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August 28, 2006
When is Enough, Too Much?
Today Eisenbrauns announced their latest "back to school" sale. This one features "selected Hebrew and Ugaritic reference" works. And a very good selection it is. Luckily for me, with one exception, I already own all the reference works on this list that I think I now need or want. Most of the prices are within the range of what I would call "good" and several are very good indeed.
But there is little that Eisenbrauns can do with the one book on the list that I would like to have in my library, A Dictionary of the Ugaritic Language in the Alphabetic Tradition by Gregorio del Olmo Lete and Joaquin Sanmartin, translated by Wilfred G. E. Watson. This is an important work, I have often consulted it at the library. I wish I owned a copy. But here's the rub. The List Price is $295.00 or about 28 cents a page. Eisenbrauns sale price of $250.75 brings it down to 24 cents a page. Now I'm not blaming Eisenbrauns for this. It is to their ever-lasting credit that they carry this book at all much less stock six copies (as of this afternoon).
Let's compare the price of A Dictionary of the Ugaritic Language in the Alphabetic Tradition with a book that is part of the same sale: The Cuneiform Alphabetic Texts from Ugarit, Ras Ibn Hani and Other Places, Edited by Manfried Dietrich, Oswald Loretz, and Joaquin Sanmartin. I currently own it and I bought from Eisenbrauns. I don't remember what I paid, so let's use Eisenbrauns' sale price, $50.80, for comparison. Including fore matter, this book has 682 pages. The cost per page is about 13 cents. In my judgment, the complexity of the printing is approximately the same and the potential market for the two books is identical. Joaquin Sanmartin was a co-contributor to both volumes. So what justifies a nearly double price per page?
My guess is that several things contribute to the cost delta. First, it is likely the publicating technology is different. Second, the two books may have been funded in different ways. Third, the publishers' financial goals may differ for the two books. Fourth, the way the two publishers account for publishing assets and inventories may differ. This last point often goes back to publishing technology. But just say "Brill Academic Publishers" a couple of times and that may explain it all.
In any case, I can (and will) buy three or four other books from Eisenbrauns for the price of this one and I will continue to consult A Dictionary of the Ugaritic Language in the Alphabetic Tradition at the library.
Posted by Duane Smith at August 28, 2006 7:21 PM | Read more on Odds and Ends |
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Comments
What can I say? We try to price them so people can buy them (witness the price of Eisenbrauns books), but our hands are tied sometimes. I would love to sell it for 1/2 that, but Jim would not appreciate it if I sold them at a loss. Besides, I want us to stay in business :)
James
Posted by: James Spinti at August 30, 2006 6:02 AM
James,
Thanks for the comment.
Let me repeat, the price of this book has nothing to do with Eisenbrauns. Everyone who studies the ancient Near East should be thankful for Eisenbrauns. I buy books from them at about a rate of two a month. My problem is with Brill.
Posted by: Duane at August 30, 2006 8:05 AM
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.
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