Amazon has finally launched its long-rumored Kindle e-book reader. The gadget is getting hammered in Amazon’s customer reviews.
I doubt that many of those negative reviewers have actually used the Kindle, but I think it’s pretty easy to criticize it sight unseen. Who the heck is going to pay $399 so they can read a $25 book for $9.99 on a crummy little computer? Maybe three people, that’s it.
Amazon also has a Digital Text Platform allowing publishers to upload content to sell in Amazon’s Kindle Store. Publishers get a whopping 35 percent of the sales. Gee, that’s almost as great a deal for publishers as Kindle’s $399 pricetag for readers.
Here’s an idea, Amazon: Give away the reader for free. The razor blade business model has a chance. Otherwise we’ll get along just fine growing beards and being illiterate.
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Steve Weber is author of Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors
2 Comments
Amazon giving something away. Love the idea, but I don't see it happening. That would be like giving authors a reasonable royalty for their books that are sold on Amazon.
I agree that $399 is an insane price, but I've seen a number of articles that claim they are selling and it appears I've had some Kindle e-books sell – so someone has the systems.
Nikki Leigh
35 percent for the authors? Amazon should be ashamed of themselves for ripping people off like that!