Why I've come to the pricing decision I've come to

And how it effects you, the readers.

I'm really not enjoying having to hike up my prices. And really I suppose I don't HAVE TO, nobody's actually forcing me. But I've been lurking a lot of reader forums lately and it seems as though a good amount of readers tend to snub indie authors and self pubbers who price their books <$2.99. So they won't even check out a 99 cent story. And dangit, my books are good. They're not bestsellers by any means, even if people do start buying them, but they're not crap quality.
Some might, have a few, too, many, commas, all up, in them, but I was learning, I'm still editing and updating, and it's not a huge typo flaw or massive spelling error.
But here's the good news. Once I get some reviews on my books, good or bad, I will lower the prices again. I just want there to be something a potential reader can use! Even a "book sucks don't bother" or "liked it" helps. There've been plenty of downloads of all of my books to have at least 1 or 2 reviews by now, so this shouldn't be too difficult.
But from now on, every new release will start at at least $2.99.
Coupons will be issued from time to time, and books will still be made free from time to time, but the lowest price without at least 5 reviews will be $2.99.