amazon as a monopoly I do think it's dominated the market in terms of ebooks. While stores are in direct competition with each other in terms of pricing that doesn't negate the fact that some items get priced higher just because they can be, books included.AliceofX wrote:That only works if you have a monopoly. When there's plenty of competition there's only so far that a business can raise it's prices before it starts getting eaten by the competition.Katy Isodo wrote:I also disagree with the idea that stores wouldn't price items high just to get the most profit.
- lindsycummins
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Yes totally. E-books being free is unreasonable, but i should should be sold in a lesser price.LivreAmour217 wrote:Asking for the e-books to be free isn't reasonable, in my opinion. How else is the author supposed to make a living? However, I think that e-books should cost less than paperbacks, particularly the ones that are written by less well-known authors.
- MythicDrmR
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