Comments on: Options in the Price War Over Books http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html CEO, Thomas Nelson Publishers Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:27:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Article Roundup « Combined Subjects http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-46558 Article Roundup « Combined Subjects Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:46:31 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-46558 [...] Options in the Price War Over Books [...] [...] Options in the Price War Over Books [...]

]]> By: Bade Adesemowo http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-39887 Bade Adesemowo Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:12:54 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-39887 I'm only a consumer myself.... even though the advent of low prices is very tempting ... i think the end result as you've pointed out would be disastrous... isnt there some sort of mid point. I'm only a consumer myself…. even though the advent of low prices is very tempting … i think the end result as you've pointed out would be disastrous… isnt there some sort of mid point.

]]> By: Why Don’t I Just Quit Writing? « Write with Excellence http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-39402 Why Don’t I Just Quit Writing? « Write with Excellence Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:26:24 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-39402 [...] One announces a price of no higher than 9.99. Another answers back they’ll do better at 8.99. Publishers and agents are predictably in a dither and asking whither.  As a very small writer fish in [...] [...] One announces a price of no higher than 9.99. Another answers back they’ll do better at 8.99. Publishers and agents are predictably in a dither and asking whither.  As a very small writer fish in [...]

]]> By: Keep Calm and Carry On? | The Casual Optimist http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-39131 Keep Calm and Carry On? | The Casual Optimist Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:31:49 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-39131 [...] CEO of Thomas Nelson, is on to something when he suggests that the strategy behind the price war is actually damaging for everyone — publishers, authors, booksellers, mass retailers, and consumers (although Dennis Johnson [...] [...] CEO of Thomas Nelson, is on to something when he suggests that the strategy behind the price war is actually damaging for everyone — publishers, authors, booksellers, mass retailers, and consumers (although Dennis Johnson [...]

]]> By: Babu http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38707 Babu Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:16:39 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38707 Dont you think Amazon's pricing of Ebook vs physical books is very similar to the physical CD vs MP3 music war.. May be authors / publishers would be willing to sell individual chapters / books via online stores or be willing to rent books to people just like renting a movie via iTunes ? Dont you think Amazon's pricing of Ebook vs physical books is very similar to the physical CD vs MP3 music war.. May be authors / publishers would be willing to sell individual chapters / books via online stores or be willing to rent books to people just like renting a movie via iTunes ?

]]> By: @doycet http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38701 @doycet Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:42:27 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38701 The best sellers of future will self-publish to e-formats (and pod for folks who need a dead tree copy for whatever reason), and we won't have to deal with pricing purposely inflated to support a publishing industry we no longer need, just to share our stories with our readers. The best sellers of future will self-publish to e-formats (and pod for folks who need a dead tree copy for whatever reason), and we won't have to deal with pricing purposely inflated to support a publishing industry we no longer need, just to share our stories with our readers.

]]> By: Derek http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38695 Derek Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:26:38 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38695 <i>What do you think should be done about these current price wars?</i> Retailers selling products at less than cost is clearly an anomaly that needs to be corrected. I don't know about you, but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of content out there. Not just half a million new books every year, but blogs and websites, too. Classical economics tells us that when supply exceeds demand, prices will eventually fall to create a new equilibrium. I think we're just seeing the beginning of that. What do you think should be done about these current price wars?

Retailers selling products at less than cost is clearly an anomaly that needs to be corrected.

I don't know about you, but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of content out there. Not just half a million new books every year, but blogs and websites, too.

Classical economics tells us that when supply exceeds demand, prices will eventually fall to create a new equilibrium.

I think we're just seeing the beginning of that.

]]> By: Andrea http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38649 Andrea Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:45:55 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38649 I'd suggest an appropriate price for an ebook is the paperback price minus the cost of producing a paperback book. There's no reason to charge the consumer for paper not printed. I’d suggest an appropriate price for an ebook is the paperback price minus the cost of producing a paperback book. There’s no reason to charge the consumer for paper not printed.

]]> By: patriciazell http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38637 patriciazell Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:28:38 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38637 Perhaps publishers should work with Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. to do more promotion. Let me explain my reasoning: if you sell 100 books @ $2 profit each, you make $200, but if you sell 1000 @ $1 profit, you make $1000. I think the answer is not in the percentage of profit, but in the number of books you sell. I live in a small town and do most of my shopping at Wal-Mart. I buy books there, too. Rarely, do I go to the big cities with their bookstores (we have one true book/gift store--its prices are way too high). With time and economic issues, I don't see more frequent bookstore visits in my future. I appreciate the book section in Wal-Mart because it fits into my life. Why don't you publishers use the changing circumstances to promote and sell more copies of your books? Work out deals with the "big box" entities in order to increase your numbers. Remember, you have the products these guys need to have access to in order to stay in business. Perhaps publishers should work with Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. to do more promotion. Let me explain my reasoning: if you sell 100 books @ $2 profit each, you make $200, but if you sell 1000 @ $1 profit, you make $1000. I think the answer is not in the percentage of profit, but in the number of books you sell.

I live in a small town and do most of my shopping at Wal-Mart. I buy books there, too. Rarely, do I go to the big cities with their bookstores (we have one true book/gift store–its prices are way too high). With time and economic issues, I don't see more frequent bookstore visits in my future. I appreciate the book section in Wal-Mart because it fits into my life.

Why don't you publishers use the changing circumstances to promote and sell more copies of your books? Work out deals with the "big box" entities in order to increase your numbers. Remember, you have the products these guys need to have access to in order to stay in business.

]]> By: Paul Mikos http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html/comment-page-2#comment-38583 Paul Mikos Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:35:41 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/10/my-response-to-the-current-price-war-over-books.html#comment-38583 I guess time will tell, Mike, whether the market forces are real or artficial. I thought the same thing last year, before the mass market players and B&N (with ebooks) got on Amazon's $9.99 bandwagon. One thing is for sure, the "loss leader" game is not a sustainable price strategy for the current publishing business model. My instincts tell me $.99 and $9.99 are the two most important price points of the future, and I'm looking forward to seeing what innovations emerge from the growing adoption of technology and pressure of the current market conditions--real or artificial, temporary or permanent. I guess time will tell, Mike, whether the market forces are real or artficial. I thought the same thing last year, before the mass market players and B&N (with ebooks) got on Amazon’s $9.99 bandwagon. One thing is for sure, the “loss leader” game is not a sustainable price strategy for the current publishing business model. My instincts tell me $.99 and $9.99 are the two most important price points of the future, and I’m looking forward to seeing what innovations emerge from the growing adoption of technology and pressure of the current market conditions–real or artificial, temporary or permanent.

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