Rupert Murdoch: Amazon now 'willing to renegotiate' e-book prices
By Ross Miller 
posted February 2nd 2010 6:52PM
posted February 2nd 2010 6:52PM
You didn't think the price hike would stop at Macmillan, did you? In today's News Corp. earnings call, chairman Rupert Murdoch gave indication that his HarperCollins would also soon be changing its e-book prices with Amazon. As relayed by All Things D, the mogul has been unhappy with the $9.99 tier, that Apple's iBookstore "does allow some flexibility and higher prices," and here's the kicker: "And now Amazon is willing to sit down with us again and renegotiate." Nothing's changed yet, but we gotta imagine it's only a matter of time -- not just with HarperCollins, but probably all "big six" publishers before too long.
This has the power to kill my interest in diving into e-Books. I was on the fence. If prices go variable..aka UP..then I'll stick to paperbacks. Take that Murdorch! I'm sure you will miss my $10 per book from your pocket. ;)
competition is usually good but apparently not this time. competition usually leads to lower prices and better deals but in this case, Apple came to the game with promise of higher prices to appease and attract publishers and force amazon to follow suit.
if nothing else. i wasn't personally willing to pay kindle's current ebook prices since it didn't give me the same flexibility that i'd have when owning a physical book. e.g. can't lend book, can't resell it, can't transfer between different ereaders, or just happily displaying it in your library.. etc
you don't really "own" books with the current way ebooks are being handled. increasing the price even further just means that i will continue to buy physical books for my reading pleasure.
sorry trees.