Do you think books cost too much?

Contributor: kawigrl kawigrl
sometimes I just look at the price of a book and think really $25 for a story, yes I want to read it but more than likely it will be at my library for free
06/24/2012
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Contributor: PassionateLover2 PassionateLover2
Quote:
Originally posted by kawigrl
sometimes I just look at the price of a book and think really $25 for a story, yes I want to read it but more than likely it will be at my library for free
For a book to appear in your local library may be true, but I think the price depends upon the type of book. In addition, the new e-book technology appearing our society today may be contributing to the rising cost of printed books. I usually wait until the books are at 30% to 50% discounted at such stores as COSTCO. IF you really want a hard-copy of a favorite book, I usually buy it either in paperback or at 'half-price' bookstores!
06/24/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
One of the main reason they cost so much is because of second-hand stores. They have to raise the prices to cover all those lost sales.
06/24/2012
Contributor: MistressDandelion MistressDandelion
Yes. I do think books (and knowledge) should be free, and when you're done reading them, you should just return them to a sort of shelter. And if you want to own them in your own personnal library, then you should pay.
06/24/2012
Contributor: EvilHomer EvilHomer
Not when I put it into the context of what several hundred pages of paper would cost me, plus the ink to print on it, then you think of paying the author and publisher and the prices don't seem that outrageous.
06/24/2012
Contributor: asphyxia asphyxia
I do think books cost way too much. I honestly don't think it costs anywhere NEAR $25 per book to get them on the shelf, even AFTER considering all the overhead. And I don't know if you've looked at the price of paperbacks lately, but it's insane! Some of them are $14!

Same goes for textbooks. When textbook manufacturers produce the exact same versions of American textbooks with different covers, then sell them for 75% less to foreign countries, something is wrong. The gouging of American consumers is an epidemic, and it happens in other industries too (most notably, the pharmaceutical industry).

I'll stick to e-books, discount bookstores, and international versions of my textbooks.
06/24/2012
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
I never believed in the "Art and Entertainment Should Be Free" movement. It's taking advantage of talent and hard work, and expecting a quality product while paying nothing for it. It's the same as any other service and industry - the producer should be paid for their labor.
06/24/2012
Contributor: asphyxia asphyxia
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
I never believed in the "Art and Entertainment Should Be Free" movement. It's taking advantage of talent and hard work, and expecting a quality product while paying nothing for it. It's the same as any other service and industry - ... more
I agree with you whole-heartedly that authors, musicians, and other creators should absolutely be compensated for their creations. The problem is what the publishers, managers, and copyright owners do AFTER they've made oodles of money, AND the artists have been compensated. They continue sucking the content DRY and trying to make more and more money off popular media, instead of investing in bringing new and innovative material to the world. It's all about exploitation, and that's what I think is wrong.
06/24/2012
Contributor: WhoopieDoo WhoopieDoo
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
I never believed in the "Art and Entertainment Should Be Free" movement. It's taking advantage of talent and hard work, and expecting a quality product while paying nothing for it. It's the same as any other service and industry - ... more
Here, here. Beautifully said.
06/24/2012
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Quote:
Originally posted by asphyxia
I agree with you whole-heartedly that authors, musicians, and other creators should absolutely be compensated for their creations. The problem is what the publishers, managers, and copyright owners do AFTER they've made oodles of money, AND the ... more
Yes, the corporate exploitation is where the problem truly lies.
06/24/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
Yes Especially some e-books I have been looking at lately. You would think they would be cheaper because you're saving paper but I purchased 3 books this weekend that were cheaper to buy the physical book than the Kindle version.
06/25/2012
Contributor: ghalik ghalik
Not generally. Textbooks? HELL YES. I just spent $90 on a freaking paperback.
06/25/2012
Contributor: ghalik ghalik
Quote:
Originally posted by Chilipepper
I never believed in the "Art and Entertainment Should Be Free" movement. It's taking advantage of talent and hard work, and expecting a quality product while paying nothing for it. It's the same as any other service and industry - ... more
I agree with this. I takes a LOT of work, time, and effort from many people to write, edit, design, publish, market, and sell a book. All those people need to eat!
06/25/2012
Contributor: Dusk Dusk
In general I have no problem with the cost of books. E-books are still a bit expensive in my opinion though; painful to spend more on the electronic copy than a hardcopy.
06/25/2012
Contributor: hall5885 hall5885
I loved Half Priced Books but where I live now there isn't one and the only used book store here has endless amount of westerns and romance books which is not my kind of book. But I hate paying full price for most books cause like you said $25 is a lot. Thank goodness for the internet!
06/25/2012
Contributor: digit88 digit88
Quote:
Originally posted by kawigrl
sometimes I just look at the price of a book and think really $25 for a story, yes I want to read it but more than likely it will be at my library for free
books do cost too much especially school books for college.
06/25/2012
Contributor: pirkit pirkit
Some books cost to much, but for the most part I think the pricing is pretty reasonable. Everyone involved needs to be paid. I think textbooks are extremely overpriced though and I don't see why I should pay $200 for an 8th edition of a textbook when barely anything new is added.
06/25/2012
Contributor: HippieFeet HippieFeet
Sometimes but thats just because I'm broke
06/25/2012
Contributor: Mrs.Intensity Mrs.Intensity
Sometimes you can find really good deals online; but yes most books seem overpriced to me. I visit the library often
06/25/2012
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
I'll let you in on a little secret. It only costs us about $1 per book to publish. You add up all the author royalty, design, editing etc costs and divide it over your distribution amount for a print run. If it's over $1 a book, we cut back on design or something else. Some cost even less, like the trade paperbacks in drug stores that are cheaply printed on bad paper.
06/25/2012
Contributor: SimpleTeaser SimpleTeaser
The costs of books are crazy sometimes. I wait until they go on sale, clearance, or even the dollar stores before I buy any for anyone.
06/25/2012
Contributor: SimpleTeaser SimpleTeaser
I just thought of something. I did pay $40 for my sons yearbook this year. I told my kids that I'll only buy them 2 yearbooks. 1 in the 8th and 1 in 12th. He was in the 8th and I'm afraid to see how much the senior yearbooks will be!
06/25/2012
Contributor: kawigrl kawigrl
Quote:
Originally posted by ghalik
Not generally. Textbooks? HELL YES. I just spent $90 on a freaking paperback.
they just keep reprinting new editions with somewhat updated material mostly a total rip off
06/26/2012
Contributor: Apirka Apirka
I do think books do cost way too much, that's way I always by used.
06/26/2012
Contributor: nanamondoute nanamondoute
I think textbooks cost way too much...especially for students. $100s spent on books that may not even be read. *sigh*

As for books, I'm indifferent to the pricing. I just borrow from the library or get an e-version, which is usually quite cheap. But then again, I haven't really read that much recently, so I haven't need to buy any books.
06/26/2012
Contributor: Sinfully Sinfully
Yes, and no. I personally don't have money to squander on books but I do like supporting certain authors.
06/26/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I use bookswaps, because I can't afford new books.
08/05/2012
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
This is why I love Amazon. You almost never have to pay full cover price for the book. And their bargain books section is awesome.
08/05/2012
Contributor: bedorerc bedorerc
Sometimes, text books do cost way to much. There have been times that the books cost as much as the classes. Most regular books the price is pretty fair, if you wait for the paperbacks. Hard covers are way to exspesive for me.
08/05/2012