Books

[feelap]

Why do books get printed in hardbacks first?

[saxy_jag]

They make a fatter profit, and enable the publisher to sell the book twice, as many people will buy both editions.

Actually, quite a few publishers now publish straight into paperback, but it doesn't happen very often in the 'bestseller' market. Places like Mills & Boon only publish standard print editions in paperback because of the the number of new titles they produce - it keeps costs and overheads down and thus keeps readership levels up.

The latest thing is the trade paperback - essentially a larger format, paperback book, but with a heavier thickness and more glitzy cover than normal. Some say it's a way of charging hardback prices for a paperback.

[LeMarchand]

So cynical!

Paperbacks are a relatively recent development (the first "proper" p/bs were produced in the 1930s). The standard "lifecycle" of a book is: Hardback, followed a year or so later by a paperback. Sometimes a "trade paperback" (hardback sized but with a paperback binding) comes in between the two editions, or maybe replaces the hardback. Some books go straight to paperback with no more expensive editions.

Hardbacks are quite expensive to produce, but are much more durable and have a certain cachet above paperback editions. They tend to be published first as they are often seen as the "proper" edition, and are more likely to be picked up for review by the quality press.

[marwel7]

Since the demise of the net book agreement you can very often pick up new hardbacks at up to 50% off.I think the last Harry potter was discounted up to 55%. That discount comes from the retail end not the publishers.
I've noticed that discounts on paperbacks - at least those I'd be interested in - tend not to be as generous.
The net book agreement was basically an agreement not to sell books at less than the printed price.

[marwel7]

The cost of printing a book is also dependant on the size of the print run and the time that can be allowed for the printing.An unexpected bestseller requiring an urgent print run would cost more per unit than the original run.

[saxy_jag]

LeMarchand, I work in the book trade! Publishers have told me this.

[Ragged-Robin]

I have well over a 1000 books collected over a lifetime and the ones most likely to fall apart, in my experience, are hardbacks. I just can't agree with LeMarchand that they are more durable. I usually wait for the paperback version to come out; and they take up less room on the shelf. When I helped a major charity with a second-hand book sale they told me the same and said that they sold hardbacks cheaper.