It's the rare book where I check the price before buying it.  I will ask when buying a rare or antique book but new -- in a bookstore -- whatever the price is, if I am interested, I'm going to buy it. 

Maybe another exception is the textbook.  I like to peruse university bookstores and sometimes the textbooks LOOK as if they'll be priced like other similar books their size -- $20-something, for example.  But then you look and see it's $38 or more!  That irks me and I've been known to draw the line. 

It's not your question but there are also times when I decide to wait for a paperback on a new book. That's mostly because of size and weight -- not price.  When it's summertime or when I travel, I prefer lighter weight paperbacks to hard cover volumes.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

I'm asking because I intend to become an author eventually.

Get in line, buster

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

Why not? Sometimes that ends up being a good angle for authors. There are a lot of great self-publishing companies out there nowadays (that aren't a sham or rip-off) that can help you to create and market your book...and who knows? Maybe an agent, publisher, editor, etc. will find your stuff, like you, and pick you up. I've heard of that happening before to known authors. Self-publication isn't that bad. :P

Anyway! For trade paperbacks...like Susan I really don't check the price out before I buy, and even if I did, the true value of a book doesn't reveal itself until you read it and then go "I paid HOW MUCH for this?!" :) If a book sounds interesting enough, I'm willing to pay the going rate for it.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

I think it's ridiculous when a 150 page or less book costs $15 or more.  No matter how badly I want to read it (I'm thinking of The Cannibal Within by Mark Mirabello right now) it's never been worth it (screw you, Caitlin R. Kiernan, for ripping me off.)