1. the BARGAIN
EBOOK BUYER
O r i g i n a l D a t a o n t h e P u r c h a s e B e h a v i o r
O f P r i c e - S e n s i t i v e E b o o k R e a d e r s
The Bargain Ebook BuyerBookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions

2. WHAT IS BOOKBUB?
• Daily email and website alerting millions of
readers to limited-time deals on ebooks
• Publishers and authors promote discounts to
drives sales and gain fans
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 2

3. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 3
Access To Millions of
Bargain Ebook Buyers
EXCLUSIVE SURVEY DATA

4. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
WHO ARE
BARGAIN READERS?
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 4

5. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 5
W H O A R E B A R G A I N R E A D E R S ?
They Are Predominantly Female
16%
Men
84%
Women

6. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Under 35 35-44 45-54 55-65 65+
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 6
W H O A R E B A R G A I N R E A D E R S ?
The Vast Majority Are Over 40

7. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 7
W H O A R E B A R G A I N R E A D E R S ?
A Significant Amount Are Retired
6%
Self-employed
8%
Homemaker
3%
Other
38%
Employed Full Time
37%
Retired
8%
Employed Part Time

8. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 8
W H O A R E B A R G A I N R E A D E R S ?
Most Don’t Live With Children
21%
Never Had Kids
20%
Live With Kids
58%
Empty Nesters

9. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
WHAT ARE THEIR
READING HABITS?
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 9

10. Average Readers Bargain Readers
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They’re Power Readers
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 10
Power
Readers
1 to 4 Books/Month
59%
Read 4+ Books Per Month
35%
Read 1-4 Books Per Month
6%
Read <1 Book Per Month

11. Average Reader Bargain Reader
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They’re Power Readers
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 11
10x
The Number of
Power Readers

12. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 12
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They Read Everywhere
Read books at night
before bed
97%
Read books at home
during the day
96%
Read books when
they travel
94%
Even read books
while at work
45%

13. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 13
Nook
15%
W H O A R E B A R G A I N R E A D E R S ?
They’re On Different Platforms
Apple
26%
Android
10%
Kindle
49%

14. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 14
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They Primarily Read On Tablets
Tablet
60% Dedicated
ereader
35%
Phone
5%

15. Read PaperbacksRead Hardcovers
OVER
60%
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 15
OVER
70%
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They Also Read Print Books
[ Although 65% say they’ve started reading
fewer print books over the last two years. ]

16. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 16
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They Find Print Books Everywhere
Bookstore
Chains
43%
Independent
bookstores
20%
Library
45%Used
bookstores
32%
Garage sales
22%
Borrow from
friends
31%

17. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 17
R E A D I N G H A B I T S
They Are Predominantly Genre Readers
25%
Romance
29%
Non-Genre Titles
What Bargain Readers Say They Primarily Read
14%
Scifi/Fantasy/Horror
32%
Mysteries/Thrillers

18. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
WHAT ARE THEIR
PURCHASING HABITS?
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 18

19. Median U.S. Household
P U R C H A S I N G H A B I T S
Their Median Income Is Above Average
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 19
$51Kof bargain readers reported
an annual household
income of at least $50K
64%

20. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 20
P U R C H A S I N G H A B I T S
They Buy Full-Priced Ebooks
23%
Exclusively purchase
discounted books
77%
Purchase full-price
and discount books

21. P U R C H A S I N G H A B I T S
They Are Price Sensitive
$0.99 $1.99 $2.99
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 21
Average
Purchase
Rate
Purchase Rates Decline as Prices Go Up

22. “I’ve jumped on a series or
author that I was uncertain
about due to a bargain
price.”
P U R C H A S I N G H A B I T S
Price Is Important For Discovery
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 22

23. “I prefer to pay $1 or less for
an unknown author. I would
pay much more for an
author I’ve read and enjoy.”
P U R C H A S I N G H A B I T S
Price Is Important For Discovery
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 23

24. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
WHY BARGAIN READERS
ARE VALUABLE
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 24

25. W H Y B A R G A I N R E A D E R S A R E V A L U A B L E
They Try New Authors
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 25
of bargain readers have
purchased a book from an
author unknown to them
because of an ebook price
promotion
95%

26. W H Y B A R G A I N R E A D E R S A R E V A L U A B L E
They Read The Books They Download
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 26
How Often They Read a Book They Download

27. W H Y B A R G A I N R E A D E R S A R E V A L U A B L E
They Become Loyal Fans
of readers have purchased other books by an author
that they discovered as part of a price promotion.
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 27
63%

28. “I've never read anything by Marti
Talbott, but the Highlander Series
book 1 was free and it was such a
good book I had to purchase the
series. I'm up to #8!”
W H Y B A R G A I N R E A D E R S A R E V A L U A B L E
They Get Hooked
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 28

29. W H Y B A R G A I N R E A D E R S A R E V A L U A B L E
They Recommend Books They Like
Of bargain readers tell
their friends about
books they discover.
BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 29
65%

30. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
Summary
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 30
• Bargain readers are Power Readers
• They’re price sensitive, especially when it comes to trying new
titles, but are willing to experiment, and also purchase full price
books
• They are valuable, long-term readers who are invested in the
books they purchase

31. BookBub | The leading service in ebook price promotions
FOR MORE FROM BOOKBUB, VISIT
UNBOUND.BOOKBUB.COM
The Bargain Ebook Buyer | 31