I’m a big fan of digital goods. I buy eBooks all the time, and I can’t remember the last time I bought an actual CD. Today, however, I was tempted to break my CD free streak.
As you can see above, Neil Diamond has a new album
out. Since I enjoy Mr. Diamond’s work, I wanted to nab a copy for myself. I checked iTunes first, and the MP3 album cost $10.99. I figured Amazon MP3 would have it for a buck cheaper, or so, which they usually do so I headed over there. Amazon had it for $10.99 as well, however, the CD cost $9.99.
I’ve written before about this phenomenon, though in that case I was talking about physical books vs. eBooks, and I still don’t understand it.
As an author I totally get that lots of folks are involved in creating stuff like this, and they aren’t volunteers and they need to get paid. That being said, I’m always amazed when a physical product costs less than the digital version.
Oh, and yes, I did buy the digital version even though it cost me a buck more.
3 responses to “Pricing: physical vs. digital”
Don’t you think this is just about supply and demand? I mean, who chooses to buy the physical CD when they have the tools to buy the digital one?
I recently bought the Higher Learning soundtrack on CD from Amazon because the CD was $6.99 while the MP3 album was $9.99.
The physical cost is with Amazon Prime which is $79/year after a 2 day free trial.
Either you have to go through the pain of cancelling a trial or buy enough CDs (79 if it’s $1 difference) to make up for this cost.