Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyleach7
As a new collector I would be interested in the publication, however I think a pdf style document would benefit some people over a hardback. I would imagine it would also be cheaper and therefore more accessible to some people who otherwise may not but it.
If you were to publish as a pdf, have you thought about also publishing no bull as well?
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Hi Anthony,
Thanks for post - there are certain issues regarding publishing my new book as a hard copy, e-book or PDF format.
While most collectors are willing to shell out on information contained withing a quality product there are limits to how far one can rely. The initial sales cost of 'No Bull', if I remember was 130GBP of which 35GBP was postage. Sales though were remarkably resilient for a specialist publication. However, as time went on I was able to ship a pallet load to my UK distributor and he was good enough to sell these on my behalf without cost less a few copies as gifts for himself and military charities etc. I was then able to sell these books at 95GBP and eat the eBay and PayPal fees etc.
These books have now long gone leaving only a few here in NZ. Unfortunately shipping rose to 45GBP and this has now increased a further 10GBP odd as 'premium' to the current air freight price giving 55GBP odd.
In effect 'No Bull' now costs around 150GBP and obviously I don't sell many at that rate but I will not reduce the cost of the book as this would be insulting to those who purchased it on day one.
Similar costing issues with my new book although freight is less as the book is smaller in page count. However, for me to turn 15-20 quid per copy cost (inc. freight, packing, eBay and PayPal fees etc.) would by now be up to around the 80GBP mark comparable to 'No Bull' when it was shipped postage free. We are now in an era where many people have lost jobs, worried about the future etc. so I'm not happy about putting thousands of GBP up front in this current economic environment.
I looked at an e-book version. However, this would come in at around the 50-55GBP mark due to VAT on the electronic copy, Amazon fees (they give you a royalty so they own the book?) and a delivery charge per GByte of the book size. Dunno about you but even I would balk at 50 odd quid for a virtual copy.
PDF - yes, simple to do and free to deliver. Simple to copy and replicate all around the inter-web too which I am sure you would agree is a problem - well, for me at least.
My current thought is to scrap the project less approx. 15 copies printed here in New Zealand. These for me, family and guys who have really helped me out in the project with logistics such as accumulating my purchases and sending them on, access to real stores examples (which sorted out may repro/PRI items), access to documentation etc.
So, at the mo the book is on hold although it could be printed immediately if circumstances (and costs) change as it is written in InDesign which is the publishing houses preferred format.
Sorry to sound so grumpy...
Regards,
Chris