Price Discipline -- How we doing?

[ElaineOK]

During the Amazon/McMillan flap a while back a lot of us swore to never (or almost never) buy an ebook for more than $9.99.  I thought I would see how we are doing.

I went to the Kindle Bestsellers list and counted based on price:

$0 -- 51
Less than $9 -- 22
$9 - $9.99 -- 24
More than $9.99 -- 3

Sure, the freebies are there in droves, but 49 of the bestsellers are being paid for; and only 3 of those are more than $9.99.  Looks like maybe Amazon knew a thing or two about Kindlers' buying habits.

Elaine
Norman, OK

[Leslie]

A friend at work has been raving about That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo for a few weeks now, so today I decided to look at it. Although the blurb is good, the Kindle book is $14.27 and the paperback is $10.20. I said to myself, "Nope, not even downloading the sample."

This is the first time I have actually been this swayed by price.

L

[Sugar]

I still haven't paid $9.99 for a book,the highest I've paid has been $5.
My absolute price point max is $9.99 and I will not go beyond that no matter what.
Consumers really are who will truly set the price of books, irregardless of what publishers may think.

[planet_janet]

I won't pay more than $9.99 for Kindle books.  No way.  If there's something I want to read that's more expensive than $9.99, I'll get it from the library.

[Leslie]

I paid ~$15 for Janis Ian's autobiography which now, after two years, is down to $9.99. But I wanted to read it and for me, it was worth it. But that is the only book I've paid over $10 for and the vast majority of books I buy are $7 or less.

L

[hsuthard]

Well, I just got my Kindle in January, but I haven't paid more than $9.99 for anything. I've bought two $9.99 three-book bundles, and two $9.99 bestsellers. The rest have all been much lower priced, and I've got a huge to-be-read list.

[Boston]

I'm behaving but it isn't much fun.

My mother was surprised to get her first shipment of books from me since we both got our kindles. 

Told her that I ended up buying them in paper because the Kindle prices were higher 

[ElaineOK]

I paid more than $9.99 once, but it was for work and buying it on paper would have been about $45.  The kindle version was $15.  I thought that was justifiable.  

Elaine
Norman, OK

[pomlover2586]

I've never purchased a Kindle book over 9.99 and I never will! LOL

[Addie]

I've been good so far. I haven't bought anything over $9.99. Any book I want that is over that price I just put on my Jungle Search Price Drop List and wait. Although, I have to say I'm far more adamant about not buying ebooks priced higher than mmpb.

I really wanted to get The Wilderness Warrior, but it's $19.24. I know it's a super thick book, which I guess justifies a higher price, but the mmpb is $13.49! What really annoys me is that I know it was at $9.99 a while back, but I didn't buy it and just put it on a list to buy later because I wasn't really in the mood to read it. Now that I am in the mood, the price has doubled. Serves me right, I suppose. Although, I have so many books already bought that I need to read.
When I eventually get through a good chunk of the ones I have, I might go back and see where the price is and how I'm feeling.

I did nearly break down the other day and buy a book priced at $14.82. From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time was featured on The Colbert Report, and I love those types of books. The hardcover is only $3 more. I almost bought it, but I think I'll actually just buy the hardcover. And it's not because I think the ebook price is outrageous (although, I do think it could be priced a little lower), but it's because I like having this genre in a physical format.

All that said, if there is a book that I feel I have to read right this minute, there's a good chance I'll pay a higher price (assuming the mmpb isn't lower priced, of course), but there aren't that many books I feel that way about.

[ellenoc]

I haven't paid over $9.99 for any Kindle fiction book.  I did pay more than that for 2 non-fiction books last year, but wouldn't do it again on principle.  Since I've had my Kindle I haven't bought any paper book and don't expect to from here on out.  Books that aren't available for the Kindle and books that are overpriced are ones I get from the library.

[911jason]

My general price limit is $9.99... I made an exception in January for my favorite author's new release at $14 because that's what I would have paid for the hardcover at Costco. I will NEVER pay more than that price for any book though, and will only rarely exceed my $10 limit.

[TheSeagull]

See I will easily pay more than $9.99 for an ebook, maybe it's because of exchange rates but in the UK I'd be shocked to see a new book have a list price of what is £6.63 over here.

[RiddleMeThis]

Since I have bought my Kindle in August, the only book I have paid more than $10 is Karen Marie Monings "Dreamfever" and would gladly do so again. But it is VERY rare that I will buy anything over $9.99. I am also not buying another book at $9.99 because I feel that is too expensive for what amounts to be just a novella.

[MAGreen]

I did pay over $9.99, but it was a trilogy, so I don't think that counts!
I usually pay less than $7. I have books that I watch for price drops and if they come down, I grab them. I have several that I have gotten very cheap or free because I waited! Eventually I wil have all of them!!! At least the ones I want...although my list just keeps growing...

[Carol Collett]

I have not paid more than $9.99 for any ebook yet. I've put several that are more than that on my Wish List. When I got my Kindle I made a decision not to pay more than $9.99. Not because I think ebooks are worth less, just because I have a huge book habit and I have to have some boundaries to reign it in.  In fact, I think I've paid $9.99 maybe twice. I have a title on my Wish List right now that is $9.99 that if it doesn't come down in a week, I'll go ahead and buy.

[jaspertyler]

The only books I have paid more than 9.99 for are professional books. 

[Ron]

I hope to retire in the next couple of years and am trying to tighten my budget.  I have many books that I purchased for $9.99 but have never paid more than that. In the past few months I have averaged less than $5.00 a book and have been very happy with these purchases.

I do believe that we can hurt the publishers more than they can hurt us. Ther are a number of books available that I would purchase if they were $9.99, but I will happily make do without these until they are reduced in price.

[Lionspaw]

I still haven't paid $9.99 for a book,the highest I've paid has been $5.
My absolute price point max is $9.99 and I will not go beyond that no matter what.
Consumers really are who will truly set the price of books, irregardless of what publishers may think.

Same as above.  I enjoy reading on the Kindle, but I'm very frugal when it comes to the prices.  I love local used book stores and have a great public library, so sometimes I read on the K and sometimes I read books.  Works fine for me.

[Andra]

I don't hold the $9.99 price as a total deal-breaker.  For me, the Kindle version must be less than the current print run of the book.  And I will not go out and purchase the print book if there is no Kindle version - I'll get it from the library.  I want those publishers to know that holding the electronic versions is not going to give them more print sales.
This means that I will be facing an interesting dilemma next month.  Both Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark will have new books out and right now, there is still no indication of a Kindle version being available.  Last year, I had already pre-ordered the K versions.  These are two of my instant-read authors and it's going to be hard not to purchase the print books if I get on a long waiting list at the library.

[Prazzie]

I've only bought Kindle books above $9.99.  For us international Kindlers, the $9.99 bestsellers cost $11.99.  My last three purchases cost me $11.99, $11.99 and $16.30.  It's still cheaper and more convenient than buying books from the bookstore.

[drenee]

I have only bought two books at $9.99 in almost a year and a half. 
Since the MacMillan fiasco I have not bought any MacMillan authors.
I made a list of the books I had on my shopping list and I went to
Half-Price books a couple of weeks ago.  I found two hardbacks for
$4.00 each. 
I've been tempted this week to buy a Janet Evanovich e-boo,  The K price is
only $1.00 more than the paperback, but since she is a MacMillan author I think
I'll be getting this one at the library.
deb

[Jo]

The most I have paid is $9.99 and that was for a bundle. My range seems to be $5-$7. Lately I have been reading an authors back list books and they have only been in the $3-$4 range. I think in the long run Kindle owners buying habits will speak loud and clear and the prices will come down.

[Lynn2010]

I paid $7.96 for a Kindle book yesterday which is the most expensive one I've bought in the slightly over 2 months I've had my Kindle.

I also bought several paperbacks this week from a local store.  I'll use the Kindle when the books are reasonable and hit the used book store when they are not.

Under no circumstances will I pay as much for a Kindle book as Amazon is charging for a paperback or hardback.

[Flechette]

I don't hold the $9.99 price as a total deal-breaker.  For me, the Kindle version must be less than the current print run of the book.  And I will not go out and purchase the print book if there is no Kindle version - I'll get it from the library.  I want those publishers to know that holding the electronic versions is not going to give them more print sales.
This means that I will be facing an interesting dilemma next month.  Both Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark will have new books out and right now, there is still no indication of a Kindle version being available.  Last year, I had already pre-ordered the K versions.  These are two of my instant-read authors and it's going to be hard not to purchase the print books if I get on a long waiting list at the library.

Pretty much where I am ^ tho I have a cut off of $11.99 for must read,  unless I get over-riden by hubby as in Jim Bucher has one coming out and it's $12.61--- that's close enough..

lol strangely enough that doesn't work on him when I try it---  still we both read Jim Butcher so I justify it as one of us saving money for not buying a book ;-}

The next House of Night book is due out later this year-- until very recently it was the same price ebook and print versions $8.50 -- yesterday the print version jumped to $9.71 soo mixed feeling on this one - love the series, is under $9.99, but is MacMillian (I think)  and print price close if not the same depending on the time of day