Normally a physical book guy...

[indychris]

...but went to look at a new release that is available as a hard cover and an e-book. Thought maybe I'd opt for the electronic version since I could read it immediately, though I could have it today at Sam's Club or two days free shipping with A-Prime.

How is it that a new Hard Cover can be had for less than an e-book on both Apple Books and Kindle???

Makes absolutely no sense to me. Is this normal with new releases?

 

[MarkC426]

I may be wrong, but I think digital books have tax on them but physical books do not.
Go figure.....
It is crazy since a book needs manufacture/printing etc, a digital book is just saved and copied.

 

[BigMcGuire]

...but went to look at a new release that is available as a hard cover and an e-book. Thought maybe I'd opt for the electronic version since I could read it immediately, though I could have it today at Sam's Club or two days free shipping with A-Prime.

How is it that a new Hard Cover can be had for less than an e-book on both Apple Books and Kindle???

Makes absolutely no sense to me. Is this normal with new releases?

This is becoming the norm. All the prices are the same now - they have to be - because of that lawsuit from the authors.

I'm a huge ebook reader - or ... used to be. I loved them back in the day when you could get them for $2.99-$5.99 each. Then, of course, that changed, and now... often times, you can get the physical book for cheaper than the ebook.

I would love to support authors but when a hardcover is $24.99 and the ebook is $34 something... sorry, no can do. I only buy ebooks $14.99 and under.

These price increases have ... pushed me towards my library and finding used books at garage sales. I rarely buy new books anymore.

That said, the older I'm getting the more I value a good book.

 

[chscag]

I agree. I no longer order eBooks for the Kindle (Amazon) since their prices are as high or higher than retail. Just today I ordered a hard cover book for $5.00 less than what it would have cost me from Amazon for the Kindle. And the nice thing about a hard cover book is you can always pass it on to a friend or family member after you've read it.

 

[Tajhad]

Not quite sure this is the case in Australia. Digital is always available immediately. Paper copy is generally dearer and a wait.

 

[rhett7660]

I try not to buy a book when it is first released, mainly for the reason you pointed out, price. With the price of eBooks going up and as you mentioned, sometimes eclipsing the physical book, it is hard to justify buying an eBook at those prices. I have found, if I wait a little bit, I can usually get them on sale or they start to discount/drop the price of them.

I love my kindle, love it, but I have bought a few physical books.