Amazon’s $9.99 eBook Price Point Attacked as “Predatory Pricing”

During a publishing demographics panel at the eBook Summit, Books on Board founder Bob Livolsi received a rousing ovation after making what may be the conference’s most dramatic comment about a bookselling giant’s eBook pricing: “$9.99 is a predatory pricing practice by Amazon. It’s an attack on literature so Amazon can control the industry.”

The quote ricocheted around the Twittersphere. Many repeated Livolsi’s follow-up: “People need to have the courage to speak out against Amazon’s practices.” Guy L. Gonzalez wrote: “Instead of drinking the Kool-Aid, @PublishersWkly @GalleyCat et al, need to report issues related to pricing.”

This GalleyCat editor helped moderate the panel discussion, and built a simple list of other stories we published about the million dollar question: What price eBooks? Look for more coverage in coming weeks.

Last December, GalleyCat readers weighed in on eBook pricing.
In April, Amazon customers boycotted books priced higher than $9.99.
In July, Barnes & Noble accepted the Amazon price standard.
Last week, we wrote about indie bookstores struggling with eBook prices. Editor’s Note: The original post had a mistaken picture.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.