There’s a fascinating discussion going on over on the Between the Lines blog, written by Books & Such Literary Agency’s Janet Kobobel Grant. It pertains to the surge in e-readers and electronic books and how they are reshaping the way people read and how books are sold. In the comments section, several people have brought up the practice of offering free titles on Amazon (and others) in order to promote new authors or create buzz for new books in a series. Will this create an atmosphere where people believe that e-books should always be free and where books (and authors) have no real monetary value?
Just two nights ago, I was sitting at my computer looking at book titles on Amazon. I have downloaded many “freebies” (and promoted many of the great deals here and via facebook), but I had yet to purchase any titles for my new kindle. I was ready to make the plunge. My kids and I had been reading out-loud from Erin Hunter’s Warrior books and were ready for the next book in the series, Omen of the Stars: The Fourth Apprentice. I went to Amazon. The kindle price was $5.99. The paperback price was $6.99. Get this–the hardcover prices was $6.80. It was less than a dollar difference between the e-book and the hardcover. Was there an advantage to having the kindle version? Well, it would be delievered in a split-second. It wouldn’t take up more space on a bookshelf. I decided to leave it up to my kids and surprisingly, they opted for the hardback. They could then read it in bed (because Mom frowns on having her kindle disappear into their messy rooms) and they could loan it to their friends.
So, if there isn’t a huge discount for e-books, why are we using them? Is the convenience factor enough to make them worth purchasing?
I had a strange feeling of deja vu when I was staring at the Amazon screen. It took me back just a few years when I was staring at iTunes, struggling with the same decisions. Why don’t I just buy the cd? I could load it to other people. I could give it away. Sell it on EBay. I could have it in my hand and enjoy the cover art. What if my computer crashes and I lose all my songs? How much memory will this eat up on my computer?
Several years have passed and I no longer ask those questions about digital music. When I want to buy a song, I just go and click it. In fact, a friend was telling me about this great song and that she’d have to loan me the cd. I found myself saying, “Just tell me the title and I’ll grab it off iTunes.”
What changed?
Not much. I had time to ease into the idea of digital music and now I’d never go back.
Will this happen with e-books? I think it probably will. I cringe when I think of the impact on libraries and bookstores, and yet I love reading on my new Kindle for many reasons. The freebies being offered on Amazon and other providers are getting us accustomed to reading e-books. Will it make us expect that all books will be free? I doubt it. It reminds me of reading stories of drug dealers offering potential clients free samples in order to get them hooked. The new addicts would soon return, cash in hand.
So, excuse me… but I’m heading off to Amazon. I need to feed my book habit.
The worst temptation for the Kindle addict is the 1-Click purchase button from Amazon. Brilliant marketing to make that happen.
Typically when I go on trips, I take about 20 books with me out of fear that I’ll want to read something in the moment that I don’t have. No more.
There is some advantage of being able to page through a book (i.e. a Bible). I think for illustration heavy books there will be an advantage. But other than that, a printed book is looking like an 8-Track tape to me.
I like your apt comparison of e-book readers to downloading digital music. I don’t own a Kindle yet, but it’s on my must-buy list. I still have to read the stack of 15 books sitting next to my bed!