Note: This post refers to ebooks which are also available in print editions, NOT to those which are exclusively epublished.
Sarah at Smart Bitches Trashy Books has a post about why she thinks it’s wrong for publishers to delay the release of digital copies of books newly released in hardcover. She and – judging by the comment thread – many other readers think ebooks and hardcovers should always be released simultaneously as they are of equal value. Keishon at Avid Book Reader also has a post on this issue entitled A Consumer’s Response to the Delay of Releasing Ebooks: You’re Doing It Wrong. Here’s why I disagree.
An ebook is not the equivalent of a hardcover. It’s not even as good as a paperback. There are so many drawbacks to an ebook, not least of which is the inability to loan it to a friend or resell it. Ebooks should be less expensive than a paperback as the only true advantage they offer to a reader is instant gratification – provided, of course, the ebook is available at the same time as the print version. There is also the thorny matter of geographical restrictions for non-US readers which I’ve touched upon before.
At the same time, I can understand why authors/publishers choose to price simultaneously released ebooks the same as the hardcover versions. They earn a lot more money on hardcovers than on ebooks, so it would make no sense whatsover to sell the ebook at a signicantly lower price. Yet when ebooks are sold at hardcover prices, readers complain. By delaying the release of the ebook edition to coincide with that of the paperback, they bypass this issue.
I can sympathize with ebook readers’ frustration when a book is unavailable in their preferred format. I have yet to go the digital route, so I am not directly affected by this. However, the more I read about ebooks and digital reading devices, the more reluctant I am to do so. Frankly, I’m at a loss as to why ebook readers are so keen to embrace digital books at the expense of the dead tree variety. Between non-compatible formats, ever-increasing prices, and DRM, even customers in the US are inconvenienced. Then there’s the price of a digital reading device. The cost has got to be a deterrent to many readers, especially for those feeling the strain in the current economic climate. Forking out for the odd hardcover of a particularly beloved author’s latest book is still much cheaper than buying a Sony Reader or a Kindle.
From a purely selfish point of view, I’m very concerned at the longterm ramifications of geographical restrictions currently placed on ebooks. If digital truly is the future, will that mean many of my favourite authors’ books will no longer be available to me?
Some questions to ponder:
- Should the ebook edition be released on the same day as the hardcover? If so, is the high price justifiable?
- Do you see digital books taking over the market in the near future? How do you feel about that prospect?
{ 25 comments }
I haven’t gone the digital route, either, so I don’t think I can speak to that. As I told one of my friends a few weeks ago, I’m not likely to curl up with a Kindle any time soon unless they make a fur skin for it. Digital might take over the market in the future, but the NEAR future? Hmmm. I’m not too sure about that. As book bloggers, we hear a lot about the Kindle and e-readers; but most of America (let alone the rest of the world) still reads and wants to read regular books, not e-books. It might be interesting to traipse into a small-town, middle-America Walmart and see how many people even know what a Kindle IS.
Basically, I agree with you. There’s really no reason for publishers to value e-books the same as regular books as far as I can see. I understand why it bums out the people who like e-books, but they CAN just buy a regular book.
I am also not an eBook person and tread the digital world only if there is no other option and I really REALLY want to read a book. The reasons why I don’t like the digital version of books is:
1. Because I love the feel of a book in my hands.
2. I have no e-reader so I have to read everything on my pc – henceforth I cannot take my book with me wherever I go.
3. I have a disability to prevent me from reading on my pc for longer than 15-20 mins at a time, so it’s not satisfying for me as a reader to do so, it takes a lot of pleasure out of my reading.
If I come across an eBook either ARC or a book I would love to read I always print it out so I can read wherever and whenever I can.
I don’t see the print-books disappearing from the shelves in the future, it wouldn’t be fair to those who are – like me – not able to read through an e-reader or on the pc. It has to be taken into consideration as well. And above that to not speak about the disadvantages of an e-reader on the beach with all the sand and such.
I however agree on the price. It should be cheaper than even a paperback. Publishers have less costs
to an eBook and I for one think it’s another great discussion to have why there are different releasedates for either formats. I think the customer should be able to choose whichever format they want to buy on the release date. I am not one of the priviledged persons to have a lot of money to spend – especially in this time a lot of people are joining me in that situation so I would love to have the option to buy a paperback instead of a hardcover if I want to.
It would be very interesting to see how this will develop in the future though. But in my opinion I think my shelves will still be filled with new books and new authors throughout my life
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@heidenkind Since the Avon interview fallout, I’ve come to realize that people who read reviews online truly are the minority. As you say, many book bloggers seem to own Sony Readers or Kindles, but I suspect the majority of readers do not. A digital reading device is still cost-prohibitive for many people, and makes no sense for someone who is more of a casual than a voracious reader.
I have no problems with simultaneaous release dates for hardcovers and ebooks or paperbacks for that matter. I am a reader of all three with a preference for paperbacks and when I have to wait over 6 months for a paperback release I have found that ebooks do offer a solution to my I WANT TO READ THIS BOOK NOW-problems. Most of the ebooks I read/want/buy are in the format that enables me to read them on the device I have for reading ebooks and sometimes even reading behind the computer doesn’t put me off. I am easy that way…I do hear more and more about DRM and formats and e-readers but because of prices and unfamiliarity I choose not to dive into that too deep. As I said as long as the ebooks I buy are compatible with my device and available to me I am happy. I do have a limit as to what I am willing to spend on an ebook though. When I have to pay more than for a paperback I rather buy the paperback.
As for the pricing, here I agree with Natascha/Ashleagh: the price for an ebook definitely should not be the same as for a hardcover or even a paperback. The costs do not justify that kind of pricing. On the other hand as you have stated: it is understandable that Publishers do this for fear of less turnover if they don’t sell the hardcover and do sell the ebook.
As I said before I am a reader of anything available, be it ebook, paperback or hardcover. Speaking for myself and thinking of what I hear around me I do think digital is getting more and more important and I think it is a development to keep an eye on but I do not see it totally taking over the market in the future. People love the touch and feel of a printed book too much for that to happen.
I don’t quite agree. I get instant gratification if I buy a paperback from a bookstore and read it straight away. Ebooks offer portability and does away with the need for physical storage for books.
What interests me most is that having these discussions online skews opinion on the side of ebook readers, when in fact they still only comprise a small part of the market. They’re still considered early adopters, and high prices and uncertainty are to be expected. Certainly, they’re entitled to complain, but I think they sometimes forget that they’re not exactly representative of the majority. Yet!
I actually think it’ll make books more accessible. The threat of piracy will force publishers to do away with the illogical geographic restrictions now placed on ebooks, much like region codes for DVDs. At the moment, though, I think we’re seeing a transition problem in contracts and copyright law. I’d love it if rights were sold in a more transparent manner, because at the moment it sounds like even authors themselves have a very limited understanding and/or control of how their rights are exercised.
@Natascha / Ashleagh As I also dislike reading on the PC for extended periods of time, my preferred format is paper. The only books I’ve purchased so far in ebook form are out-of-print.
If ebooks really are the future, I hope the problems of DRM and geographical restrictions will be sorted out soon.
@Pearl If I had a digital reader, I’d want one which didn’t require me to do strange stuff with Calibre, or some other program, before I can read a book on it. From that point of view, the Kindle sounds perfect, even if it is ugly.
heidenkind – Anne Douglas (loose id author) makes some pretty cool e-reader covers and sells them on Artsy – or whatever that site is called, Etsy? Just thought I would throw that in.
I have fully embraced digital, so coming from a complete bias here. As an internet book seller, working from home, I have enough FREAKING books in this house, I do not need any more! Plus before the *&@$*)@%$&$#(&U DRM I could get new releases fairly instantly, without having to import them and wait two weeks for them to arrive. Also have fallen in love with some of the smaller e-pubs, just finding stories a little bit different from the mainstream releases – and since I am working on the computer anyway, easy to read on computer. (Will be doing a song and dance as soon as there is a reasonable priced unit released in Australia – US are biatchin about kindles etc being 300, the only one here so far…wait for it.. $900+)
And I am rambling, sidetracked again.
* Should the ebook edition be released on the same day as the hardcover? If so, is the high price justifiable?
I think yes, I think currently you have a different market for ebooks, so I do not think that the ebook will majorly impact on hardcover sales. While might cringe if the price is higher than the norm, as long as it is a bit cheaper than the hardcover, I will still go for the ebook. AND as long as they remember to lower the price when the MME comes out.
Though as an aside, I honestly do not know many people who buy hardcovers new now, if it is a must have author, most will wait a couple of days and pick one up secondhand on ebay. (Talking serious bookies here too) So I have my doubts about the current strength of the hardcover market.. Though to backpeddle a bit, I am also of the opinion, that there is a niche for hardcovers (though I think it is small) and I think those people aren’t going to be deterred off buying them by an ebook – they want the print book.
*# Do you see digital books taking over the market in the near future? How do you feel about that prospect?
I see them having a much larger slice of the publishing pie, I do not see them replacing dead trees – not for a considerable amount of time anyways. (ie. 50-100 years lol) But judging by the rapid growth of the industry in the last couple of years, I do think it will have a large impact upon the market, and publishers should be taking it more seriously, instead of going oh no! a threat to the beloved dead tree.
The portability of ebooks and the space-saving factor is a definite advantage. The instant gratification aspect is perhaps my personal perspective as I usually have to wait on orders from Amazon.
I think it’s a question of how soon ereading customers will outnumber readers of print books. I agree with Heidenkind that book bloggers probably give a false impression of how many people own Sony Readers and Kindles.
I do hope you’re right. The geographical restriction are the principal reason why I have no desire to go the digital route at this time.
Oh dear.. Sarah you really need to allow us to edit our posts!
*blush*
“What interests me most is that having these discussions online skews opinion on the side of ebook readers, when in fact they still only comprise a small part of the market.”
Too true Kat! (we meet again! lol) But if it continues to grow as it has in the last couple of years.. then it is not going to be too long before it is a reasonable slice of pie. And considering it is the only part of the US publishing scene apparently having any considerable growth, you think they would be more gung-ho about it.
damn it, I am going away now.. and hanging my head in shame. lol Meant to add that yes internet discussions are going to be fairly biased, same if the discussion was held in a B&M bookstore. But I think the bloggers/reviewers are backed up by industry figures, growthwise, and the success of the small e-pubs.
@Edie Can blog visitors not edit their posts? I didn’t know that! I can edit mine, so I didn’t realize others weren’t able to do so. I’ll see if I can change that. I think there are plug ins which might do the trick. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I think publishers see hardcovers as the luxury versions of their books, which is probably why they’re reluctant to have their sales negatively impacted by selling the digital version simultaneously. Also, they earn more money on hardcovers, as do authors. I don’t know why digital royalties are so low for print-published books, but apparently they are.
Edit would be fantastic and/or a preview button. It would probably help my crapola posts a little bit, okay a smidgen.. But can’t guarantee that it will help me make any sense.
DVDs, console video games etc. are mainly still region-coded. I don’t see why ebooks wouldn’t be since they are now. I do also think they’re very overpriced and not worth it at the moment. I definitely understand that people now are early adopters and that’s why all of it is so expensive, but that just means I’ll wait for mainstream prices – and all the cheap books that will be available when others give theirs away. =)
IMO a story is a story, yes I prefer my books in paper so I don’t mind paying more for the book. I just don’t like to sit behind the pc to read or eying some e-reader. Yes I will if I have no choice but I am an old-fashioned girl, I love the feel of paper in my hands, the cover, the way a book has never been opened (if you buy it new). I don’t mind if all formats are released at the same time, but I can see the point from the publisher point of view. It probably will influence sales, I think writers should be paid more royalties for their e-books but that also implies higher prices for ebooks. E-books should be cheaper than their paper siblings but not so much cheaper. And I don’t understand why writers don’t get the same royalties for print books as ebooks. I don’t think the ebook will replace the print book, to many people love the feel of holding a book.
@Edie I assume from the $900+ comment that you’re talking about the Iliad at Dymocks. (I lust after it, I won’t lie.) You can also buy a Cybook from Dymocks, and the BeBook/Hanlin is available from DADirect (Melb), Berkeleouw (Sydney), and another independent bookstore in Melbourne whose name I forget (Reader’s Feast maybe?).
@Sarah There’s also the issue of library purchases. I think they might be the main target for hardcovers. Editorial Ass discussed hardcovers, covering the prestige issue as well as the profitability issue.
oooo.. Kat.. will have to look into those, when I went looking a little while back all I could find was Iliad online. If they have Australian warranties etc.. I am soo broke!
Many, many, many thanks!
@Edie No worries. If you’re an ARRA member, it’s worth getting the opinion of Aussie romance readers with ebook readers. At our last meet-up someone brought along her Hanlin for us to envy, plus one of those handbag-sized Sony Vaios. I nearly cried. Feel free to email me if you want any more details about the readers. (We’ve gone a bit off topic here – sorry, Sarah!)
@Edie I’ve added a plug in which should allow visitors to edit their comments. It doesn’t provide a preview, unfortunately. I’ll see if I can add that function later.
@Meghan DVD region codes still exist, but as most films are available in a number of countries, it’s not really a problem.
I just read that the Kindle will be released in the UK later this year. This will probably confirm – or alleviate – my current concerns about availability of ebooks to customers outside the US.
@Marissa Apparently, exclusively epublished authors get a much higher percentage of royalties on their books than authors whose work is also available in print. Whether or not print publishers are justified in paying low royalties on ebooks remains to be seen.
@Kat Thanks for the link. I love the blog title!
oo.. you are the best! Edit is more than enough I am sure for ramblers like moi.
oo.. pwetty edit.. lol
I suspect (not having any *actual* knowledge on the subject) that the sticking point vis a vis a hardcover release is the numbers involved. I think the actual manufacturing of hardcovers is cost-effective only at certain numbers, and that only makes sense if enough of that number of hardcovers sell at or near the price set for the extra value of a hardcover. Thus the concern isn’t lost profits from selling electronic copies vs. hardcover, but the lost profits when hardcovers are remaindered and bookstores order far fewer of the next hardcover release. It takes an odd sort of alchemy to get romance readers to fork over extra bucks for hardcovers; publishers want to keep that alchemy in place and not mess it up with e-publishing.
I will say this, though, about geographical restrictions. I am stunned that we (the universe at large) haven’t found a solution to the issue of region-specific TV shows, DVDs, etc. It’s crazy in a global economy. But then a lot of things are crazy in a global economy, and now we’re back to another topic I actually know nothing about.
I hadn’t thought of that. I’d imagine you’re right re: the numbers of hardcovers which publishers need to sell in order for it to be cost effective. Wouldn’t the same apply to print-runs of paperbacks, though?
@Edie As a frequent user of the edit function, I can sympathize!
@Magdalen I can’t be 100% sure, but I think Australia allows people to remove DVD region coding on their DVD players. Also, it’s easy enough (at least in Australia) to buy a DVD player that can cope with multiple regions.
Paperbacks are so much cheaper to produce: way cheaper paper that is basically stacked up, cut, glued on one side and with a thicker paper cover. No sewing — still used in the making of hardcovers — no fancy cloth binding (okay, so they’re not really fancy, but they’re way fancier than a paperback) — and no dust cover, which is cheap in & of itself, but is the cherry to the sundae that is a hardcover book.
So you can run off a thousand paperbacks for the cost of oh, say, 20 hardcovers (I made all those numbers up, but they’re not far off, I’ll bet). Admittedly you have sunk costs: the author (NOT the biggest expense by a wide chalk), the editorial staff, marketing — all of which cover both the paperback and hardcover editions. But if you’re ordering 100,000 hardcovers, each at 50x the cost of a paperback (and 500x the cost of an e-book), you really want 80,000 people to fork out the twenty bucks apiece for those books.
@Kat We can get DVD players in Switzerland which can play all region codes. As far as I know, they aren’t allowed in the EU.
@Magdalen I have no idea how print runs function, or the cost behind them. I’m pretty sure there was an article about this in the ‘Romance Writers Report’ a while ago. I’ll see if I can find it.