Surprised they still have Kindle on Amazon homepage

markbot · 06-14-2008, 09:50 AM

They've had the Kindle on the top of the Amazon homepage since November. This is very valuable real estate. Amazon is making a big investment here. I'm surprised they still have it at the top....and not on the side area....

I just hope this Amazon Kindle makes it.....because I would really really be pissed off if the service wanes and they stop supporting it....because then that means my investment in the Kindle books would be a waste. I buy about 2 books per month on the Kindle. Since I like keeping a library even if it is in electronic form, I would have to repurchase all of these books if the Kindle is a failure. That's not a huge sum of money....but is indeed a pain.

Ervserver · 06-14-2008, 10:34 AM

I think it will stay on the main age for quite some time. A lot of people out there yet to learn about ebooks and readers

RickyMaveety · 06-14-2008, 07:43 PM

Too true. I was having lunch the other day and drew a crowd with my Kindle. It was easy for me to tell them just to go to Amazon.com and look at the ad which should be staring them right in the face at the top of the page.

catsittingstill · 06-20-2008, 09:47 AM

I got the impression that Amazon has put in real effort on the Kindle and is likely to keep pushing it for a while. They know this is a big change in how people read, and they know it will take time to gather speed. I think keeping the Kindle at the top of their home page is part of that project.

Plus, I've bought more Amazon books in the 2 months since I got my Kindle than I did in the six months previous, and I'm trying to be restrained, and checking other vendors for non-DRMed versions first. I bet they are getting a significant jump in bookbuying volume from Kindle owners vs non-Kindle owners, and I expect it's to their advantage to add more Kindle owners (beyond just the $ for the Kindle).

So overall, I don't think it's that surprising.

bigscotty · 06-21-2008, 02:51 PM

Most of my friends love the Kindle, but just think the price point doesn't suit them. I'm sure that will change as we move toward another holiday season, more people learning about them, and the rumored next version of the Kindle.

$359 is too much for some folks mentally. $249 or $199, if Amazon could manage it would probably break the levy.

Elsi · 06-21-2008, 03:19 PM

The price is hefty. But if you are a *reader* and want access to recently published books without paying the high price of hardback books, you can do the arithmetic to show that the Kindle can pay for itself in a relatively short time. Even if you factor in the "bestseller" discount at your local brick-and-mortar store, the $9.99 price of the Kindle version of a book represents a substantial savings over the hardback. How quickly you've saved the price of the Kindle depends on how many books you buy -- and whether you would have bought the hardback in the first place. In my case, it's not so much an issue of saving the price of the hardback as it is:
* convenience -- carrying as many books as I want in one small package
* immediacy -- not having to wait for the paperback or queue at the library
* compactness -- not having to deal with the size & weight of a hardback

dugbug · 06-22-2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

...But if you are a *reader* and want access to recently published books without paying the high price of hardback books...

Also don't forget the massive collection of out-of-print books that have been made available in ebook form.

-d

Ervserver · 06-22-2008, 12:11 PM

I think there will be a massive marketing of the Kindle for Christmas this year

Elsi · 06-22-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugbug

Also don't forget the massive collection of out-of-print books that have been made available in ebook form.

I certainly make use of the many public domain eBooks. But I probably couldn't use their availability to financially justify the purchase of the Kindle -- particularly since I can read all of those on my laptop (should I so wish) using MobiPocket Reader.

pilotbob · 06-22-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsi

I certainly make use of the many public domain eBooks. But I probably couldn't use their availability to financially justify the purchase of the Kindle -- particularly since I can read all of those on my laptop (should I so wish) using MobiPocket Reader.

Of course, for someone without a computer, the Kindle is the best, perhaps only solution.

BOb

markbot · 06-23-2008, 11:24 PM

While selling directly via the web has higher margins, it also sacrifices volume since most retail is done through bricks and mortar.....as Dell's recently strategic shift in the consumer space indicates. This is especially true for consumer hardware.

I think Amazon should seriously consider selling the Kindle decive through traditional retail channels in addition to the web strategy.

On one hand, they will have to give up considerable margin to the retailer...on the other hand it will increase volume. and if Amazon makes money on the actual selling of the books....the increased volume could make up for the lower margin.

An additional benefit is that it will drum up traffic for the website as these Amazon Kindle displays in all the retail channels acts as advertising for Amazon.

I think this is the smart play. With somethng as personal and expensive as an e-reader, the consumer really needs to experience it before buying it.

daffy4u · 07-04-2008, 12:02 AM

I just signed in to the Amazon front page... no Kindle ad or picture. It's only mentioned in the left side menu. I'm surprised at that.

Edit: Now it's back.

06-14-2008, 09:50 AM	#1
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	Surprised they still have Kindle on Amazon homepage They've had the Kindle on the top of the Amazon homepage since November. This is very valuable real estate. Amazon is making a big investment here. I'm surprised they still have it at the top....and not on the side area.... I just hope this Amazon Kindle makes it.....because I would really really be pissed off if the service wanes and they stop supporting it....because then that means my investment in the Kindle books would be a waste. I buy about 2 books per month on the Kindle. Since I like keeping a library even if it is in electronic form, I would have to repurchase all of these books if the Kindle is a failure. That's not a huge sum of money....but is indeed a pain.

07-04-2008, 12:02 AM	#12
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I just signed in to the Amazon front page... no Kindle ad or picture. It's only mentioned in the left side menu. I'm surprised at that. Edit: Now it's back. Last edited by daffy4u; 07-04-2008 at 12:13 AM.

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06-14-2008, 10:34 AM	#2
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I think it will stay on the main age for quite some time. A lot of people out there yet to learn about ebooks and readers

06-14-2008, 07:43 PM	#3
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Too true. I was having lunch the other day and drew a crowd with my Kindle. It was easy for me to tell them just to go to Amazon.com and look at the ad which should be staring them right in the face at the top of the page.

06-20-2008, 09:47 AM	#4
catsittingstill Guru Posts: 643 Karma: 551634 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard	I got the impression that Amazon has put in real effort on the Kindle and is likely to keep pushing it for a while. They know this is a big change in how people read, and they know it will take time to gather speed. I think keeping the Kindle at the top of their home page is part of that project. Plus, I've bought more Amazon books in the 2 months since I got my Kindle than I did in the six months previous, and I'm trying to be restrained, and checking other vendors for non-DRMed versions first. I bet they are getting a significant jump in bookbuying volume from Kindle owners vs non-Kindle owners, and I expect it's to their advantage to add more Kindle owners (beyond just the $ for the Kindle). So overall, I don't think it's that surprising.

06-21-2008, 02:51 PM	#5
bigscotty Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portland, OR Device: PRS-505, Kindle	Most of my friends love the Kindle, but just think the price point doesn't suit them. I'm sure that will change as we move toward another holiday season, more people learning about them, and the rumored next version of the Kindle. $359 is too much for some folks mentally. $249 or $199, if Amazon could manage it would probably break the levy.

06-21-2008, 03:19 PM	#6
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	The price is hefty. But if you are a reader and want access to recently published books without paying the high price of hardback books, you can do the arithmetic to show that the Kindle can pay for itself in a relatively short time. Even if you factor in the "bestseller" discount at your local brick-and-mortar store, the $9.99 price of the Kindle version of a book represents a substantial savings over the hardback. How quickly you've saved the price of the Kindle depends on how many books you buy -- and whether you would have bought the hardback in the first place. In my case, it's not so much an issue of saving the price of the hardback as it is: * convenience -- carrying as many books as I want in one small package * immediacy -- not having to wait for the paperback or queue at the library * compactness -- not having to deal with the size & weight of a hardback

06-22-2008, 12:11 PM	#8
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I think there will be a massive marketing of the Kindle for Christmas this year

06-23-2008, 11:24 PM	#11
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	While selling directly via the web has higher margins, it also sacrifices volume since most retail is done through bricks and mortar.....as Dell's recently strategic shift in the consumer space indicates. This is especially true for consumer hardware. I think Amazon should seriously consider selling the Kindle decive through traditional retail channels in addition to the web strategy. On one hand, they will have to give up considerable margin to the retailer...on the other hand it will increase volume. and if Amazon makes money on the actual selling of the books....the increased volume could make up for the lower margin. An additional benefit is that it will drum up traffic for the website as these Amazon Kindle displays in all the retail channels acts as advertising for Amazon. I think this is the smart play. With somethng as personal and expensive as an e-reader, the consumer really needs to experience it before buying it.

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