New Kindle books priced same as hardcover.

[Unicorn1981]

I think it is quite unreasonable that when a book comes out in hardcover the kindle version is the same price or more. When it comes out in paperback it's usually reduced. I mean when you pay more for hardcover it's because it looks nicer right? The kindle version would be the same whatever.

[Vixster99]

I wouldn't pay the same for a kindle edition simply because they haven't had to pay for the printing & distribution.

But I suppose some people would pay more because they want it as soon as its published.

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

Whch book were you buying? just being nosy

[abbsismyhero]

this is why i dont buy kindle books ive just bought a kobo for the macdonalds free books thats all i buy real books if i want to read them

[BadToTheBone]

You pay VAT on kindle books, but not on tree books. It says it on amazon.

[CreepyPasta]

I've gone back to buying normal books for this reason. I love my kindle for the convenience and less piles of books around the house but I did miss the actual turning of pages

[Unicorn1981]

Onesie it was this one. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B016IOF8SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469220351&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Peter%20Robinson&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2Babye7nYL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
I saw an advert for at the train station and just had a look at it. But I've noticed it with others too. TBf I try to get books from the library but I do love the convenience of my kindle. I also love turning pages but it's easier to hold in bed and carry around.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Publishers have worked out it's the best way to maximise the income from each title. Enough people will clearly pay the full price at first because they can't wait, then later on fewer people will so they have to drop the price. It's nothing to do with what's fair or how much it costs them to produce.
Either wait, or use the library, or read something else!

[OnionKnight]

Unfortunately it's the publishers who set the prices and obviously they want to make money.

[Unicorn1981]

I'm happy to wait. I have too many books to read anyway I was just interested in why they do it so thanks for the info x

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

You often get things heavily discounted when the next book by that author comes out. So if you are happy to always be one book behind it can be very good value!

[Idliketobeabutterfly]

Pretty common for the mainstream publishers sadly.

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

clicked on the link and it says the hardback £20, kindle £13.99...

[BarbaraofSeville]

I'm a total kindle convert and use ereaderiq to track the price of books I want to read and get them for a pound or two. I have hundreds of books to read so can wait for new books.

I recently bought a couple of paperbacks from Asda for £7 and realised how inconvenient they are - too big to hold and no good in bed, much prefer my paperwhite.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

Same reason why the release the hardcover first - if people really want to read it when it first comes out, they'll pay. Mostly not because it's nicer! (In fact, I find them more inconvenient to store, hold, etc). If the paperback came out at the same time, most people would buy that instead. So with a Kindle version, you're just getting access to the book earlier, and paying the price for that, rather than waiting for the paperback (i.e., later!) equivalent. It's one of the few ways the author has a chance of making money, though with all the discounts available on the really popular ones, even that is suspect.

[ProcrastinatorGeneral]

I pay the price if I want to read the book. The author has made no less effort. Amazon aren't to blame on this one either, as OnionKnight said it is publishers setting the price. Unlike with physical stock Amazon don't have the power to undercut publisher prices with digital copies.

I paid £5.99 for a kindle book today. It was released this week. I didn't fancy waiting six months or so for the price to drop so I sucked it up.

Bring on the cheese!:o

[ginghamstarfish]

Yes, it seems very greedy of publishers, especially as you don't even really 'own' the book in the same way, in that you can't pass it on to someone else.

[Vixster99]

I have bought a few hardbacks rather than wait for the paperback.

I regard paperbacks almost as "disposable", in that I know I'll never read it again & will probably pass it on to someone else, or a charity shop.
The paper seems poor quality these days too, and seems to go yellow & brittle very quickly.

I'd buy a hardback if its a book I think I would want to keep forever.
I hope they still use archival-quality paper/bindings for these. though I doubt they actually give it much thought these days.

[JudyCoolibar]

clicked on the link and it says the hardback £20, kindle £13.99...

Strange - when I click it says hardback £9.99.

[Pimmmms]

I saw hardback at £9.99 too, but thats through the app with Prime, would that make a difference?

[Unicorn1981]

Sorry slightly wrong link. If you click on other formats and hardcover it says 9.99.
Countess I'm always behind...

[Unicorn1981]

I just hope any extra you pay goes to the writer and not the publisher.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

The writers generally do get a better percentage from ebooks than paper, though still not as good as if you self publish! Hence some writers choosing to stick with self publishing online even once they are successful enough to be trade published.

[DesolateWaist]

Get a Kobo and then you can buy books from anywhere, you can even borrow them from the library.

Hardbacks and day of release kindle books only cost that much because they know people will pay it.

[RavenclawWriter]

Having been published in physical books and ebooks, the author does get a higher percentage of royalties on an ebook in most cases.

[Unicorn1981]

news.sky.com/story/physical-book-sales-rocket-as-digital-dips-10510980