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Zikoris t1_j1bxx9q wrote

I've been pretty shocked lately to see $30 eBooks for some new releases. What the ever loving fuck is that about? It's a digital file!

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EpicTubofGoo t1_j1dimeq wrote

Publishers set the prices of ebooks, not retailers, my sense is this is done deliberately by publishers to keep ebooks from cannibalizing hardcover sales.

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Zikoris t1_j1dv7ri wrote

I'm used to new releases being a little on the higher end, like $16 or $17 sometimes, but JFC $30+ is steep for a digital file.

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whisky_in_your_water t1_j1e9ktt wrote

$10 should be standard for ebooks, maybe a little more for top authors.

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Zikoris t1_j1eb8vn wrote

Agreed. It's blatant gouging.

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whisky_in_your_water t1_j1ebvq7 wrote

Yup. I can't easily (legally) give away or lend out my ebooks, whereas I absolutely can do that with physical copies. Ebooks should absolutely be cheaper than any physical format.

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dissidentpen t1_j1f0wi2 wrote

That’s not true. Ebooks are almost always cheaper than print, and the margins on all this stuff are minuscule. Regardless of your “sense” the overhead remains the same regardless of format. You save on printing and storage but then there are unique costs to digital which make up the difference.

$30 is probably an academic press. I wish people would stop using cherry-picked anomalies as “proof” of their feelings.

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Suzune-chan t1_j1dcz27 wrote

I wonder this all the time. I am not paying for the paper why should it cost as much s a physical book.

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Zikoris t1_j1ebqdz wrote

Not only the paper, there's no warehouse, no shipping, no store overhead, no staff, no allowance for a certain percentage of damaged books, literally NOTHING that should bring the cost up.

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Bridalhat t1_j1ez3xa wrote

Nope, most of the costs of publishing books go into paying the author, the editors, typesetters, etc. Book and paper are usually sub $2 per volume when all is said and done.

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EvilLipgloss t1_j1e733r wrote

This is why I use Libby. I read quite a bit and Libby has saved me so much money!

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bichonfire t1_j1eba06 wrote

I checked Libby out once but the website said I only have like two weeks to read it? Is it true? I’m someone who needs much much muuuuch longer to finish a book lol ><

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EvilLipgloss t1_j1ecs1e wrote

Every library is different. I have two library cards through Libby. One of them gives me 3 weeks and another gives me 2. If no one else is waiting for the book, you can renew your loan.

Also, if you are using your Kindle, you can put your kindle in airplane mode and continue to read even though the loan has technically expired. It goes back to the library but since your Kindle is disconnected from the internet, it stays on the device until you connect it back to wifi.

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Zikoris t1_j1e8rjs wrote

Yes, I'm pretty sure we all know that the library exists, lol.

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zedatkinszed t1_j1hr6mf wrote

Yeah the pricing of ebooks is extremely predatory.and again the author's seeing v. little if it's a traditionally published ebook.

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