E-Book Pricing

I’d love your feedback on this subject. I have pretty strong opinions on e-book pricing, but maybe I’m wrong. The publishing industry also has very strong opinions on e-book pricing, and Amazon appears to have very strong opinions on e-book pricing.

To the point where the US Department of Justice had to intervene in the question of e-book pricing, price fixing, etc.

So, we all have strong opinions on e-book pricing but, I think, the opinions that matter most are yours. Readers. Consumers. E-book buyers.

What is an appropriate price for an e-book?

What is an appropriate price for an e-book from an author you’re trying out for the first time?

What is an appropriate price for an e-book from an established author you love, and whose work you’ve been anticipating?

Here are my opinions – as a reader and as a writer.

I think e-books should DEFINITELY be cheaper than print books. You’d have to work hard to convince me otherwise. I’ve always felt this, and now, having produced my own book – with my own money – I’m even more convinced. Print books are much more expensive to create – right up front. You need a spine and a back cover – which you don’t need with an e-book. The interior formatting is much trickier. And then, of course, there’s all the paper and the printing and the physical delivery. They cost more.

I fundamentally believe e-books are not just paperback books delivered a different way. They’re a different product and people buy them differently and, in my opinion, they should be priced on their own merits – not tied to the print price. I think people value e- and print books differently – not even necessarily “more” or “less” but not the same.

The Appaloosa Summer e-book will be priced at $2.99 – at least to start. I think that’s fair. I feel good about that price. I feel like I’m definitely giving readers a good deal. And I still get a very fair royalty payment on that price.

The print book will be $9.99, which I also think is fair.

I think both prices are respectful of my readers, and both allow me to make royalties that I consider fair.

But that’s my opinion – I said I wanted yours. How do you approach e-book pricing / buying? What’s the most you’d pay for an e-book? Should e-book prices be higher? Lower? Do you value books less if you pay less for them?

Lay it on me – I’m really interested!