# DOJ Investigating EBook Prices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188 "2012-03-08T19:30:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/1 "2012-03-08T19:30:34Z")
We talked about EBook prices before. That’s been my biggest disappointment with Kindle. There’s times the paperback is cheaper. Amazon even notes that the Kindle price was fixed by the publisher. Amazon can’t discount it. DOJ is checking into possible price fixing by the publishers. > **[DOJ targets Apple and publishers for e-book price fixing](https://money.cnn.com/2012/03/08/technology/apple-ebook-price/)** > > Apple and five large book publishers have faced several accusations of allegedly teaming up against Amazon's discounted e-books. > [@](#): > > The U.S. Justice Department has warned Apple, along with Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Penguin Group, Macmillan, and HarperCollins, that it plans to sue them for antitrust violations, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the inquiry. > > The six companies allegedly colluded in 2010 to force Amazon to raise its discounted e-book prices. > **[Publishers warned on ebook prices](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17300074)** > > Five US publishers are being threatened with legal action over the way they set prices for electronic books. > [@](#): > > Five US publishers are being threatened with legal action over the way they set prices for electronic books, reports the Wall Street Journal. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/2 "2012-03-08T20:03:40Z")
I see one trick the publisher’s have started. I bought Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel for $9.99. They’ve released a enhanced edition with audio/video for $11.99 The cheaper kindle version is hidden. click that plus sign next to the kindle version and you’ll see the cheaper $9.99 one > **[Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel: le Carré, John:...](https://www.amazon.com/Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy-George/dp/0143119788)** > > Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel \[le Carré, John\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel ymmv but I don’t want my books ruined with audio or video. They’re books for cripes sake. Yet another way to screw us out of more money. As a lifelong reader the higher prices are beginning to take a toll. Ten years ago paperbacks were $6. Now they are $9 and $10. Its forcing me to spend more time at the library and used book store. I can’t justify pissing away $10 for a book that’s finished in 3 hours. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/3 "2012-03-09T05:22:03Z")
Damn, paperbacks are cheap where you live. A decade ago, I would pay ~$10 for a paperback (what you pay now). Every paperback I’ve bought/looked at lately has been $14-18. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/4 "2012-03-09T06:07:55Z")
I hope the publishers get their asses kicked big time. prolly just be a knuckle rapping though, Obama’s Justice Dept. is afraid to seriously go after anyone with money. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/5 "2012-03-09T11:50:00Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Damn, paperbacks are cheap where you live. A decade ago, I would pay ~$10 for a paperback (what you pay now). Every paperback I’ve bought/looked at lately has been $14-18. Surely not $18 USD? Or are you thinking about [trade paperbacks](http://askville.amazon.com/difference-Trade-Fiction-Mass-Market-York-Times-Seller-List/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=8104305), not mass market? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-investigating-ebook-prices/615188/6 "2012-03-09T12:13:04Z")
Of course, Eric Holder isn’t smart enough to do anything worthwhile…terrorist trial in NYC? Formal investigation of “Fast and Furious”? The idea that Holder’s politicized DOJ will do anything of benefit to the American People is a pipedream.☹