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I was recently browsing through the shelves in one of SA’s best-loved book shops when I noticed two things:
1) The shop was relatively emptier than usual
2) Most people walked out without having bought a thing
Upon picking up (and immediately dropping) a few books, it finally hit me: it wasn’t just that it was the middle of the month, it was just that a lot of people can’t seem to afford books anymore.
I can’t say I blame them. I ended up putting a hardcover down because it was a good R500 more than I could afford. Has it come to this? Has our exchange rate, taxes and inflation become so exorbitant that we’re unable to afford one of life’s biggest and most important leisurely activities?
And if we have this problem, then what about people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds? What about schools that need to buy books for learners? And most importantly, what about the authors?
If we stop buying books because they’re so pricey, authors don’t get anything out of it. And yet, if book prices continue to increase, what other option do we have? (Don’t worry, there are options – ones I’ll be telling you about shortly.)
I didn’t set out to write today’s newsletter about book prices, and yet, when I posed the question on Twitter, the response I received was overwhelming.
It turns out that it’s not just my imagination.
You are all lamenting with me. In fact, one reader mentioned that these days she only resorts to buying classics at second-hand bookstores because it tends to be so much cheaper than the more recent paperbacks.
I don’t blame her.
Trade paperbacks are priced at about R280 – R350 (if not more). Hardcovers are over R400. And what’s worse is that sometimes e-books aren’t always the better option as I’ve seen some new releases that are more expensive than the paperback version.
What madness is this? And what are the publishers doing to ensure that readers can still afford books?
Most importantly, how do we as readers keep supporting the world of literature without resorting to downloading books illegally?
I spoke to Jonathan Ball publishers, one of South Africa’s biggest local publishers and asked them to comment.
Here within Jeremy Boraine, publishing director of Jonathan Ball publisher’s, comment.
“Making a book is not a simple endeavour. Each one is different and requires love and attention – and money. Authors work tirelessly, often for years, over a manuscript, while the publisher has to cover the cost of editing, design, printing, warehousing and distribution, marketing and publicity.
Bookshops have to make a living too, so the price you see on a book includes their mark-up. And of course don’t forget VAT.”
Read the full piece he has written for us here.
I’ve also asked Lood du Plessis, marketing director of TFS Book Services, to comment on the price increase from a retail perspective, and here’s what he had to say:
“The South African book market is currently facing pricing issues from a variety of sources ranging from the local economy and economic policies to international trade politics and exchange rate issues. To understand book pricing one has to understand how books are sold in the South African market. Because of our location and status as a Commonwealth nation we generally fall under the Commonwealth rights section of most internationally published books.
These books are mostly distributed from publishers based in the UK. Books that land in SA are thus usually bought in in Pound prices, or alternatively US Dollar prices for books bought from international rights distributors. This means that books are immediately affected by the exchange rate - Rand goes down, book prices go up.”
Read the full comment here.
In addition, I’ve laid out a few suggestions for you which will hopefully help (some obvious, some not so), so click here to read the article.
Where do you buy your books from and why do you choose to shop where you do? Are you happy with the prices of the books? What do you think should be done?
Share your input with us and we’ll feature it on Women24.
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