3 ms·

If I did that, I'd be foregoing all sales through channels other than Amazon. Amazon are a big channel, but just about under 50% of total, although in my US ebo

by cstross 12y ago

If I did that, I'd be foregoing all sales through channels other than Amazon. Amazon are a big channel, but just about under 50% of total, although in my US ebook editions they're about 80% of the 50% of my sales that are ebooks. Also note that Amazon have the right to drop your price on that scheme to anything they think will ship more copies -- including zero, by pushing it as a promotional freebie, or $0.99, as a daily deal. Which means I don't get $6.99 a copy; I get $0 per copy, or $0.69 per copy.

Turing_Machine 12y ago
"If I did that, I'd be foregoing all sales through channels other than Amazon. " No. Amazon does not require exclusivity. "Which means I don't get $6.99 a copy; I get $0 per copy, or $0.69 per copy." No. If Amazon discounts your book, you still get paid based on the retail price.
- cstross 12y ago
  Wrong. (Wrong on both details. I know authors who've been discounted to zero and sold as a daily deal for $0.99 and no, they did not get paid on the basis of the cover price. And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors.)
  - Oletros 12y ago
    Wrong what?
    - Oletros 12y ago
      Funny how some people downvote thing like this
  - sxp 12y ago
    According to https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8#1-5_Who_determines_price https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8#1-5_Who_d... if you choose the 35% royalty option, you get paid 35% of list price no matter the actual retail price.
  - nitrogen 12y ago
    My friend's ebook is frequently discounted or free by Amazon, and he still receives the same royalties as far as I know. The exclusivity aspect may be real, though, as he only distributes through Amazon. However, his list price is in the $4 range, so the terms may differ for higher priced books as well.
  - Oletros 12y ago
    > And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors Strange then tthat Amazon talks about matching prices offered on other merchants. Can you point to those terms that requires exclusivity?
    - Turing_Machine 12y ago
      He can't, because those terms don't exist. The only exclusive deal I can think of is the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. That does require exclusivity. In that deal, Amazon will lend your book (for free) to Amazon Prime members, and still pay you for it. It's like getting paid for checking your book out of the library. That doesn't sound like a horrible abuse of authors to me.
  - Turing_Machine 12y ago
    Wrong on neither detail. Look at the actual contract. Maybe the people who publish your friends have cut a bad deal, but that's not the deal they give to indy authors. "And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors.)" Dead wrong. Link or retract.

by cstross 12y ago

Turing_Machine 12y ago

"If I did that, I'd be foregoing all sales through channels other than Amazon. " No. Amazon does not require exclusivity. "Which means I don't get $6.99 a copy; I get $0 per copy, or $0.69 per copy." No. If Amazon discounts your book, you still get paid based on the retail price.

cstross 12y ago
Wrong. (Wrong on both details. I know authors who've been discounted to zero and sold as a daily deal for $0.99 and no, they did not get paid on the basis of the cover price. And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors.)
- Oletros 12y ago
  Wrong what?
  - Oletros 12y ago
    Funny how some people downvote thing like this
- sxp 12y ago
  According to https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8#1-5_Who_determines_price https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8#1-5_Who_d... if you choose the 35% royalty option, you get paid 35% of list price no matter the actual retail price.
- nitrogen 12y ago
  My friend's ebook is frequently discounted or free by Amazon, and he still receives the same royalties as far as I know. The exclusivity aspect may be real, though, as he only distributes through Amazon. However, his list price is in the $4 range, so the terms may differ for higher priced books as well.
- Oletros 12y ago
  > And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors Strange then tthat Amazon talks about matching prices offered on other merchants. Can you point to those terms that requires exclusivity?
  - Turing_Machine 12y ago
    He can't, because those terms don't exist. The only exclusive deal I can think of is the Kindle Owner's Lending Library. That does require exclusivity. In that deal, Amazon will lend your book (for free) to Amazon Prime members, and still pay you for it. It's like getting paid for checking your book out of the library. That doesn't sound like a horrible abuse of authors to me.
- Turing_Machine 12y ago
  Wrong on neither detail. Look at the actual contract. Maybe the people who publish your friends have cut a bad deal, but that's not the deal they give to indy authors. "And again: if you want Amazon's best remuneration deal, you're required not to sell to their competitors.)" Dead wrong. Link or retract.