Dare I ask why publishers jack the rates up so much for your friendly public library?

Caudimordax wrote:

Dare I ask why publishers jack the rates up so much for your friendly public library?

Academic books or ones published by academic publishers are viewed as being niche. They are generally purchased by libraries and universities which have a bigger budget than say a private household. If the publisher feels that a book will only sell a certain amount they will jack the price up based on their projected sales to get their investment back.

That may explain the pricing on this book (a 4 Vol set): 1300 Euro

Lee, S: J. R. R. Tolkien (Critical Assessments of Major Writers) Hardcover – 27 Mar. 2017

https://www.amazon.de/dp/1138889776?tag=lexibrium-21&linkCode=osi

remy wrote:

That may explain the pricing on this book (a 4 Vol set): 1300 Euro

Lee, S: J. R. R. Tolkien (Critical Assessments of Major Writers) Hardcover – 27 Mar. 2017

https://www.amazon.de/dp/1138889776?tag=lexibrium-21&linkCode=osi

Crazy price.

Most of that set is available easily. In fact most of it is on our shelves.

There was another similar collection, I don't remember it's title now but it was filled with academic papers, most of which were available for free to read online through academic access. It too was over £1,000.

Aelfwine wrote:

Academic publishers target libraries, not individuals, for sales.

I mean, WVU Press has two different prices for “individual” vs. “institution” (twice as much). So, it seems like they could make the former price lower if they really wanted to.

Philomythos wrote:

Aelfwine wrote:

Academic publishers target libraries, not individuals, for sales.

I mean, WVU Press has two different prices for “individual” vs. “institution” (twice as much). So, it seems like they could make the former price lower if they really wanted to.

Or they could remove the 'individual' rate entirely and charge the 'institution' rate for every sale as that is likely the most profitable option. I'd be thankful they offer a lower rate at all.

Well, the point at issue was that people were complaining the price was too high, and the explanation offered was that it was targeted to an institutional market. So my point is simply that, seeing as this publication targets the two markets separately, the proposed explanation can't in itself be the reason the price isn't lower.

(I'll forego any discussion about the notion of "gratitude" to academic publishers, about which my views are surely unsuitable for this platform.)

So, I'm still waiting on my new trade and deluxe LOTR to arrive, but...
I did get a few items today.

1st prints of the Art of the Hobbit & LOTR (to replace my re-prints from HMH)
1st state of the 2014 LOTR + Readers Companion (again to replace my China reprint, much better quality)(reprints are pictured off to the right)

1957 2nd Edition Hobbit (Book is basically unread)
1927 1st print of Introduction to Old Norse by E.V. Gordon (Tolkien read the proofs of the Grammar and made suggestions and corrections)

Always nice to get a clean Hobbit!

That Hobbit's nice!