Insight into What Goes On Between Publishers and Amazon with Freebies.

GtrsRGr8 · 08-03-2016, 03:17 PM

I thought that the following was enlightening. I have often wondered what goes on between Amazon and publishers when there is a markdown, especially when there is a markdown to a price of zero, on an ebook.

This may all be common knowledge to everyone who follows this thread (I don't follow this thread, so I don't know), but see what you think. If it's a dud, feel free to say so, throw rotten tomatoes, or whatever. My self-esteem is healthy enough (I think. ha) to take it.

Here's the webpage with the piece to which I refer. It's from a blog by an "independent" publisher called Top Five Books. Start your reading at the thumbnail, on the righthand side, of the cover of the book After Friday Night Lights.

Cinisajoy · 08-03-2016, 03:26 PM

I couldn't follow that blog.
Now what I can tell you that I know is a fact.
Books in Kindle Unlimited get a choice of countdown deals or 5 free days in a 90 day period.
If books are not in Kindle Unlimited, then authors do not have the option of free.
How they do this is they put the book at Kobo, B&N, Google or a combination of them for free and hope Amazon price matches.
Amazon can do one of three things. Price-match, not price-match or send a letter to the publisher that they are in violation of the TOS and their book can be pulled.

Yes, when you upload a book to Amazon, you agree not to price lower anywhere else.

Note: The authors/publishers in Kindle Unlimited actual check Select which means they cannot publish the book anywhere else as long as they are in Select.
Select is for 90 days, then the author can choose either Select again or uncheck it and can then publish elsewhere but they lose those free or countdown days.

AnemicOak · 08-03-2016, 03:34 PM

Very hard to read through the blog post, but it looks like it boils down to the publisher not paying attention to their own agreement with Amazon, that if the book is priced lower elsewhere Amazon can match. This is pretty common knowledge for everyone from self-pubs to small presses to larger pubs.

EDIT: I just noticed that this is all pretty old news, the blog post was from 2012.

Nate the great · 08-09-2016, 08:17 PM

What an ugly blog theme.

HarryT · 08-10-2016, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

...if the book is priced lower elsewhere Amazon can match. This is pretty common knowledge for everyone from self-pubs to small presses to larger pubs.

Yes, this is very common knowledge.

08-03-2016, 03:17 PM	#1
GtrsRGr8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,334 Karma: 27815322 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Southeastern U.S., ya'll Device: Kindle; Kindle (10.1.1) for PC; Kindle Cloud Reader	Insight into What Goes On Between Publishers and Amazon with Freebies. I thought that the following was enlightening. I have often wondered what goes on between Amazon and publishers when there is a markdown, especially when there is a markdown to a price of zero, on an ebook. This may all be common knowledge to everyone who follows this thread (I don't follow this thread, so I don't know), but see what you think. If it's a dud, feel free to say so, throw rotten tomatoes, or whatever. My self-esteem is healthy enough (I think. ha) to take it. Here's the webpage with the piece to which I refer. It's from a blog by an "independent" publisher called Top Five Books. Start your reading at the thumbnail, on the righthand side, of the cover of the book After Friday Night Lights.

08-03-2016, 03:26 PM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I couldn't follow that blog. Now what I can tell you that I know is a fact. Books in Kindle Unlimited get a choice of countdown deals or 5 free days in a 90 day period. If books are not in Kindle Unlimited, then authors do not have the option of free. How they do this is they put the book at Kobo, B&N, Google or a combination of them for free and hope Amazon price matches. Amazon can do one of three things. Price-match, not price-match or send a letter to the publisher that they are in violation of the TOS and their book can be pulled. Yes, when you upload a book to Amazon, you agree not to price lower anywhere else. Note: The authors/publishers in Kindle Unlimited actual check Select which means they cannot publish the book anywhere else as long as they are in Select. Select is for 90 days, then the author can choose either Select again or uncheck it and can then publish elsewhere but they lose those free or countdown days. Last edited by Cinisajoy; 08-03-2016 at 03:29 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Freebies from Camel Press [Various] (Amazon) [US]	NightBird	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	2	09-23-2012 10:09 PM
Severed Press Freebies [Horror] (Amazon) [US]	NightBird	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	0	08-07-2012 05:36 PM
Repeat freebies from Christian publishers (K)	koland	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	1	01-12-2012 09:18 PM
Robert W. Walker mystery freebies on Amazon	Dr. Drib	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	1	12-31-2011 01:03 PM
Two new Sony Freebies - plus free from Amazon	anurag	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	13	02-21-2010 04:49 PM

08-03-2016, 03:34 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Very hard to read through the blog post, but it looks like it boils down to the publisher not paying attention to their own agreement with Amazon, that if the book is priced lower elsewhere Amazon can match. This is pretty common knowledge for everyone from self-pubs to small presses to larger pubs. EDIT: I just noticed that this is all pretty old news, the blog post was from 2012.

08-09-2016, 08:17 PM	#4
Nate the great Sir Penguin of Edinburgh Posts: 12,375 Karma: 23555235 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DC Metro area Device: Shake a stick plus 1	What an ugly blog theme.

Advert

Advert