Slash LaneAccording to The New York Times, while the recent dispute between Amazon and publishers has made headlines, it may not tell the whole story. Sources told the newspaper that ongoing negotiations with Apple have allowed for higher prices, but only as an option.
What Apple has allegedly offered that Amazon previously did not was a degree of flexibility for publishers to price their newest titles. While most iPad new bestsellers would sell between $12.99 and $14.99, those prices would reportedly represent a price ceiling, sources said.
"Apple inserted provisions requiring publishers to discount e-book prices on best sellers — so that $12.99-to-$14.99 range was merely a ceiling; prices for some titles could be lower, even as low as Amazon’s $9.99," the report said.
"Essentially, Apple wants the flexibility to offer lower prices for the hottest books, those on one of the New York Times best-seller lists, which are heavily discounted in bookstores and on rival retail sites. So, for example, a book that started at $14.99 would drop to $12.99 or less once it hit the best-seller lists."
It also noted that hardcover editions priced below the usual $26 in print could be priced "much lower" than $12.99, even if they were not a bestseller.
It is Apple's entrance into the e-book market, with its new iBooks application and accompanying iBookstore, that has caused a new rift between publishers and Amazon. Following Macmillan's lead, Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins have both announced their intent to ink new deals with more flexible price structuring with Amazon.
Based on their content deals with Apple, publishers could offer new hardcover bestsellers for between $12.99 and $14.99 on the iPad's iBookstore.
Publishers have been successful in forcing a reluctant Amazon into agreeing to higher prices for new hardcover bestsellers. While books are currently priced at $9.99 on the Kindle, most are expected to rise to between $12.99 and $14.99 by the time the iPad launches in March.
Bon Adamson
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
Amber Neely
22 Comments
Either way, $10 - $15 is reasonable for an ebook. If you don't agree, don't buy it!
Yeah, and "some" songs on iTunes are $0.69c, but try and find them.
Books should be priced between $0 and $9.99. With best sellers @ $9.99, and new releases @ $9.99 at publishers discretion. At these sorts of prices it could get addictive reading and buying books on the iPad, at the sort of prices I'm hearing it sounds like a gimmick. Publishers say they are trying to preserve the value of books, but I think they are trying to gauge how stupid people are. If someone pays $14.99 for a digital book I think they take it lying down.
People need to resists this as long as they can, publishers will listen if they do. Digital files are not the same as real books, and cost a lot less to produce and distribute, they need to have a different strategy. If they only make $3 per book (+$2 to the writer) they'd probably "end up" make more money they they do now in the long run. They'd rather preserve value than make money--idiots. And not only would they end up likely making more money, but they'd get a lot more people reading in the process. The whole thing lacks vision.
Yeah, and "some" songs on iTunes are $0.69c, but try and find them.
Books should be priced between $0 and $9.99. With best sellers @ $9.99, and new releases @ $9.99 at publishers discretion. At these sorts of prices it could get addictive reading and buying books on the iPad, at the sort of prices I'm hearing it sounds like a gimmick. Publishers say they are trying to preserve the value of books, but I think they are trying to gauge how stupid people are. If someone pays $14.99 for a digital book I think they take it lying down.
People need to resists this as long as they can, publishers will listen if they do. Digital files are not the same as real books, and cost a lot less to produce and distribute, they need to have a different strategy. If they only make $3 per book (+$2 to the writer) they'd probably "end up" make more money they they do now in the long run. They'd rather preserve value than make money--idiots. And not only would they end up likely making more money, but they'd get a lot more people reading in the process. The whole thing lacks vision.
Knock it off. This b.s. lashing out against publishers is childish and whiny. $0 - $9? Are you sick or something? The books cost $25 in the store. I don't care if its printed on paper, digital text on a screen, or if a stork crapped it onto papyrus.
It's A Book. I really can't stand underserving ***** like yourself. You really don't deserve the space you're afforded here.
I want everything for free and if it's not free I'll steal it - nothing has any value.
I also work for free.
Just as long as they don't expect to charge us more than $2 for public domain classics (which are free using apps like Stanza), I don't care if they charge $50 for new release hardbacks.