08-29-2012, 03:48 AM | #1 |
Frequent Flier
Posts: 1,282
Karma: 2058993297
Join Date: Oct 2011
Device: KB kindle aboard, Galx Tab 7.0 Plus, trying out Droid 1 as mini-tab
|
The Kindle Wants to be Free (will it be?)
"The Kindle Wants To Be Free
Next week or next year, Amazon will start giving away its e-reader. Here’s why." By Farhad Manjoo|Posted Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at 5:47 PM ET "My record on predictions about Amazon is mixed at best. Two summers ago, I guessed that “before the holidays,” Amazon would cut the price of its cheapest Kindle e-reader to $99. My logic was solid—the cost of the Kindle’s parts kept declining rapidly, and Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, seems to be happiest of all when he’s slashing prices—but my timing was off. Amazon’s cheapest Kindle didn’t break the $100 barrier until last year, when the company lowered the price to $79. Being wrong doesn’t deter me, though, --" Read more. |
08-29-2012, 07:59 AM | #2 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,732
Karma: 128354696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 26 kly from Sgr A*
Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000
|
We already have a "free" Kindle.
Several of them, in fact: Kindle for PC, for Mac, for iOS, for Android, for WP7... |
08-29-2012, 08:13 AM | #3 |
monkey on the fringe
Posts: 45,476
Karma: 158151390
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle Metro
Device: Moto E6, Echo Show
|
|
08-29-2012, 09:53 AM | #4 |
affordable chipmunk
Posts: 1,290
Karma: 9863855
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Brazil
Device: Sony XPeria ZL, Kindle Paperwhite
|
I'm more happy that Amazon seems to be coming here to Brazil (where it belongs). I'm hoping to finally grab an e-ink reader for a fair (perhaps even subsidized) price, no more half of the price in taxes.
|
08-29-2012, 10:42 AM | #5 |
Spork Connoisseur
Posts: 2,355
Karma: 16780603
Join Date: Mar 2011
Device: Nook Color
|
With Prime, it'd be worthwhile to get a Fire for free.
Although, it makes me wonder what kind of fine print there would be. Pay for Prime, get Fire, cancel account and keep Fire? Would they just bill you for the difference (or full price of the device), or just say "Eh, they'll be back..."? |
08-29-2012, 11:28 AM | #6 | |
Media Junkie
Posts: 278
Karma: 2039392
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW
|
Quote:
|
|
08-29-2012, 11:30 AM | #7 | |
Spork Connoisseur
Posts: 2,355
Karma: 16780603
Join Date: Mar 2011
Device: Nook Color
|
Quote:
But, the Fire currently is more than $79. Say I sign up for Prime, pay the $79, get a Fire, and never renew my membership...is Amazon going to bill me for the difference? |
|
08-29-2012, 11:42 AM | #8 |
Media Junkie
Posts: 278
Karma: 2039392
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW
|
I guess we'll find out. I've long been tempted to sign up for prime, but haven't quite pulled the trigger. If I could get a Fire that would probably clinch the deal, even if they raised the price from $79. I might go as high as $129 for a Fire along with the streaming video, ebook lending, and free 2 day shipping that prime offers now.
|
08-29-2012, 01:20 PM | #9 | |
Philosopher
Posts: 2,034
Karma: 18736532
Join Date: Jan 2012
Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch
|
Quote:
In that case, you would profit at Amazon's expense. Amazon would be gambling that some people would increase their Amazon purchases, making up for those who took advantage of the free Fire. Think of it like Vegas. The casinos have a lot of giveaways, you can get plenty of free food and drinks. They aren't doing it out of the goodness of their hearts, they are expecting to make more money than it costs them for the freebies. Some people take advantage of the freebies, and spend little or no money gambling. These people are easily made up for by the gamblers. Some people think they are going to stick it to the casino and not gamble, but wind up gambling anyway. If I am offered a choice of a free e-ink Kindle or a free Kindle Fire with an Amazon Prime membership, I'd probably get the Fire, just because it is more expensive. I can always buy the e-ink device on my own. I suppose Amazon could require a longer membership to get a free Kindle Fire. |
|
08-29-2012, 01:39 PM | #10 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,451
Karma: 1550000
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Maryland, USA
Device: Nook Simple Touch, HPC Evo 4G LTE
|
Quote:
I suspect a lot of people who signed up thinking they would keep it for a year (say where they expected to make a lot of purchases) have kept it because there are so many perks. Despite my resistence to Kindle, the lending library with prime is probably the strongest inducement to get a Kindle. -- Bill |
|
08-30-2012, 07:23 AM | #11 |
Guru
Posts: 649
Karma: 5632362
Join Date: Dec 2011
Device: Kindle PW 4, Oasis 2
|
I call bs. I understand Amazon's business model, but even they would stop making a profit if they gave away the kindles. Subscribing to prime does not pay it back either.
|
08-30-2012, 11:12 AM | #12 |
Home Guard
Posts: 4,729
Karma: 86721650
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard
Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6
|
I signed up with Audible for a year under a promotion that gave you a $100 coupon for an Audible-ready device from Amazon, which would include the Kindle Touch.
|
08-30-2012, 05:40 PM | #13 |
Tea Enthusiast
Posts: 8,554
Karma: 75384937
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Somewhere in the USA
Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2
|
I would guess that people with Amazon Prime spend more then people without Prime. Give them a Fire and hope that they tie themselves further to Amazon by buying apps and books from Amazon. If you get a free Fire, maybe you don't buy a iPad.
|
08-31-2012, 02:05 PM | #14 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,068
Karma: 23867385
Join Date: Nov 2011
Device: kindle, fire
|
Quote:
|
|
08-31-2012, 07:06 PM | #15 |
Guru
Posts: 643
Karma: 551634
Join Date: Dec 2007
Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard
|
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Amazon prime lending limited to one book a month? That's not so impressive; I get way more e-books than that out of my little public library, without paying 79$ a year.
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Free (Kindle app) Grid Detective (A Free Game for Kindle) by Amazon Digital Services | arcadata | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 4 | 10-06-2011 03:25 PM |
Free (Kindle app) Jigsaw Words (A Free Word Game for Kindle) | arcadata | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 2 | 08-24-2011 01:41 AM |
Free (KIndle app) Every Word: Crossings (A Free Game for Kindle) | arcadata | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 2 | 07-28-2011 11:07 AM |
Free (Kindle Game App) Number Slide (A Free Puzzle for Kindle) | arcadata | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 2 | 04-01-2011 12:15 AM |