Book Business e-Book Statistics and Trends: Pricing Best Sellers

I'd Like You Better if You Were 'Rich'

Of 100-plus mobile device owners (e-readers, smartphones, tablets) who participated in a recent survey by multimedia e-books creator and distributor Cathedral Rock Publishing, 77% said music would be a "desirable addition" to an e-book; 19% favored "other types of audio"; and 56% would like video in e-books. Fifty-eight percent were "in favor of color graphics."

The big finding, however, seems to be that 100% of respondents said they would pay more for e-books with multimedia content. For example, for a $4 non-enhanced e-book, respondents said, if the book contained enhanced/rich media, they:

• would pay more than $10 (10%) • would pay $10 (16%)

• would pay $8 (25%) • would pay $6 (40%)

Fifteen percent of respondents have never downloaded an e-book: 1/3 of those prefer the feel of print books; 2/3 said their smartphones/devices' screen is too small for comfortable e-book reading.

The Price Is Right

With concerns over Amazon's discount e-book pricing, and questions arising (and a lawsuit) about Agency Model pricing, Book Business examined the 10 best-selling e-books lists during mid August to get a sense of what prices seemed to be "right" for trade consumers.

Overall, 17 of the 29 top-sellers sold for $9.99 or more. (Just three of those were priced at $9.99; the rest were priced higher. Several titles appeared on more than one list, but were counted just once for the price count.) Amazon  had the lowest prices, with just two books on its list priced above $9.99.

BARNES AND NOBLE

1. "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett $9.99

2. "Love Will Find A Way" by Barbara Freethy $3.99

3. "A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard $11.99

4. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series, #1) $4.69

5. "Retribution" by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark-Hunter Series #20) $12.99

6. "Now You See Her" by James Patterson $12.99

7. "Waiting for Nick" by Nora Roberts $5.38

8. "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games Series, #2) $7.70

9. "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collis   (The Hunger Games Series, #3) $7.14

10. "Mile 81" by Stephen King $2.99

AMAZON