Post by rgsc on May 1, 2014 12:04:11 GMT -5
So I'm going to chime in with this because it annoys me. Why are digital copies the same price as print. No paper, printing, and distribution cost. I know there are cost to digital copies, but I highly doubt they are the same. The whole "keep local shops alive" argument doesn't affect me as my local shop is at least an 8 hour plane ride away. We don't even get anything physical or actually "own" anything but we pay the same.
However, my iPad has better resolution no matter the paper used on the book Also, no adds... Maybe that's what we are paying for...
-same payment to creators, editorial, marketing, production & other DC departments
-no printing costs but some added cost to make it suitable in digital formats (guided view etc)
-no distribution costs and no cut for the LCS, but there is the Comixology (+, up until recently, the Apple/Android cut) for digital distribution.
-no advertising revenue.
There is also the very real pressure on the companies to no undermine the direct market. Comic shops are lobbying hard to ensure their business isn't eroded any further by digital sales so even if the price difference between print & digital was huge (and I am pretty sure it *is* a big difference, just can't say how big the actual differences are without some insider info) they would be under pressure to keep the price point artificially high. This has the added benefit of giving the publisher higher profits, too, so it is win-win for them.
Not owning anything through comixology or DC/Marvel/Darkhorse direct does annoy me. I love that Image offers DRM free downloads (even if cbz don't have as good functionality as comixology for me)