During the first part of 2017 I’ve taken an unplanned sabbatical from writing. I’m currently working on a new novella that will release next year, and in 2018 I will indie publish my Heartsong backlist.
A pleasant consequence from my writing break has been the opportunity to catch up on reading. I’ve enjoyed having a chance to dig into my ebook tbr list.
Despite having a ridiculously large unread ebook list, I still buy more ebooks. I’ve been thinking about how much I’m prepared to pay for an ebook.
I love my lattes. I spend a lot of time in my car driving around Canberra for my day job, and I don’t think twice about going to a drive thru or cafe to buy my morning latte. I typically pay somewhere between $3.50 to $5.00 for a cup of coffee (US dollar equivalent: $2.50 to $4.00).
I impulse buy 99c ebooks. I’ll happily pay US3.99, the equivalent of a latte, for ebooks. I’ll pay more if I know the author and enjoy their books. I’ll also pay more for traditionally published ebooks I really want to read.
I rarely buy ebooks that are priced over US6.99, which converts to more than $9.00 Australian and two cups of coffee. If I’m looking at spending $9 or more, I’m thinking about the advantages of buying a print book instead of the ebook version.
I could buy a cup of coffee from a petrol (gas) station, for example, and pay around $1.00. I’d prefer to pay more for the experience of drinking better quality coffee.
Reading is subjective, and a book I loved reading could be a story you disliked. Or vice versa. There is an element of risk in book buying that doesn’t exist when you’re purchasing coffee from a familiar business.
I’d prefer not to buy an expensive ebook that turns out to be lemon. Reviews from trusted sources can eliminate some of my uncertainty when it comes to making book buying decisions.
I know many of our Inspy Romance readers are reader-reviewers who invest time in writing reviews and blog posts and street team activities. Time has a monetary value, and I find it takes a minimum of half an hour to write a book recommendation for a blog post. Usually longer. The time spent writing reviews is definitely worth more than a cup of coffee. Our writing community values the contribution of time by readers who share their thoughts and opinions on books.
Which brings me back to my original question: Is an ebook worth more than a cup of coffee? My answer is yes, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
If it weren’t for e-books, I wouldn’t be able to read nearly as often. My Kindle lays flat on my treadmill and elliptical console, so I look forward to that daily hour workout. When I love the cover of a book, I will buy both the paper copy and e-book. I’ll look forward to your novella, Narelle!
Hi Narelle, a book- e or print, is definitely worth more than a coffee (and not just because I am allergic to caffeine!!). So glad you have had time to enjoy reading, hope you’re staying warm over these last few weeks of winter- but what awesome snow we have had!
Blessings:)
Hi Narelle! Since I brew my coffee by the pot at home, an ebook is definitely worth more than a cup of coffee. As a retiree, I will spent up to 3.99 for an ebook and occasionally up to 5.99. Through preorders and other specials there is plenty to read within my price range. Cooler temperatures to today in the Midwest. Not sure I am ready for snow yet.
I too don’t drink coffee or buy coffees daily. In summer may buy a milkshake one or two days a week. I normally look for bargains and buy the .99 – 3.99 price range. Occasionally depending on author will spend more. I am on a very limited budget. I also am on a few survey sites which you can covert your points to amazon vouchers and use them to buy books.
I am so over winter.
I love coffee. But ebook is definitely worth more than a cup of coffee. For both coffee and ebooks, I love free ones but am willing to pay a little more for quality, especially ebooks from authors I love. I don’t think I’d pay over USD6.99 for ebooks though. At that point, might as well get a paperback.
I don’t drink much coffee. I like tea! I’m retired so cannot afford to buy many books. I get the free ones on Amazon. Or buy print at library sales or garage sales for $1 or less. But I do win lots of books and ebooks at online blogs and author’s sites and Facebook parties. I have bought a few ebooks for .99 and they were sets. So yes ebooks are worth more than a cup of coffee. Besides — you own them and can read them over again! Thanks for the thought provoking post.
Since I don’t drink coffee, they’re definitely worth more to me. However, I have 3 young kids so I try to buy books on sale or borrow through kindle unlimited. It takes a big reason for me to spend more than a couple dollars on a book.
Books are definitely worth more than a cup of coffee. Unfortunately here they cost much more than a cup of coffee…
Hi Jill, I’m glad you can read on your Kindle while you work out. There are definitely book covers that beckon us to buy or borrow the print version. :)
Hi Wemble, I honestly don’t know how I’d survive if I was allergic to caffeine. In mid-August I spent a long weekend in Queensland for the Romance Writers of Australia Conference and felt like I’d landed into the middle of summer! I arrived back home to find snow on the Brindabellas and minus overnight temps. Hope you’re staying warm, too, and I’m looking forward to Spring next week. :)
Hi Renate, I start my day with a home brewed cup of coffee made by my husband. He makes much better coffee than I can do myself. Preorder specials can be a good perk for readers who subscribe to author newsletters. I hope you can enjoy nice fall weather before the cold descends. :)
Hi Jenny, I love our traditional Aussie-style milkshakes. Vanilla is my favourite. I didn’t realise you can trade in survey points for Amazon vouchers – a great deal for avid readers. Yes, this winter has seemed long. Spring is coming. :)
I only download free books on Amazon but I also very rarely buy a coffee drink.
Hi MH, I agree, the more expensive ebooks are a tough sell when the print books aren’t that much more in price. It’s not unusual to see traditionally published ebooks converting to $12 or $13 Aussie which is almost print book pricing territory. The temptation for me is instant gratification – it can faster and easier to borrow the print or ebook from the library rather than tracking down a print copy and potentially paying for overseas shipping. Free ebooks (and coffee!) are good deals if you can find them. :)
Hi Paula, I’m a big tea drinker, too. I like hot black tea, on the strong side with milk (the way the English like it). An advantage of ebooks is you can easily find them when you want to reread them. I’m unfortunately very good at misplacing print books. :)
Hi Melynda, Kindle Unlimited is a good option for avid readers. I don’t think I’ve maximised the benefits from my KU subscription but I do like the convenience. :)
Well said, Narelle, especially when you consider the hundreds of hours (and dollars) an author invests in writing, revising, editing, cover design, etc., just to get that book out there for readers to enjoy! On the other hand, a 99-cent price tag is incentive for me to try an author I’m not familiar with, and free books do serve a purpose in enticing new readers who, we hope, will then buy our other books.
Hi Laura, The price differences between coffee and books can be larger or smaller, depending on where you live. Ten years ago I was reading a lot more from the library because print books were so expensive with the additional international postage costs. One trade length print book was the price of 4 or 5 cups of coffee. The arrival of ebooks was amazing and gave me instant delivery and cheaper prices. :)
Hi Jessica, Sometimes it can seem like there are an endless supply of free books available in the digital stores. They’re a great way to discover new authors. :)
Hi Myra, I agree and free/cheap ebooks work well as loss leaders. Grocery stores, for example, have been using the loss leader sales model forever as a way of drawing customers into their stores. Publishers/authors train their readers in how to buy their books. If every book an author releases goes on sale, their readers will soon learn to wait for the next sale rather than pay full price when the next book releases. Book selling is a challenging business, for sure. :)
As an author, of course I think an ebook is worth far more than a cup of coffee! I make my own specialty coffee daily at home, but when we’re traveling, I’m perfectly happy paying for a mocha… and it’s gone in under an hour, two if I savor it. Unless it’s a novella, an ebook takes me several times as long as that to read.
As a reader, I’ve begun “putting my money where my mouth is.” I still like to try out new authors for 99 cents, but if I like what I’m reading, I’ll gladly pay more for the rest of the series. However, just like you, Narelle, I have to REALLY want to read it to pay above 3.99USD (which is where about half my own books are priced).
I read for about an hour every evening, which isn’t long enough to get ahead of my TBR, either! But I keep working at it. LOL
Interesting post!! I love Kindle reading…do look for free or reduced prices though! lol Drink one cup of coffee a day…at home (retired).
Hi Valerie, You’re doing well to have a mocha last for 2 hours. Novellas typically take me at least a few hours to read.
US3.99 seems to be the sweet pricing spot for buying full length books. That pesky TBR list can get out of control way too easily, lol.
I’m heading to bed now (it’s midnight here in Australia) and I’ll be back online in the morning to continue the conversations here. :)
I’m a coffee addict. I drink it all day long all four seasons. Whether I brew it at home or buy it, coffee is my mainstay. I love to read too! Most of the time I’m drinking coffee while reading….so I’m not sure how to answer. I actually prefer reading paper copies. Makes it easier to review and I can donate to my church library after I finish.
Hi, Since I don’t any longer drive and live alone, I seldom ever buy coffee out unless I happen to be someplace later in the day where they sell Frappes. That is rare. But I spend a lot of time with my Kindle. I can’t afford to buy many eBooks which costs more than $4.99. I have to know the author’s writing well to even spend that much on one book. But I know many authors whose books I highly treasure. If I can’t possibly afford the new book which comes out, I keep it in my mind and then watch the prices closely. Every now and then, there are books put on special sales for a special occasion/holiday. Eventually I can generally find the books I really want that way. It does take patience. ?
I’ve never thought about it in those terms before! Because I live in a very small town with no coffee shop, I don’t buy coffee that often–but when I do, I spend at least $5 since I have to get alternate milk, and there’s always an upcharge for that. I’m comfortable with spending $.99-$2.99 on an e-book; I rarely spend more than that … but an e-book certainly lasts longer than a coffee, so perhaps I should begin thinking about it that way!
Interesting to read everyone’s comments :-) I’m not a coffee drinker, but I meet my prayer partner at a coffee shop, and buy hot chocolate or orange juice. It always galls me to pay $3.75 for those drinks :-) When it comes to buying ebooks, I do tend to limit myself to $4.99 or less. If it’s free or 99 cents, I’ll snap it up. If it’s a favorite author, I’ll push my limits. But, if it’s over $5, I’ll consider print – which I actually prefer because I can loan easier to friends, or give away.
I pretty much agree with you. If the author is new to me, I prefer to find one of her books for free before I’m willing to spend the money. But I have tried many books because they were only $.99 or less. And I only pay the higher prices for authors I really love, but even then, I try to buy them when they are on sale with a pre-order. We are on a more limited budget now, so I have been more selective whether I buy the book or not. And coffee not made at home is out – unless we are traveling. The nice thing about books is that you get to enjoy them again & again, while the coffee is a one-time enjoyment, with only the memory remaining! Great post!!
Narelle,
I totally agree and find myself in the same situation. For some reason I keep buying books even when my TBR pile is growing so big it will take over my kindle. There are books I’ve forgotten I’ve bought. Ooops!
I love coffee and I too will spend around the same amount as you and not think anything of it. However, when it comes to a book, well I am a bit more cautious. I agree with what you said about it being risky when you don’t know the author’s work. I rely on reviews and other friends recommendations. I also love it when other authors, who’s work I love, recommend books.
I truly enjoy being able to help and encourage authors through launching their books and I usually always post a review. Well, that is a tiny bit of what I created my business for. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reminding me of my love for coffee and books!
I love your question and how you’ve answered it. I do treat my books like coffee: I value my coffee a lot and I don’t drink coffee from just anywhere (even though “coffee beans grow by the billions”)–I want to make sure it’s good and if it’s expensive, I want to make sure it’s really high quality (that they “put coffee in the coffee,” which is the Brazilian way, btw). Being from Brazil, coffee is a serious business (we actually grow and export them a lot)–in other words, we’ve “got an awful lot of coffee in Brazil” (I’ve been quoting Sinatra’s coffee song, which I recommend if you don’t know and you like coffee; it’s quite funny).
I don’t think there’s a right answer to your question and I also think reading is subjective. So even though I’d prefer to pay more for better books, I often don’t buy books from new authors because I don’t know their work and don’t want to spend on bad quality coffee (I mean, books). Sometimes unknown authors turn into good ones and I end up reading a lot more from them, paying more for their books too, but honestly, I too have a “ridiculously large unread ebook list” which makes me think twice over buying new books (even .99 cents ones). (Also, US$.99 books convert to R$ 3.12 and US$3.99 convert to R$12.57 in Brazil’s currency, plus taxes… which I’m not going to go into right now. And good coffee costs about R$4.00 to 6.00, which is about US$1.27 to 1.90 cents.)
Definitely ebooks are a wonderful substitute to avoid international postage costs and provide instant delivery, but they don’t replace the subjetive value of a printed copy.. oh, how I loved to hold a paperback (and fight over who should read it first!)–haven’t done that in a while.
For me the answer would be yes. Buying an Ebook over a coffee is priceless to me. I don’t leave my house much so reading brooks are valuable to me. I don’t mind spending extra to support authors. I don’t drink coffee but my answer would still be the same if I did. Books help me escape, relieve my stress and discover new authors.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I do love books.
Glad you had time to enjoy reading a lot of books, and yes, absolutely, an ebook to me is worth more than a cup of coffee.
depends on the book
I’m hooked on 69¢ (USD) Dr Pepper, so that pricing is hard to beat. I don’t think I’ve paid more than 3.99 for an e-book. Kindle Unlimited is the way to go for me. I buy it for a few months until I’ve read everything I want to and then take a few months off. I also use the library as much as possible. I generally don’t buy books that I don’t think I will read more than once.
Hi Jackie, One reason my tbr list is out of control is because I struggle to resist snapping up a bargain. :)
Hi Gail, I’m mainly a morning coffee drinker. It’s unusual for me to drink coffee after 4pm unless I’m planning to have a late night. Coffee and books definitely go together! I believe the upper limit of our willingness to pay for ebooks is influenced by how much we love and value print books. The ability to share print books with others is a big plus. :)
Hi Faith, I do like Frappes and our McDonalds drive thrus sell really nice Iced Coffee frappes. A big temptation for me, especially during summer. Patience can sometimes be rewarded with special book price deals. That said, I do think the days of almost all ebooks being heavily discounted are numbered. It’s not sustainable for the publishing industry as a whole if the vast majority of books are only purchased for 99c or less. There are items at the grocery store that never go on sale at massive discounts and we know we have to pay normal prices to buy these items. Box set specials often offer the best price deals. :)
Hi Becky, The coffee (or beverages, in general) comparison is a helpful way to think about pricing. The oversupply of ebooks in the digital stores puts downward pressure on prices – which is good for readers. Problems will arise, though, if authors and publishers can’t earn a decent return for their work in producing their books. My concern with the race-to-the-bottom pricing model is that we’re going to lose too many excellent authors due to their reasonable need to earn a living wage from their writing. If authors/publishers can’t move a large volume of books at the low price points, their earnings will suffer. This outcome, if it happens, will mean our cultural literary heritage will also suffer. An advantage of the traditional advance-paying publishing model is that authors from a range of socio-economic backgrounds can afford to publish due to being paid upfront for their work rather than paying out up-front the costs to indie publish. It’s an interesting economic question to ponder.
Hi Margaret, I think all those predictions that print books are going to become a thing of the past aren’t going to come true. A competitively-priced print book can compete with lower priced ebooks because readers still value the print book reading experience. Print books, for example, smell so much better than our electronic devices, and that’s a sensory experience that a device can’t yet replicate. :)
Hi Lelandandbecky, The repeat reading experience is definitely a big plus for books. Tepid temperature coffee is tolerable but certainly not my first preference! We’re fortunate that many authors have one of their ebooks priced low to entice new readers to sample their work. :)
Thank you for another great post, Narelle. Now days I have to enjoy my half-strength flat white coffee as not allowed too much sugar!
I love discovering a great book by an author have not read before. Ebooks have really helped me find them with their free or low prices. This is especially true of my favourite romance genre as there are so many these days with explicate scenes I prefer not to read. I too hesitate to buy that first ebook if priced too high but then buy others if I enjoy it.
Hi MFLiteraryWorks, A major advantage for me in buying ebooks is the digital stores tell you if you’ve already bought the ebook. The number of times I’ve doubled up on print books because I’d forgotten I’d already bought the book… The solution to that dilemma was gifting books as presents, lol. Recommendations from trusted friends and reviewers is one reason why I impulse buy too many ebooks. I’ve learned who shares similar reading tastes to me. Thanks for writing reviews and sharing your love of books with others. :)
Hi Pricilla, The tactile reading experience with a print book is wonderful. :)
Hi Priscila, yes, you live in coffee country, for sure! I believe our coffee beans in Australia are mostly imported and I do like Brazilian coffee. I travel to Sydney for work and coffee in the city centre is typically 50c less per cup than in Canberra. I think I’d prefer to pay Brazilian prices for my coffee, lol. Overall, the quality of Aussie coffee is good in both the city and small towns. Melbourne is known for its coffee. I’m more likely to pay extra for a traditionally published debut book if I trust the quality from my experiences with other books from the same publisher. Indie books can be more risky and word of mouth recommendations can help get me across the line to buying debut indie books. :)
Hi Deana, The experience of reading is a pleasure I’d find difficult to give up. I also like to support authors and pay a fair price for their work. :)
Hi Merrillee, If I had to make a choice, it would be hard but I’d have to pick books over coffee. :)
Hi Alexa, I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked, but it was good to escape into some great reads. :)
Hi bn100, yes, I agree. There are books I’ve put down before I’ve even finished reading the first page. I love checking out ebook samples before committing to buying the book. :)
Hi Katy, I didn’t grow up with Dr Pepper in Australia and I wasn’t a fan when I tasted it for the first time a few years ago. 69c is a good deal! It’s sounds like you’ve found a great way to maximise the benefits from KU. I’ve discovered our library has audio books that I can download. I can listen to an audiobook while doing mundane things like cleaning my house. :)
Hi Mary, I don’t add sugar to coffee, thanks mainly to Costco! When they first opened in Canberra a number of years ago, I’d pick up a latte on my way out the door with a big trolley of groceries and kids in tow. The sugar used to be located in an inconvenient place if it was busy and I had a trolley to manage, so I started drinking my latte without sugar. These days I can’t stand the taste of sugar in coffee, lol. The lower ebook prices do minimise the risk of wasting money on books we won’t enjoy. You often can’t tell if a romance is explicit from the short samples available from the digital stores.
I’m still quite old fashioned in I prefer print books! I love passing them on when I am done reading them, either to my sister-in-law or my library. :-) So therefore, I don’t buy a lot of ebooks. I get a lot of the free ones or the most I’ve paid for them is about $3.99 (for a boxed set) for an author I love. Usually I look on my libraries digital Overdrive system to borrow books if I can’t obtain a print (or I recommend them for purchase) :-)
I love both coffee & books :)
Hi Trixi, I’ve always been a big fan of library books. In Australia our local authors get paid Public Lending Rights from the government on print books borrowed from our public libraries. A good deal for Aussie authors and it’s a practical way that Aussie readers can enjoy Aussie books and financially support our local authors. I’m waiting to see if Aussie authors will start getting paid for digital library borrows. :)
Hi Susanne, Me, too, and I’m glad I can enjoy both. :)
I love tea, but don’t drink coffee. I definitely think a book in any form is worth more than a cup of coffee! I tend to look for free or on sale books due to budget constraints. (We’re retired.) I also use KU and the library.
Hi Diana, I agree that books are valuable. KU and the libraries are a good option if you’re reading a lot of books each month. :) .
Books are awesome thinks , take you places , away from life’s troubles !! But I love my coffee too !
Hi Nikki, I’m glad we can have both books and coffee :)
HI Narelle!
Yes ebooks are worth more than a cup of coffee. I am on a fixed income though so I don’t purchase many. If I purchase a book it’s usually a print copy after I have had a free taste of an author and know I like their work. I know that’s disheartening to some authors but for me it’s a choice between the tthings I need versus a want and books are a want. Needs come first.
Hi Sabrina, We all have our budgets to consider and I understand your hesitancy to buy a print book by an author you haven’t read before. Thanks for commenting. :)