PublishAmerica Book Prices

Phil Whitley · Subject: PublishAmerica Book Prices Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:05 pm

Several authors at PA posted about their book price changing. I checked ine and sure enough...

My book, Keechie, was released in December, 2005
at $19.95 retail. During the Amazon fiasco it went to $16.95 through
PA, with my discounts still computed at full retail of $19.95.

Now the retail is listed as $24.95 and the PA offer price through their bookstore is $19.95.

What I now suspect is that if I purchase any more of my books, the discount will be computed from the new retail of $24.95.

It's becoming more and more difficult to maintain a positive attitude toward PA. A heads-up email would have been appreciated...

I think my decision on a publisher for my sequel has been made for me. I am pissed!
_________________
Brew
My website:http://www.philwhitley.com
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." ~ John Adams, 1765

Malcolm · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:41 pm

Does PA respond if one calls or e-mails and asks why the price has gone up $5?

Malcolm
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Malcolm R. Campbell

http://www.malcolmrcampbell.com

Phil Whitley · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:05 pm

They used to, but I'm not emailing them this time... at least not yet.
I have tried to be supportive this whole time, but the handwriting on
the wall is getting more legible by the day.

I had just ordered a few books for an upcoming event. That will more than likely be my last order.
_________________
Brew
My website:http://www.philwhitley.com
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." ~ John Adams, 1765

zadaconnaway · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:00 am

Now I am pissed, too. My book, Mother's Journals ... was published and offered at $24.95 last year. Then they dropped it to $19.95. Now it is listed at $29.95 retail, with my price at $24.95! Talk about inconsistent!
_________________
Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Dick Stodghill · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:31 am

It's difficult to figure out what PA is up to. I have never paid much attention because I ran a couple of things from an old family history through them and have figured anything to do with PA is yesterday's news. I do check out their message board every now and then to see how ridiculous some of the posts are and it seems many people are upset by the price changes. The situation seems to be unprecidented except for issuing a hard cover book after it has been previously published in paperback. I've never bought any books from them but can see the changes would be upsetting to those who do. Perhaps PA is having financial problems and is trying to find a way out of them. If so, they have chosen an odd way of doing it.
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Jim Woods · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:02 am

I happened to be looking at submission requirements for Bleak House Books, and they clearly state that publishing credits with Publish America, iUniverse and Xlibris do not carry any credence with them and that the mere mention of such in the query letter will cause the submission to be tossed out. I have two-and-a-half books with PA with which I'm pleased insofar as the printing and binding go, and it was expedient for me to get them published quickly, but certainly this pricing situation changes things drastically. I'm not in the book selling side of business but I usually keep a handful of copies on hand for giveaway and promotion. I have four books with two other publishers--two prior to PA and two post-PA, but now I look forward to my contracts with PA running out so that those books may be retitled and published elsewhere, but my time is running out too.

Jim Woods
www.ultrasw.com/jwoods

Abe F. March · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:38 am

My book has always been $21.95. I just checked and it says, "Retail Price $27.95 - your price $21.95"
I think it is primarily a marketing gimmick. However, with the book already overpriced at $21.95, this means that they have just killed future sales. Why do they want to shoot themselves in the foot? Or have they gone directly for the heart?

I must say that I was surprised at the number of copies sold even at the high price. I made an initial purchase of 50, like many others, to give away as promotion and for those who wanted an autographed copy. Those copies had nothing to do with royalties. Now it's a new ball game and it is their game to play.
_________________
"To Beirut and Back"
"They Plotted Revenge Against America"
"Journey Into The Past"
http://www.abemarch.com
"With every adversity there is a benefit."
"To grow, to progress, is to change."

Malcolm · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:22 am

I don't understand why PA is overpricing the books. Even the original prices were well over what a mainstream book would cost. In fact, the discounted hardbacks are often cheaper!

Raising prices isn't going to generate sales in an arena where sales are already very challenging to get except where the author buys them at greater discounts and resells them.

Malcolm
_________________
Malcolm R. Campbell

http://www.malcolmrcampbell.com

Phil Whitley · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:48 pm

I began getting suspicious the past month or so when they offered us
those "special" sales of 50% off with free shipping, then extended it
for another week, then another at 50% off and paid royalties, then
extended that one another week, etc. etc.

In the past we could expect those special offers two, maybe three times a year.
_________________
Brew
My website:http://www.philwhitley.com
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." ~ John Adams, 1765

Abe F. March · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:53 pm

Interesting, Malcolm.
Today I got an email from PA offering a 55% discount on the purchase of 20 copies or more. I now wonder if that is off the new inflated price.
That reminds me of an acquaintance who owned a furniture store. He decided to have a "going out of business sale." I was in the store when he marked all prices up. Then he advertised 50% off on everything. He did so well, that since that time, he had an annual "going out of business sale." He even increases his inventory substantially before the event.

A discount from an inflated price is a marketing gimmick and many people fall for it.
_________________
"To Beirut and Back"
"They Plotted Revenge Against America"
"Journey Into The Past"
http://www.abemarch.com
"With every adversity there is a benefit."
"To grow, to progress, is to change."

Malcolm · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:52 pm

Old story. Raise prices. Then offer a big discount. What a deal.

Malcolm
_________________
Malcolm R. Campbell

http://www.malcolmrcampbell.com

Phil Whitley · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:10 pm

I just learned that the lady who brought the price increase to our
attention at PA has been banned. They could have just locked the
thread, which is the usual thing they do. I may be next... LOL
_________________
Brew
My website:http://www.philwhitley.com
"Let us dare to read, think, speak and write." ~ John Adams, 1765

zadaconnaway · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:12 am

That is really underhanded on their part. I dislike the banning, locking and deleting of threads/posts that goes on there. And there is seldom any explanation for it. Direct questions go unanswered, or are rudely answered. I don't get it.
_________________
Zada Connaway
Mother's Journals: parts 1, 2 and 3 ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0

http://www.zadaconnaway.com/

Brenda Hill · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:44 pm

Before I left PA, my question about certain practices was deleted from the boards, and when I started another thread, that was pulled as well and I was banned. They only want happy, happy threads to lure in other customers.
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www.authorsden.com/brendahill

Dick Stodghill · Subject: Re: PublishAmerica Book Prices Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:25 am

I, too, was banned and then reinstated although I didn't care one way or another. The only advantage to not being banned is that it enables you to read the private boards for laughs. By that I mean sarcastic laughs. It also enables me to get emails from the lady in charge.
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Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America
www.dickstodghill.com