[LINK] more on ebook pricing - MacMillan, low

Jan Whitaker jwhit at janwhitaker.com
Wed Mar 3 05:42:07 AEDT 2010


Following on from yesterday:
>Sargent Blogs on Pricing
>Macmillan ceo John Sargent has taken up the call to speak to readers 
>directly about ebook pricing with a new 
><http://click.publisherslunchdaily.com/cp/redirect.php?u=NTAwNnwzNDQ4OXxqd2hpdEBqYW53aGl0YWtlci5jb218NDA3NDUzfDc2MDIyMjM2fDYwNjc3OQ==&id=3541818>posting 
>on the company's blog. He notes that the agency model will eliminate 
>any delayed releases of new books in ebook editions: "Readers were 
>clearly frustrated at the lack of availability of new titles, and 
>the change to the agency model will solve this problem." And he 
>underscores, as we have mentioned before, that hardcover NYT 
>bestsellers will cost $12.99 or less under the new model. He points 
>out to readers that the company is providing "a tremendous discount" 
>on new release ebooks versus their print list prices.
>
>Sargent also makes another important point: for people who cannot 
>afford, or simply do not wish to pay, over ten dollars for an ebook, 
>the bulk of the company's list will be available for purchase:
>
>"There has been a lot of concern from e-book readers that $9.99 
>books will no longer be available. Most Macmillan e-books will still 
>be priced below ten dollars. Our e-book sales over the last year 
>clearly indicate that only about a third of our e-book business is 
>in the digital versions of new release hardcovers. Unit sales of 
>older books far exceed our new release hardcover sales, so the $9.99 
>and lower prices will continue to represent the largest portion of 
>our business.In short, we will continue to do what we have always 
>done: provide the reader with a vast selection of great books over a 
>wide range of prices."
>
>Needless to say, we're glad to see Sargent open a channel for direct 
>communication with readers ("there are millions of you and one of 
>me. So, please feel free to post questions or comments below") and 
>hope that more publishers find ways to join in the dialogue.


Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

_ __________________ _



More information about the Link mailing list