Predatory eBook Pricing
Posted on August 9, 2008
4 Comments
Earlier today I realized that I still haven’t read Book 10 of the Dresden Files series. Considering how much I’ve loved this series, I figured I should remedy that little omission ASAP. After all, it has been out for several months now.
Since I’m still a huge fan of the µBook ebook reader, I figured I’d first have a try at buying it online electronically.
First I found it at eBooks.com for $23.95. Wait, how much?!? Holy carp, that can’t be right!
I continued my search.
Fictionwise.com had it for the same price, but $19.16 after a rebate. Mobipocket is $23.95 as well.
I whined online and my buddy Vox suggested I check out Baen books. I like Baen’s prices a lot better, but unfortunately they don’t appear to be selling the Dresden Files books. Nuts. (that being said, do be sure to check out their Free Library!)
Out of curiosity, I headed over to Amazon to check on the book pricing. $16.29 for the hard cover. $9.99 for the Kindle edition.
OK, now I understand that this thing is only (currently) hard cover — but if I’m buying it electronically, so what? No paper. No printing. No production. Who cares what “cover” it is? I’d expect to save some money on the electronic edition. Not pay more!
Any hey: Why is Amazon so much cheaper for the Kindle edition than all the other eBook vendors?
Why is the pricing so messed up on this stuff? What am I missing?
Tags: amazon, Dresden-Files, eBook, kindle, ubook
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4 Responses to “Predatory eBook Pricing”
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Hate it myself. I’ve blogged about it too and think that people who wouldn’t normally look for alternatives to buying the book at stores are turned off by it as well.
They’re creating a problem where one doesn’t need to exist by following the music industries lead here.
I’m not saying the books should be free, but it’d have to pretty gosh darned special to be worth more than five bucks in an e-version as far as I’m concerned.
That being said - what do you use to read your e-books?
Hey Rich, I read with µBook on my Windows Mobile phone (the HTC Mogul). It works very well and it is always with me.
Been an avid user of my palm t|x as an e-book reader, but the more I use it the more the small screen bothers me.
I can’t help but wonder if it would be bugging me if there were no such thing as a kindle though.
I hear ya… but I just can’t fall in love with the current price of a Kindle. Ouchie.
Fortunately, the small screen doesn’t bother me on my Mogul. Yet.