Cheaper in my Dotage

I had just about given up on Amazon. I don't know, I guess it occurred when my wife talked about how much she wanted a new book to read but didn't want to pay so much. That was the seed, the kernel, that grew and germinated until it flowered this afternoon when I finished my most recent book and went to buy another.

A sampling:

$14.99 - Tom Clancy's Threat Vector

$12.74 -  David Baldacci's The Hit

$19.99 - Ken Follett's Winter of the World

I know I've discussed this issue before, but it irks me to no end that by buying and e-book we are saving the distributor on printing, delivery etc, so I'm surprised there isn't a bigger bargain market out there. $19.99? Really?

Don't get me wrong, I know there are some diamonds in the rough out there for just $0.99, but they're hard to find. That's why I went to Smashwords and found a couple, specifically this one by Bob Mayer, Eyes of the Hammer. I was surprised there was only one book on Smashwords by Mayer and doubly surprised it only came in epub format. Then I saw this . . . his works on Amazon.

$0.99 - Eyes of the Hammer on Smashwords
$2.99 - Eyes of the Hammer on Amazon

Having published my own books on both of these sites I know why Mayer has different pricing, but it sure reinforces in me the desire to start with Smashwords and only revert to Amazon when I find nothing better.

Maybe I'm just becoming cheaper in my old age.