Maybe I’ve been under a rock lately, but I was floored to see that the book (that I already pre-ordered for my Kindle) is no longer available! Apparently Penguin and Amazon can’t reach an agreement on eBook pricing leading to no new Penguin books in Kindle format being released as of April 1.
The hardback version of Dead in the Family is only $9.99 if you pre-order is right now… however the eBook version (that is still showing up in my Open Orders…) was $10.80. I gotta say that I will not be pleased if I’m charged more for a digital copy of a book than what the hardback costs. (Which reminds me… have you read Jennifer’s Were We Actually Promised Cheap eBooks? post because you should!).
UPDATE 04.28.10
I received an email from Amazon letting me know that my pre-ordered Kindle version of Dead in the Family was canceled and is not set to release on May 4th. I have reserved a hardback at my local B&N and I’m not too happy with how all this is working out (although I would probably have wanted the paperback for my shelf at some point, I was not planning on buying the hardback).
Have you heard anything about this?
I hope it is resolved before May 4!!
Makes me not want to buy a Kindle
@ Monica : I think I’m equally mad at Penguin for wanting higher eBook prices and Amazon for pulling all the Kindle versions while they fight about it :/
I’m not sure if Amazon/Kindle is the only ones having issues with this or not. The book is available for the Nook/B&N (for a higher price : $12.99).
Making the eBook unavailable for Kindle is going to be a major profit loss for both sides. With a huge series like that, the instant gratification of eBooks influences many to impulse buy as opposed to wait to borrow from the library. If they have to wait for the eBook, they might as well wait for their library hold.
eBook prices v. print is all over the place. It’s gotten to the point I don’t even care what they decide as long as it makes some sort of sense. Anything that could be explained in a rational fashion. eBooks cost x to format and y goes to publishers, authors, etc. so they have to cost z% of print books cost. Is that so much to ask?
Thanks for linking! I’m glad you liked the post.
@ Jennifer : I agree! I don’t understand the holding back of books. I’m tempted to just pick it up from a local shop instead of ordering it online.
I thought I had read somewhere that they want it to be x% of the hardback cost? Which to me doesn’t make sense. I agree with you that it should all be based on how much it costs them to produce the eBook. I think this has only become an issue now because the iPad and Apple agree to charge more :/
I totally agree with you: why should we pay more for an eBook? I am getting really frustrated, and am going to go back to buying bound books if this is the case. I’d much rather OWN a physical book for the prices I am paying. I read Jennifer’s post, and yeah, we were never told they would be “cheaper” by why in the world are they MORE expensive?! An eBook surely has to cost significantly LESS for a publisher to put out considering there is no printing to be done…
The book market is becoming a very lucrative business it seems.
@ Sarah : I really dislike the idea of paying more for an eBook. I love the convenience of all my books on my Kindle with me wherever I go, but it still seems odd to charge so much for something that doesn’t cost that much to produce.
I wonder if they are trying to make up for pirated books?
I really appreciated Jen’s post about cheaper e-books. It’s all a big mess and it make me
This affected Lover Mine too (which I went ahead and bought on Hardback). I am hoping this is fixed before the release date but I have to say I am not banking on it
I really think the agency pricing is screwing with it all and while I side with Amazon, I think they are going to have to give in
Which in the long run is bad for the end user 
@ Felicia : Urgh I heard that. I started that series, but haven’t had time to really get into it yet.
I agree that I’m with Amazon and I’m glad they are trying to stick up for their customers, but they will eventually probably have to back down in order to be able to sell their eBooks. I went and requested the Dead in the Family hardback from the local B&N today
It’s a shame that the author is going to lose so much business. I too own a kindle and if a book isn’t available on audible.com, I’d only get a kindle version. I will not buy a hardcover.
@ CAT : I feel sorry for the authors too. I wonder how many people will just wait until it comes to their library or worse download it illegally.
I think the 9.99 price on the hardcover is amazon’s way of appeasing buyers, after all that price means they will take a loss on every book they sell… I hope Penguin gets its act together and switches to the agency model like everybody else.
@ conor farrell : Is the agency model what they are trying to switch to? (I think that’s what it was…) It seems like that would raise the prices quite a bit for Kindle owners. I don’t mind paying as for the book and by all means they should make a profit, but I won’t pay more for an eBook than I would for a hardback :/
Imagine that: You don`t live in the US, like for exemple in my case Brazil. You don`t have the books avaiable anywhere! Not in paperback or hardcover. You don`t want to wait a month for it to be delivered! You want to read it now! So you buy a kindle thinking that your life is gonna be ok now! Finally! And than this. I`m just so angry. Think about the readers from outside US, we don`t have options!!!
@ Stefy : I would be FURIOUS! I actually don’t know that “furious” would quite contain how I would feel. I’m really sorry! Were you able to pre-order a hardcopy to be delivered at least?
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This sucks. I so much was looking forward to reading this tonight. I don’t own a kindle, but I read all of my books in some digital fashion. 25000 + books, and the one I want to read tonight isn’t friggen available, talk about a let down. Almost tempted to drive to walmart and pay 25 bucks just for the darn thing, and I hate hard cover books since I tend to loose the things.
@ Mark : It is available for some eReaders… so maybe you can still find it online somewhere… just not for the Kindle. I had to get it at B&N and it ended up costing me $14 which really isn’t too bad for a hardback :/
If you own a Kindle you need to complain to both Penguin and Amazon. I simply said I don’t know who is to blame but I am upset. I called Amazon customer service at 866-216-1072 and asked for the Kindle department and left a complaint. I called Penguin but they are sending all complaints to email
You can call them at 212-366-2000 but the email they gave me was penguingroupusa@us.penguingroup.com.
The problem may be Amazon and it may be Penguin but I was beyond ticked that Penguin books were offered to the B&N Nook and the Apple I Pad but not for the Amazon Kindle.
I have a first generation Kindle, and have been a Kindle owner and supporter since the beginning but if it turns out Amazon is at fault I may make the switch to another ereader.
@ Jennifer : THANK YOU!!! I’m thinking that most of my problem at this point is with the publishers, but this would be a great way to find out more and voice how much it is affecting their loyal customers!
Simon and Schuster also will not publish books for the Kindle until they have been on the shelf for 6 months. Do you think this is pressure by Apple to make deals for the ipad instead?
@ Mary : I hadn’t hear that
It does seem like that is why things are happening this way… which is odd because I would think the iPad would hurt your eyes to read on it for any length of time…