Apple Is Keeping Options Open For Ebook Pricing
February 19th, 2010
Despite all the doom and gloom predictions of Apple massively raising the prices of ebooks (which publishers are happy about), sources close to the New York Times think Cupertino is keeping some pricing tricks up its sleeves.
Where Amazon charges $9.99 for ebooks, Apple is looking at $12.99 to $14.99 for new releases. However, according to NYT’s sources, Apple kept fine print in the negotiations that forces publishers to discount bestsellers, which means the $14.99 price is a ceiling, and prices could dip as low as Amazon’s. They continue:
“Moreover, for books where publishers offer comparable hardcover editions at a price below the typical $26, Apple wanted e-book prices to reflect the cheaper hardcover prices. These books might be priced much lower than $12.99, even if they did not hit the best-seller list.”
By keeping a lower price option on the books, Apple is able to please both customers who want to pay less for prominent titles, and publishers who want a greater share of the profits.
If you’re looking forward to being able to read books on the iPad, why not check out our contest to win one in April?
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