Reader's View: My Ebook Price Rant

I recently read a post over at Camille Picott's Blog that asked when an ebook is too expensive. At the time I didn't really think too much about the topic because I'm not in a position to spend big on anything and there wasn't anything I wanted to read that was over the usual $2.99 ebook price tag (I don't buy traditionally published books as ebooks because I think that's kooky).  
       Then a few days ago I read a review of a book that's been really popular. It was a glowing review in a long line of  glowing reviews that I've seen pop up all over the place. I started to get really keen so I jumped on to Amazon to give it a shot. To my horror I clicked on the Kindle edition and the price came up close to $9. At first I thought it was a mistake. So I checked again. Nope. Then I looked to see if maybe the book had been snapped up by a traditional publisher and hence the now hefty price. Nope.
       It could be crossover annoyance at having to type all day as part of NaNo but I found myself getting really irritated. I totally understand indies wanting to make money off their books the way any other author would. I get that if something is in demand it should be priced to match. But be reasonable. I won't buy a traditionally published ebook for over $5. What makes you think I'll buy your ebook for $9?? Especially when I can just get the paperback for the same amount of money.
      Before anyone asks, I've put myself in the author's shoes and totally believe that if I were in the same position I wouldn't even dream of pricing my book so high. Mostly because I know that in doing so I'd make it inaccessible to a lot of readers. I would prefer for more people to read my book even if it doesn't make me as much.
      Maybe I'm delusional in my belief that indies tend to price their books lower in order to entice readers to buy. Maybe the author no longer needs to have a cheap ebook in order to move her stock. Whatever the case, there is no chance in hell I am going to buy this book now. Neither the ebook nor the print version. EVER. I just don't understand the necessity. Angelfall by Susan Ee has been an immensely popular ebook and yet I've never seen it go over the $2.99 mark.
      I hope this isn't the way ebooks are going in the future because I am one reader that won't stand for it.


*PM if you'd like to know what book I am referring to. I can't be bothered naming names on here as I don't want to encourage trolls.

Miscellaneous Monday: Bye Bye Borders and Misc Melbourne!

Since the news of Borders closing made headlines, I've been freaking out a little that there would be a chain reaction and all the other physical book stores would follow suit. This is what now lies where Borders flagship Melbourne store used to stand:

With the boom of internet shopping and ebooks, I sort of felt the the era of the paperback might be coming to a close. Then, whilst on a trip to see Transformers 3 last weekend, I stumbled upon this:

 

Dymocks Bookstore on Collins Street in Melbourne City. Very much open for business and choc full of good old books! Not only that, there is book culture all over the city. Underneath the city's train stations there are mini glass galleries where artists display their bookish art. 

 

By the end of the day I was feeling a lot better about the future of book buying and as an aspiring author it's a relief! I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about publishing an ebook because I love flipping through the pages of a physical book so much, but I definitely feel better about being one of those rabid bargain hunters who trawled liberally through the meager skeleton of Borders bookshelves while they went into liquidation.
       At this point I have to confess. This whole post has been a ruse to show off my favourite piece out of my Borders haul, a Young Adult sign from their young adult section. I plan to put it above my desk where I do all my writing. One day, with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, my book will be on a bookshelf under a similar sign.

Seriously though, what are your thoughts guys? physical vs ebooks? Post your thoughts below.

*Note: If you're wondering, yes I know my photography sucks.