Why are books so expensive in Australia?

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Ozmaniac

The price of books here is criminal and the only reason is greed on the part of the publishers and booksellers.

I very rarely buy books here now but instead get them from Amazon in the USA. Even with high freight charges and currency differences, I still save at least 30% on paperbacks and even more on hard covers. I can also choose from a vastly wider range and even when a title will be available here eventually, it's usually available from Amazon many months before it ever sees the light of day in Australia.

David A

It depends greatly where you buy books from. Department stores like Big W sell paper backs @ 35% off the RRP.

Kirra

I don't think twice about paying $22 for a good book.

Its probably because people in Australia have a higher standard of living i.e. our salaries are higher and we can afford it.

Box Monkey

Because the Government takes their cut on every book sold, in addition to the normal GST.

search e

Hi,

I think because high market price, so the values of all product are increases, and our basic paper is also one of these product.

tamara m

taxes and the cost of printing them is quite high, for the smaller booksellers it is actually cheaper to buy from overseas than to get them printed in Australia, Also there aren't as many booksellers here so they don't have the competition to force the prices down.
Printing books is a water intensive industry too, and water happens to be the countries scarcest resource.

L W

why dont u join a libary!
if u wnat to ship them to uk freight them takes a few months but cheap as chips! :)

Nurse Kelly

Maybe it's the change in currency.

crisanthe

They are expensive in comparison, if you buy new. I tend to buy secondhand books or watch for sales. Another good source is to watch out for the library sales. I'm in QLD and the libraries here often have book sales, as do Lifeline,,, two major events of the year, plus The Lord Mayor's Book Sale in Brisbane, and all the charity shops sell used books.

We have such a small population compared to other countries, so maybe the print runs being smaller, makes the booksellers think they are justified to charge higher prices. Of course, with the great libraries we have, there is very little need to buy any books.

Jesus is a sweetheart

everything is expensive here not just books buddy

Elliot

Price fixing, I assume. They're a pretty shifty lot, those booksellers.

jennifer h

I Absolutely agree . They are to high in Price. I've recently been to England and bought 2 really good books to buy . and only 2 pound each . Books are dearer in New Zealand . we do have specials on often but certainly not on the most recent books. I sometimes browse the op shops and have found some good books there and I belong to the library but I don't read that often and find the library a bit out of my way then I struggle to finish the book before it's due to be returned. Sorry i can't give an answer to why they are so expensive here.

arbitrary k

Books are a scarce quantity in Australia.

Australians don't normally read or bother to educate themselves.

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