Why are ebooks sometimes cheaper than paperbacks?

[Whatthefluff]

Like I get that cloud offers a chance to access an ebook through multiple devices. But physical labor and materials go into physical copies.
I have prime, right? So I see this book that's $10 for a print copy and $13 for am ebook. Because I have free shipping due to prime, that's likely built into the price of that $10 so that's no worry either.
Why are some of these ebooks more or equally as expensive as the physical copy? The only times I buy ebooks are when they are on that $5 or under deal! I'm not willing to spend more than a few bucks on a digital version.
Are they just hoping people don't notice?

[The_Shadow_Dweller]

Just pirate the book.
I legally pirate the e-books from Amazon.

I pay for them, then I download them (I can as I have the e-reader) and then return them. Getting my money back.

Now, on my laptop, I remove the DRM from the books with a software.
I save it on the cloud, both epub and pdf versions and then send the officially download version to my kindle e-reader.

At the end, I have the same books in multiple formats and I did not even pay for it!

Works every time, because, I use this method very occasionally. Like 2 or 3 times in one year. Not that much to be honest.

I read from the prime reading catalog most of the times.

[Whatthefluff]

I usually just borrow ebooks from my library's Overdrive 👍

[AviatorTom]

The cost of producing and delivering an ebook is less than a paperback, no need for the publisher to buy paper, print a large number of books, take space in a warehouse, and deliver them to the bookseller, compared to an ebook that the publisher only needs to keep one electronic copy on a server somewhere.

With a lower cost, an ebook can be sold at a lower price than a paperback.

But remember that the price is determined by demand, not cost, which means a publisher can sell an ebook for more than its paperback and make a larger profit on the sale.

[Texasgal95]

I would assume it has to do with what they print the books on you gotta get the paper and then the cover and all the ink that’s all I can think of is the cost of producing a paperback book

[MzAsh]

You’re paying for the authors work, not just the physical copy. I don’t think ebooks should ever be any more than 10% off the physical copy.

[WindAtMyBack]

Because you are not paying for the book itself. You are paying for the intellectual property.

It's the same as software or any other IP. The expense is in creating the IP. An author spends a year or two writing a book. That is what you are paying for, not the physical book.

If an ebook happens to more more expensive than a physical copy, that is pure supply and demand.

[hahahmm]

Because in capitalism people attempt to make a profit. The prices are not limited to 'at cost' but reflect the demand from buyers. Thus books that are considered valuable by potential buyers tend to have a higher price than books that are not. This would also extend to the type/format of the book. It's the same reason why if you wanted to buy a decorative item.. and everybody on earth wanted the red colored one & nobody wanted the blue one, the red one will have a higher price than the other.

[hahahmm]

That said, I'd never buy an ebook. There's been times where Amazon took back ebooks off of people's devices after the sell. There's also been cases where a company like Apple refused to let people sell/trade e-copies they paid for. They couldn't even give them to close family members.. even if it meant just using Apple to transfer ownership so there'd be only 1 copy anywhere. These companies use digital media to get more benefits for themselves *not* for you. If you want to buy physical books, go for hard cover, used but in mint condition. Cost way less & lasts forever. I know, you probably didn't grow up around books so that may seem strange to you.

[HighValue]

They are probably hoping people don't notice. eBooks cost less for the company because they just let multiple download from the same file and nothing physical is produced, plus nothing needs to be shipped. There is no legitimate reason for an eBook to cost more than a physical copy.

[Paul_in_Indy]

You are not able to imagine any reason? Off the top of my head, I can think of, at least, six. Some are unlikely—but it’s easy to imagine some reasons,

[Paul_in_Indy]

-An ebook always has a fixed delivery cost; for each copy sold. No one will give you free bandwidth. There is a real cost to delivery. If you’ve sold a Kindle book, it can be surprising what the delivery cost is. A physical book might already exist in your stock with the freight cost written down.
-The formatting of the ebook can (drastically) affect the delivery cost of an ebook. The factors that increase this cost are different from the factors that increase printing costs. So some ebooks may have higher fixed costs than the print version.
-If you allow purchasers to re-download the ebook at a later date, then the expenses related to the book are not fixed, and you have to account for that.
-If you provide hosting for save bookmarks, highlights, notes, etc on your cloud server, then you have a continuing upkeep cost.
-If the book does not have a native electronic form, then the publisher or the ebook seller will have to convert the text to the new format. Those are costs that might be long-since written down for the print version.
-If the paper book is in the public domain, then the author is not due royalties. If it was modified for electronic distribution, then the editor may be due royalties; an expense specific to the ebook.
-The paper version of the book may have been subsidized (by a government agency, a religious group, an advocacy foundation, etc). The electronic version may not benefit from that subsidy.
-There may be extra interactive features included in the electronic version which are not possible to incorporate into a print book.
-The printed book may have been overrun. Rows of gaylord containers full of the paperbacks might be filling up a warehouse.
…and a little imagination would conjure additional possibilities.

It’s, also, quite easy to think of reasons why an electronic version might be cheaper than a print version. —but that’s a separate exercise. One does not interfere with the other.

[Massageman]

You seem to have one question in the heading and another in the text.
Ebooks are cheaper because, as you say, there is A MATERIAL cost in creating hard copies. An ebook costs far less- create a file, add someone's name to a list - boom = access to book. Amazon WILL shift the price point around- a LOT. High price ebook, 99¢ one day sale ebook, and everything in between. My daughter found this out when she self-published via Amazon.

[Paul_in_Indy]

The text of that question seems to be at odds with the title of the post. I clicked her thinking I was answering a different prompt.

[Paul_in_Indy]

The $10 book vs the $13 book: Is the same person selling both? The prices may be different because of different sellers. Bear in mind that a physical book takes up space and will have to be cleared out if it doesn’t sell. A seller might mark down the price just to move the stock. An ebook doesn’t give you that clearance sale motivation.

I will say that I find value in an ebook. I’m willing to pay more than $5 to have a copy that lives on multiple devices; synching my bookmark and notes.

I’m not ready to give up physical books, yet, though.

[DJB72]

Some E-book deals have extra content. I have an ebook of The Hobbit that includes interviews recorded with JRR Tolkien as audio singing the songs he wrote. If you're into the extras it's worth it

[Danny_dan92]

Cause materials and using them to create things costs money.


Putting together a book digitally vs physically is a less laborious process thus costs less

[crossdressingrihno]

It costs less to make and is significantly easier to make a profit of of than a physical copy

[TheSpaceGnome]

Why even buy ebooks? Books don't need internet to function, why add an extra point of failure to a product?

[ChefPapiChulo]

they prob take storage somewhere and they're trying to get rid of them. but i've always seen it the other way and dont think i've ever seen a paperback cheaper. they could also be used.

[exitseven]

That is a good question. It makes no sense to me either.

[Wild_princess]

Ebooks can be cheap but the chills and feels that paperback give is unparalleled😍

[roy_ricky09]

True.

follow on Instagram if you like reading

https://www.instagram.com/ardentbiblio_roy

[Jamesshinobi]

because ebooks dont cost anything to make and they can sell issues forever. bools have costs associated with creation. large costs.

[Avadarling]

Faster transaction and no shipping. I’m not sure though. I like a real book in front of me

[OddBeMe]

Yeah, i get you. But its supply and demand stuff. Like why is a newly released movie $20 on amazon? Same thing.

[Brandi555]

I could understand why an ebook is less expensive then a regular book, but why would they both be the same price?

[roy_ricky09]

follow on Instagram if you like reading

https://www. instagram. com/ardentbiblio_roy

[jahaims]

You don't have to physically make or transport the ebook

[Zolly99999]

It's just a cash grab.. ebooks should be pennies...

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Same reason why youtube videos are "cheaper" than watching a live performance