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Why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover price.
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Never judge. However, a good cover will draw my interest quicker than a bad cover.
Disagree. I think that the fair-market value for a new ebook by a well-known author is eight bucks. Meaning, if publisher and bookbuyer were negotiating at a flea market and neither person could simply decree a price, the agreed-on price would be close to eight bucks.So $9.99 would be above fair-market value, but not unreasonably so. But for the NYC publishers to demand over $9.99, when they are NOT paying for paper, ink, typesetting, warehousing, or shipping, is utterly ridiculous. Even more so when you consider that the publisher pays the author only chicken feed.
Amazon is right, and Hachette is being greedy.
I do agree with Wade that a cover can very much attract a reader's interest. It has an impact on me but I always read the synopsis. I've bought books with great covers and not so good stories and visa versa. On my first novel I just couldn't find a photo or image I liked so I had an artist draw one that I really liked. I was told the cover was not going to attract readers by some professional book people, and then many readers told me they loved it. The second novel all who reported back to me told me they were very attracted to the cover.
Thomas wrote: "...But for the NYC publishers to demand over $9.99, when they are NOT paying for paper, ink, typesetting, warehousing, or shipping, is utterly ridiculous. ..."I'd only agree if I felt that the bulk of the book costs/expenses publishers are responsible for were paying for paper, ink, typesetting, warehousing, and shipping.
Whether book gets printed or uploaded for digital download, please don't overlook the editing, marketing, cover art, etc. that goes into a book.
That said, Amazon still promised me when I bought my first kindle that New York Times bestsellers would never be more than $9.99 -- and even at that time I did not think they had the authority to say that unless they were just saying that they would eat the additional costs themselves.
There are extremely few authors (for budget reasons) I buy when hardcover releases (even at drastic discounts over the cover price). I consider anything over $10 to be a hardcover price even if on an ebook edition. But, if I would buy the hardcover release then I would also gladly pay hardcover price for the ebook edition of it. Otherwise, I wait for paperback prices (both print and ebook editions).
I'm still not over seeing paperbacks over $6; but, times change and prices raise. I don't think any price a publisher or author sets is necessarily wrong (I just might have to wait for paperback version to afford or even never be able to afford unless borrowed from library); I'm sure they no doubt are aware what readers will/won't pay or when their expenses demand a price increase.
I do think the ebook price should reflect the print copy price. I am convinced that the actual printing and shipping is a very tiny part of a publisher's expenses.
Certainly the publisher and the readers should be determining what prices are good prices. Amazon has no business dictating to publishers what prices their books go for on amazon.
Do you know how poorly NYC editors get paid? As for covers, I commission all of mine, and the most I've ever paid an independent-contractor artist for a cover is $275.00. Not to mention, for dead-tree books, distributors and retail bookstores take a big chunk of change. So the math simply doesn't support any kind of argument of "Blah-blah-blah, ebooks must retail at a high price."Amazon is not dictating; the publishers are. What Amazon is saying is, "If you would quit being so greedy and shortsighted and lower your prices, you'd make more money, because many more people would buy your books." And the math says Amazon is right.
Do you know how frustrating it must be for Amazon to say "If you lower your prices, bookbuyers win, your authors win, you win, and we win," and then to be told NO? "Because if we lower our prices, we're not in control anymore. So there, nyah!"
But Amazon is in Seattle, while the NYC publishers can run to _The New York Times_, which will print all their "We're so picked on" statements without challenge. But just because the publishers' statements go unchallenged, doesn't mean they're true.
I'm not saying what publisher do or don't pay. I am just sayin that the printing, shipping, etc. are not the sole costs.And publishers just like any other business or manufacturer get to set the prices for their products. Not amazon.
How would a self-publishing author feel if amazon said they had to set their ebook at a certain price? Had to as opposed to recommending because amazon's statistics say that's the point at which customers won't buy or that their suggested price range is one they feel will increase your s=ales/profits?
Frankly, most businesses including publishers find it hard to compete with amazon and other retailers on amazon. If they want the sales and the market share -- they may need to compete by adjusting prices.
But, having to adjust their prices because of what their customers and the current market demand -- that's not the same thing as telling a business what price they have to sell their product.
Amazon, like any other store owner or retailer, can set all the rules they want including prices in order to carry your products. That's fine; doesn't mean you have to let them carry your products or agree with it.
Amazon just doesn't get to tell anyone, even greedy big five publishers not paying their editors enough money (or whatever), what price to sell their products. No matter if located in New York, Seattle, or the Arctic circle; a business gets to set the price for their products.
Let's face it; if Hatchette or any other publisher suddenly offered their books for a penny then of course more people would buy their books. Doesn't mean amazon gets to decide the price a business wants for their product. Or that that is a good business model. Or whether or not a business is greedy versus just making a profit. Or whether or not the penny sale is in the best interest of those authors who authorized Hatchette to handle the publishing/distribution of their book.
Frankly, if an author wants amazon to handle their business, they are free to publish with amazon. If they chose to publish their book with Hatchette, well, that is authorizing Hatchette to act on their behalf not authorizing amazon to overset any contractual obligations between hatchette and their authors.
Wise, wise amazon to say that when prices go cheaper that more people can afford to buy the product. Golly gee whiz why has no other business entity or expert ever come up with that one? No one ever figured that out before.
No, publishers are not like any other business. Let a South Texas fruitgrower try to dictate a price of twenty dollars per grapefruit, and see what happens.The law of supply and demands means that the buyer's wishes must be considered, not just the seller's. But when it comes to copyrighted goods, the sellers think they can dictate prices. (And it sounds like you agree with that.) But when buyers of copyrighted goods decide that the price is too high, very seldom do they meekly pay the high price. No, buyers go without, or they PIRATE. And DRM-ing your book won't stop piracy one bit.
You sure assume a lot about the relationship between Hachette and its authors -- you think those negotiations are fair and equal? Nope, it's "You do it our way, or you don't get in bookstores." But if you think the NYC publishers are being picked on, I'd say it's your DUTY to buy only new books, and pay full retail price for every book you buy.
"Let's face it; if Hatchette or any other publisher suddenly offered their books for a penny..."
Don't hug that straw man too hard, because the straw has bugs in it.
It is also an attempt to distance itself from the huge number of free and very-low-price eBooks now flooding the market from the independent publishing community. And while it may be tempting to think that all such books must be the work of desperate unknown authors unable to command prices any higher, it is just as likely to be part of a carefully choreographed (and extremely cost-effective) promotional campaign in which the free or discount status is maintained for only a few days...
Read more here: http://www.readersintheknow.com/blog/...