eBook readers may have to wait longer to read books as the third major publisher indicated it would delay publishing electronic editions of new books.
The Wall Street Journal reports that HarperCollins Publishers is to join Simon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group in delaying publication of eBook versions, introducing a third ‘window’ for titles after hardback and paperback editions.
The paper quotes HarperCollins chief executive Brian Murray as saying: “Each new e-book represents a potential new marketing opportunity at a time when we need every possible hook to get consumer attention.”
The CBS owned Simon & Schuster has already indicated it could delay eBook editions of new titles by up to 4 months.
Just ship the darn things and see if they sell. It is so disappointing having to click “tell the publisher I’d like this to be available on Kindle” in such a computerized age.
If they’re going to come out later than the paperback, they’d better be cheaper than the paperback. Which is probably fine with most customers, who expect ebooks to be much cheaper because the publisher doesn’t have to pay to print and distribute paper, nor pulp the remainders.