I have had my Nook since Barnes and Nobles first came out with the eReaders. I love my Nook. I love its portability and the fact that I can store tons of books on it. I love the fact it is lightweight and easy to read in all sorts of light. And I love the fact I can purchase and download a book on such an easy to read device at two o’ clock in the morning (clever money-making ploy!). The only thing my reader can’t top when it comes to reading is the fact that it takes me a second or less to open the pages of a paperback, but even technology has its limitations (for now).
Seeing as eReaders have become so popular, it shouldn’t surprise me to see the prices of certain ebooks higher than their paperback counterparts. And yet that is what I saw when I went to Costco the other day. Browsing around, I found a book I thought was interesting. It was on sale for $5.99 but seeing as it was a bit bulky, I decided to look it up online. Imagine my surprise when I found it listed for $8.99. Nothing longer, nothing better, just the same old story.
It’s simple economics really, supply and demand. As the demand for paperback (or hardback) books goes down, stores are being placed in a position to mark down their prices or be stuck with an oversupply. And yet there is something strange about paying less for something that logically seems to cost more to make.
This industry will continue to evolve and change, powered by a force of readers who will continue demanding from the industry itself: better books, more affordable books, more accessible material, etc. As readers and writers, it is important to realize how we drive the reactions within the industry. Will ebooks’ prices rise, driving demand back to paperbooks? I highly doubt it but I can imagine many readers wouldn’t be happy with the above example. What about you all? What changes do you notice or forsee in the industry? What about our reactions?
Enjoy this food for thought and happy writing this week!
Hi Toni,
Good food for thought. I just got a Nook and I really like it. Last night as I sat in a dark room, I read chapter one of a friend’s novel. I’ll be interested to see how it reads in bright light at the beach this summer. I think ereaders are becoming more and more popular because the ereaders are so much easier to carry. At one time I had to take a train to get to work, and let me tell you how difficult it was to carry a large book. The ereaders are very convenient. Having said that, I have to add that I really love books and will still purchase printed novels. To me, there is nothing like holding a printed book. Still, publishers will go with the flow and follow the money. And as authors, this is good news for us, isn’t it?
By: Gerri Brousseau on February 29, 2012
at 12:10 pm
Hi Gerri,
Ain’t that the truth? Supply and demand. You know from what you speak. But to be honest, there is nothing that can replace the hard copy. Especially as a writer, I pour over books, front to back and back to front and in the middle too. It is difficult to exercise that activity on the e-books. In fact I find it torture to go a few pages and back again.on the Kindle. Not that I re-read, it is research. Thanks for the terrific post.
By: Gail Ingis on February 29, 2012
at 12:25 pm
I thought I would die before I would give up reading paper books. But lo and behold, I am now reading almost exclusively from my Kindle Fire these days. I buy a lot of the 3.99 and below and often download free books. With the new KDP Select program, you can even wait for an author’s book, knowing that at some point during its first three months, there will be five days where it will be offered for free. The convenience and affordability of e-books can’t be beat.
I think the above example is rare. Most e-books are priced between .99-7.99. You have some outliers, but the majority of books are on the lower end of the spectrum. As printbook readers, we can only hope that the cost of paperbooks comes down to try and compete, but we know this would be good for readers and bad for authors and publishers.
By: PJ Sharon on February 29, 2012
at 2:52 pm
this trend of charging full price for an e-book drives me crazy. there’s so much less overhead! why the hell should it cost the same when you don’t have to buy the paper it’s printed on? ugh. don’t get me started.
By: Leia Shaw on March 1, 2012
at 10:02 am