J.K. Rowling has a new book coming out. You can get the hardback for $20. Or the e-book for $17.99!!
I’m wondering if the goal here is to protect hardback sales while avoiding the controversy of not releasing an e-book. Negative Amazon reviews have piled up on books recently that “window” or delay the e-book release. Or maybe they figure readers will pay anything, so why devalue the product?
What do you all think about this? Should a digital book have its price based on demand or manufacturing costs? I imagine there are Rowling fans who will think this is awesome of her and any price is a fair price. I also imagine there are Rowling fans wondering why they have to pay hardback prices for an e-book.
I’m mostly curious about the marketing strategy. To me, an e-book should never cost more than ten bucks. And if you price it low enough, many readers will probably end up buying a hardback and an e-book. Better yet: Why not give away a free download code with every hardback? Is piracy the concern? I hope not. A devoted fan wouldn’t give up that download code, and pirates are going to get copies no matter what you try and do. Worry about your readers, first! And price your e-books where people don’t think twice before clicking that purchase button.
**Update** It seems the original price for the e-book was $19.99!! A lot of discussion about this within the Amazon community.
Something else: Look at the most popular tags on the book. The reaction to this is already quite fierce.
19 replies to “Wowsers.”