What Do Chicken Breasts and EBooks Have in Common?

So there I was at the supermarket examining the different packages of chicken breasts. There were value ones, and organic ones, freedom ones and free range ones, Red Devon ones and cornfed ones, and multipacks and skinless and oh, so many to choose from. Suddenly I realised that here was the answer to publishing and, in particular, ebooks and pricing.

When you're feeling well off, you go for the free range ones. When poor, the cheapest multipack. When you're going to impress a date it's got to be the speciality, named variety chickens that have been living exclusively on gold leaf, judging by the price. Sometimes you're not feeling so rich, but you're choosing quality over quantity. Sometimes there simply isn't a choice and you go with whatever is left on the shelves. Whatever, there is a choice of essentially the same product - chicken breasts - at a range of prices and quality.

I've heard a lot of people say that publishers "should get their act together" with ebook pricing - basically meaning, all ebooks should be cheap. But I think we've just got to think of it like chicken breasts. The newest/latest/most beautifully produced books are going to carry a premium just as the free range, organic speciality chicken breasts do. Want good editing or extra features? You pay extra for that. Not bothered? Then go for the value range.

I think ebook prices will continue to be variable. Some ebooks will be expensive. Some will be cheap. As consumers we'll choose what we value enough to pay for. Like buying chicken breasts, money will be one aspect, but not the only one.