The publisher sets the price of the book, B&N chooses whether or not to discount it. It is no more expensive than any other physical new book store. The price of everything has gone up, including paper, which is why books are more expensive. Places like Amazon and Costco can sell a book for cheaper as a "loss leader." They aren't just in the business of books, so they don't have to worry about making money exclusively off of them.
gnatgirl t1_j1eiprs wrote
Reply to comment by Jennymable95 in Have books gotten more expensive? by syncomatic_columbia
The publisher sets the price of the book, B&N chooses whether or not to discount it. It is no more expensive than any other physical new book store. The price of everything has gone up, including paper, which is why books are more expensive. Places like Amazon and Costco can sell a book for cheaper as a "loss leader." They aren't just in the business of books, so they don't have to worry about making money exclusively off of them.