How much would you pay for an eBook? This question is raised many times in various forum discussions, especially as many eBooks are free or priced as low as 99c. Low prices like these drive down the overall price expectation and authors have to keep their prices low in order to compete.
Granted, it costs less to produce an eBook compared to a paperback or hardback; however, no less sweat or effort goes into writing and editing the manuscript or designing a great cover. Free and 99c is not much reward for all that hard work. I don’t understand why authors (or any artist) want to give their work away free. I do understand the marketing tool, but I’m drawn more to eBooks in the $2.99 range than I am to freebies or 99c books (not including short stories). I wonder how good it is if it’s free (the old “you get what you pay for” I suppose).
With so many eBooks at these low prices, readers balk at anything higher. I won’t buy an eBook at $6 or $7; I can get a paperback for that, but I’ll pay up to $20 for hardback because they often are that expensive. So, if eBook prices are raised, do you think readers would quit buying them and return to paperbacks? What would you pay for an eBook?
I have to REALLY want a book to pay more than $4.99 for it. An e-book is downloaded once and sold over and over. It’s available pretty much forever. Plus, you don’t really “own” your Kindle books. If the publisher gets into a fracas with Amazon, they can pull those books from your Kindle until the dispute gets settled (I believe you do get your money refunded). Why should we all be paying some exhorbitant fee for any book?
I’m currently in a big quandry – everyone talks about pricing your books competitively. I hear that no one wants to touch a book at 99 cents because it’s a sure clue that it’s schlock. And yet, guess how many books I’ve sold at $2.99? None. Zero. Zilch. I sell at 99 cents. I’m so confused I could weep. But I won’t – I’ll just keep experimenting.
Great article, Jen. I agree with you, if the artist gives a good enough sample and the reader loves what they read, $2 will be nothing. the 99 cent market does hurt artist but it was, what it is.
I don’t ebook are going anywhere. They”re fast ans save time.
I hear you, Gayle. It’s confusing. Good point about not truly owning the eBook, plus there are complications when you travel to a different country with your Kindle and want to access the library in the country your Kindle is registered (or maybe I haven’t figured it out). I’ll happily pay $2.99 for an eBook. My books are priced at $2.99 and they’re selling. I loved Hit or Missus, so maybe more reviews would help??
I love eBooks, Jesse, and I think you’re right that they’ll stick around. I don’t expect to pay as much for them as I do paperbacks or hardbacks, but I do believe up to $4 is a fair price.
This is shocking to some, but I’ve paid up to $12 for an ebook written by an author I really enjoy. When I think about it, I used to pay $25 or more for a hardback by the same author. That’s a savings of more than half.
When I buy a cheap or free book, you don’t have to be my favorite author. You just have to put out a good proposal – that is, a good description of what’s inside. I’m still very selective about what I buy.
Good points, Marilynne
I agree, people value you on how much you value yourself, your work or your worth .If something is cheap or inexpensive whether consciously or sub consciously, you know or believe your purchasing a less valuable product. Right or wrong we are all judged by our own self worth. How much do you value your work or worth?
I’m happy to pay $2.99 for an ebook, but I won’t go much higher than that. I still love paper books, so if the price for the ebook is the same or higher than I can buy something that I can actually own and hold in my hands, I’m going with the paper. I’ve seen some ebooks listed at nearly $20. No way will I pay that!
I will pay for an ebook, no matter the price, if 1) that is the only way I can get it at that price, and 2) it’s by an author I really like. However, I have a big problem paying something like $13 for an ebook, when I can buy a paperback of the same book, from the same distributor, for $8.
I do buy $2.99 and 99-cent books. I also will download free books…if they are by an author I like. I won’t download a free book simply because it’s free, however.
Having been, and still am, involved with ebook publishers, I understand their side of the issue, too. There is a lot of work involved by the author, the cover artist, the publisher, and whomever does the marketing, making it difficult to justify free or 99-cent books, unless you sell a bazillion of them.
Thanks, Julian, Nissie and Kat for weighing in. Valid points. As an author I feel the angst about price because we do value our hard work and we want to see it sold for a fair price, but I guess we could argue the author is not the one who decides what it’s worth. Maybe the reader does. Some publishers of well-known authors price their work high because they can, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the price. On the other end, giving it away free or for very little seems like it’s a product not highly valued, but, as Kat points out, if it enables an author to sell tons of books, then it’s a great marketing ploy.
Now that I have my Kindle I buy e-books instead of books printed on paper for the sheer convenience. I’ll pay the going rate regardless if it’s a book I want to read. Reading the classics for just over a book is a bargain, too. I just read a collection of James Joyce short stories to prepare for a tutoring assignment students were bringing into the writing lab where I work. What a bonus to be able to sit at my desk, punch a few buttons and have the assigned story at my fingertips. While price is important, I agree that “free” often proves that the value is nil.
Whoops! That should be “over a buck” not “book”.
ha, got that, Sarah. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Definitely agree there are some great bargains out there and worth a lot more than a buck.
So far I’ve only got free books for my kindle. I like the idea of checking out the authors before investing in a book. As far as price $2.99 – $4.99 is definitely reasonable. I can’t see paying a whole lot more than that when I don’t actually have a physical copy unless the author happens to be one of my favourites. For the record there were a couple free books on Amazon that actually impressed me, and I’m very likely to buy a book from those authors. Ratings matter a lot to, I’m more apt to choose a book with good reviews. I think samples of a book are a good way to see if you like a writers style as well.
I just finished a book by JA Jance. It was a good book. A real page turner. I paid 8.99 for the book – in paperback so I could keep it on my shelf to re-read another time. I could have bought it for 7.99 for my Kindle. So, my criteria is also – when is an author so good I will spend more to keep her on my bookshelf?
I love free books. My kindle holds a lot of books I paid $3.99 for or less. It also holds the latest Nevada Barr book that was definitely more.
My point. I’ve always bought a lot of books. They’re easier to read and to store on my Kindle, but if I want it now and the paperback is available if I stretch out my hand, I’ll buy it because I want it.
Never underestimate a reader’s desire to read a good book.
This is true, Marilynne. Desire for a book or product may outweigh the cost. So, maybe it really is the reader or buyer who decides the worth of a book or product……….
In the publishing world, especially with the arrival of eBooks, price is such a debated topic. All your posts are valid and interesting and I’d like to thank all of you for taking the time to stop by my blog and share your comments.
I’m totally with you and agree that $2.99 seems to be a sweet spot. I’m just testing $3.99 to see if there are any takers, I expect sales numbers to be lower but a higher level of actual readers.
I’ve found the biggest problem to be people buying eBooks at 99c and then just hoarding them on their Kindle – for the 30c royalty you may as well forgo that and get a better class of reader.
Just a thought. I’ll let you know how the $3.99 goes.
Good to get your take on it, Barry. I’m interested to know the results of your experiment with $3.99. Keep me posted.