About .99 E-book Pricing…
Janet Denzel
The bottom line is, e-books not only cost a lot less to produce (no printing costs, shipping, warehousing, or returns), but also require far less up-front investment and risk. Since those are costs and risks borne by publishers in the print world (and they are compensated for it), it only makes sense that removing those costs and risks should reduce the cut publishers are fairly entitled to take. Instead, publishers want the best of both worlds: reduced costs and risks, and they want to keep more of the purchase price for themselves.
For book lovers like me, I would very much prefer the printed books. Although e-books are much cheaper and sometimes come for free, I can hand printed books to my children and they can do the same when they get married.
But, I think some people will always treasure the printed books, and I certainly still like having certain special books in physical form. I wonder: have you ever tried reading e-books on an e-Ink screen (like on the Kindle or Nook)? The vast majority of people I know who have tried it, like it very much.
I also wanted to let you know how I found you. I bought the trade paperback of Right Ascension on Amazon. I had no idea that it was self-published. I enjoyed it a lot. Then I saw your name on Victorine Writes and recognized it. I was very impressed.
In all these explanations of cost of ebook versus printed, there is another consideration. As the price of the book drops, the number of books sold can greatly increase, by the laws of supply and demand. The maximal profit could be much much higher with low ebook prices. You can see this play out because on the Amazon store, I have purchased $1 books from unknown authors, and these books enjoy very high sales ranks, much higher than famous authors, and generating a much higher profit for these self-published authors, than if they had demanded high prices, and wallowed in obscurity.
What these dumb publisher are not realizing, is that they could maybe catalyze a lot more book sales BY keeping the price low, maybe even much lower. How many more books would they sell if they reduced the price to $5, even though they cannibalized their expensive hardcover sales? Could they create a whole new class of casual reader? The average American spends 5 hours in front of the TV per day. Could these publishers target this massive demographic by making books inexpensive, and a daily ritual for millions of consumers?
Lastly, because the marginal cost of digital publishing is so low, publishers can explore prices all the way down to $1 if they wanted. This could never happen in the old paper book model, because the marginal cost and upfront cost is so high.
very informative article. I work for a hearing aid company that is hoping to reinvent the hearing aid industry with competitive pricing an online sales. Your points are relevant to this market as well. great job and good luck!
I am a first time author (actually about 1/2 of the way through my first young adult novel). I have been considering my options once my work is complete. First, I was contemplating financing the printing of the first run of 1000 hardbound books myself (or through a donor). Then I would sell them through Amazon or other online retail bookstores at the same time as offering an e-book through those same retailers at a much discounted price. Is that a good approach or should I just skip the printed version altogether? Does positive word of mouth spread as widely if there is no printed version available?
I actually have several posts about the self-publishing process, including my recommendation for printed books. While I sell many more e-books than print books, there is an undeniable allure to holding your finished work in your hands. But I would NOT recommend paying for a 1,000-copy print run. You can use CreateSpace to print as many or as few copies as you want, a few at a time, and to distribute to Amazon with no up-front cost (they just pay you a royalty when they sell). More details here:
As far as copyright, registering it is a relatively easy online process with a $35 fee to the U.S. Copyright Office (www.copyright.gov). Also, your work is copyrighted the moment you write it (once recorded with pen and paper, printed, or even saved electronically).
One cautionary note about pricing your ebook super-low: It makes it hard for you to offer special deals. And you want to offer those. Putting your ebook on a limited-time sale is a proven way to generate a flurry of sales.
The Urban Libraries Council and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council strongly oppose the recent decisions of major e-book and e-audiobook publishers to impose increased restrictions on digital lending models for libraries, including embargoes on new content and ceasing perpetual licensing.
ULC and CULC are working together on several efforts to highlight these issues and demand responsive change. We want to work with the major publishers and/or legislators to find a solution that is reasonable for all parties. Click here to read ULC/CULC's Statement on Equitable Public Access to E-Books, which has been signed by over 100 mayors and county executives across North America.
Below are key information highlights and resources to help library leaders gain a deeper understanding of this issue, as well as the need to take action. ULC members can find additional resources related to this topic on the ULC Knowledge Exchange.
Discussions about the fairness of publishers' e-book/e-audiobook pricing and access for libraries have been ongoing for at least a decade. However, the challenges for libraries intensified rapidly in 2018/2019 as publishers implemented drastic changes to their digital content pricing. Below is a timeline of changes to e-content lending models for libraries:
Yes, but so far to no avail. Individual libraries and national associations have attempted to work with major publishers to develop a purchasing model that works for both sides, but with little success.
Publishers, such as Macmillan, have stated that the high pricing and limited lending models are necessary to counterbalance a loss of profits on e-books/e-audiobooks due the library's "free" lending. However, data does not support this claim; in fact, studies show that library users are engaged readers who are more likely to buy books that non-library users. Libraries support the marketing of e-books/e-audiobooks (and their authors) through events, programs, reading lists and library communications.
Libraries promote a love of reading for learning and enjoyment, encouraging people to seek out content of all varieties, borrowed AND purchased. Studies show that library users are engaged readers who are more likely to buy books than non-library users. Libraries also have significant purchasing power.
"Libraries: Macmillan unfairly restricts access to e-books"Heidi Daniel, CEO and president of Enoch Pratt Free Library and Paula Miller, director of Baltimore County Public Library, pen op-ed in Baltimore Sun.November 2019
"Why new ebook rules have libraries sounding the alarm"Anne Marie Fryer, digital resources manager for the Calgary Public Library quoted in Toronto Star articleDecember 2019"Calgary Public Library joins fight against publisher restrictions on e-books"Calgary Public Library CEO Mark Asberg quoted in CBC News articleOctober 2019
"Libraries can't keep up with e-book demand as they clash with publishers"Christy Walker, communications manager at Carmel Clay Public Library, quoted in Indianapolis Business Journal article.December 2019
"Rising e-book costs a strain on libraries"Central Arkansas Library System Executive Director Nate Coulter quoted in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette articleDecember 2019"Publishers Are Changing E-Book Access for Libraries" Central Arkansas Library System blog post featuring statements highlighting that libraries pay much higher prices for e-books and e-audiobooksSeptember 2019
"On Macmillan's ebook embargo: A letter from Library CEO Lee Keesler" Lee Kessler, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library CEO, pens blog post about the library's opposition to Macmillan's new eight-week embargo against all public libraries for all new e-book titlesOctober 2019
"New publisher policies will limit your access to eBooks" Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Library Director of the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, pens blog post about how the changes on licensing and loaning of e-books by Macmillan Publishers will negatively impact Library customersOctober 2019
"Ohio libraries fighting publisher limits on digital content, eBooks" Tim Kambitsch, executive director of the Dayton Metro Library, quoted in Dayton Daily News articleNovember 2019 "Book publishers putting embargo on libraries" Dayton Metro Library Executive Director Tim Kambitsch pens op-ed in the Dayton Daily NewsOctober 2019
"Libraries: Macmillan unfairly restricts access to e-books" Heidi Daniel, CEO and president of Enoch Pratt Free Library and Paula Miller, director of Baltimore County Public Library, pen op-ed in Baltimore Sun.November 2019
"Publishers, please don't limit e-book access" Janet Mills, interim director, Hennepin County Library and Catherine Penkert, director, Saint Paul Public Library join other Twin Cities library system directors in co-authoring commentary piece in StarTribuneOctober 2019
"County libraries respond to e-book embargo" King County Library System Library Director Lisa Rosenblum quoted in NACo articleOctober 2019 "King County Library System faces off against one of nation's largest publishers" King County Library System Library Director Lisa Rosenblum interviewed by KIRO7October 2019
"Petition to stop Macmillan Publishers from restricting public libraries' eBook access" Tana Elias, digital services and marketing manager for Madison Public Library, quoted in Channel3000 articleOctober 2019
"Multnomah County Library in the fight with publishers over price of e-books" Vailey Oehlke, Multnomah County Library Director, quoted in KATU2 articleOctober 2019"Library users blocked from new e-books as publishers impose tough restrictions" Multnomah County Library blog post written by Vailey Oehlke, Director of LibrariesSeptember 2019
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