Can you make an ebook free on Amazon?

Harper Kingsley · 06-16-2011, 12:20 AM

I decided to give "Little Boy Blue" out for free, but I don't know how to do that on Amazon. I listed it for $0.99 because that was the least amount possible, but I don't know if I'm going to get in trouble for that because I've got it free at Smashwords and on Goodreads.

Can I do a freebie, or is it okay to leave it $0.99? I mean, I know they have that whole "Seen It Somewhere Cheaper" thing and I hate getting yelled at

ApK · 06-16-2011, 02:14 AM

Is it published through KDP? Last I checked, KDP had no way to offer a freebie.
But ask Amazon support directly.

Perhaps you can pull it from Amazon until Smashwords starts distributing through them?

Harper Kingsley · 06-16-2011, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

Perhaps you can pull it from Amazon until Smashwords starts distributing through them?

Smashwords takes forever to post anything anywhere else, and I kind of don't like the way they make some of my stuff look

I just thought it would be cool to give something away free.

Though I think I've seen it where some people have different versions of their ebook on Amazon. How come they don't get in trouble?

David Marseilles · 06-16-2011, 01:39 PM

Amazon watches other retailers, and price matches if your book there falls below its price on Amazon. Some people have attempted to exploit this by listing free elsewhere (through smashwords, distributing) and waiting for Amazon to spot the book free and lower the price to match.

I read at least some people have had their ebook pulled trying that though. I wouldn't exactly call it a foolproof plan.

Quote:

Perhaps you can pull it from Amazon until Smashwords starts distributing through them?

If Smashwords starts distributing through them. We're nearly two years since smash signed an agreement, and the last mention of Amazon on their blog comes in an april fool's joke. Whatever the hangup is, it must be a doozy.

osnova · 06-16-2011, 01:57 PM

There is no way to make a publication free on Amazon for small folks such as you and me. In rare instances, Amazon lowers the price to $0 on their own but that's temporary and unpredictable.

That's why I distribute free OSNOVA publications outside of Amazon: in my store, here on Mobileread and just uploading it on Google Docs with public access.

HarryT · 06-16-2011, 02:06 PM

The deal with Amazon is that they operate a business and sell your book in exchange for a percentage of the retail price. How would they make a profit from giving away your book free of charge?

David Marseilles · 06-16-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The deal with Amazon is that they operate a business and sell your book in exchange for a percentage of the retail price. How would they make a profit from giving away your book free of charge?

Look in the right-hand column. I imagine they still manage to keep their doors open the same way all businesses who give away freebies (or who discount, which is the same thing on a different scale) manage. They draw people into the ecosphere with freebies in hopes that they buy other non-freebies as well.

The platform is still new, but one day Amazon will let indies like ourselves list free. And that won't convert them into a charity.

Harper Kingsley · 06-16-2011, 05:15 PM

So should I leave it or just pull it off Amazon? Or should I go around making it $0.99 everywhere? I'm such a wuss... I just don't want to get in trouble.

mr ploppy · 06-16-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The deal with Amazon is that they operate a business and sell your book in exchange for a percentage of the retail price. How would they make a profit from giving away your book free of charge?

The same way the writer would — by selling other things they have written. Free books would also be good for Amazon as a whole, it might even sell a few extra Kindles if people know they can fill it up with free stuff to justify the price of the hardware.

Harper Kingsley · 06-16-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

The same way the writer would — by selling other things they have written. Free books would also be good for Amazon as a whole, it might even sell a few extra Kindles if people know they can fill it up with free stuff to justify the price of the hardware.

See, that's what I was thinking. I'm giving away one book so people will give my other stuff a chance. It's just so hard when your stuff isn't exactly stuck in one genre. It makes it hard to get new people to even look at it because they just see "Science Fiction" or "Fantasy" or "Romance" or whatever, when maybe that's just a tiny piece of the story.

But Amazon is the way to go, and alienating them isn't exactly smart if you want to get anywhere with The People

The Redbaron · 06-16-2011, 06:40 PM

I'd leave it on Amazon at 99c, anything's better than pulling it completely. I'm assuming it costs nothing to list it on Amazon, if nothing else it's keeping your book(s) out there.

VydorScope · 06-17-2011, 07:06 AM

Leave it at 99 cents on Amazon, and list it free else where is the best you can do. I did that with my book, and eventually Amazon noticed and made my book free (but only on USA store, in UK it still costs money)

Harper Kingsley · 06-17-2011, 02:17 PM

Well, I went to the Kindle boards, which were kind of hard to deal with because you ask a question and some people just kind of assume you know what they're talking about because they had a conversation about the same thing 12 months ago...

Anyways, I was thinking that I could put some extras in the Amazon version. Is there a way to replace the copy I've got up with another one or do I have to unpublish then republish? Then I can be like "This is the Super Deluxe Edition" or something.

pdurrant · 06-17-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harper Kingsley

Well, I went to the Kindle boards, which were kind of hard to deal with because you ask a question and some people just kind of assume you know what they're talking about because they had a conversation about the same thing 12 months ago...

Anyways, I was thinking that I could put some extras in the Amazon version. Is there a way to replace the copy I've got up with another one or do I have to unpublish then republish? Then I can be like "This is the Super Deluxe Edition" or something.

Just log in at the kdp.amazon.com web site, and you can edit the book details, including uploading a new version of the file.

Harper Kingsley · 06-17-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Just log in at the kdp.amazon.com web site, and you can edit the book details, including uploading a new version of the file.

Thank you!!!

06-16-2011, 12:20 AM	#1
Harper Kingsley Clone Trooper Posts: 212 Karma: 4566103 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Washington Device: kindle	Can you make an ebook free on Amazon? I decided to give "Little Boy Blue" out for free, but I don't know how to do that on Amazon. I listed it for $0.99 because that was the least amount possible, but I don't know if I'm going to get in trouble for that because I've got it free at Smashwords and on Goodreads. Can I do a freebie, or is it okay to leave it $0.99? I mean, I know they have that whole "Seen It Somewhere Cheaper" thing and I hate getting yelled at

06-16-2011, 01:57 PM	#5
osnova Kindler of the Flame Posts: 583 Karma: 646016 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US of A Device: K DX,3,KT,KP,KF, KFHD; Nook C, PRS600, iPad, Xoom, N900, N810, Zaurus	There is no way to make a publication free on Amazon for small folks such as you and me. In rare instances, Amazon lowers the price to $0 on their own but that's temporary and unpredictable. That's why I distribute free OSNOVA publications outside of Amazon: in my store, here on Mobileread and just uploading it on Google Docs with public access. __________________ To find best quality Kindle publications please visit the OSNOVA list and osnova.com Last edited by osnova; 06-16-2011 at 02:00 PM.

06-16-2011, 02:06 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 54,664 Karma: 26165759 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, PW, Fire HD, iPad 3, iPhone 4, Samsung Tab 2 7 + More	The deal with Amazon is that they operate a business and sell your book in exchange for a percentage of the retail price. How would they make a profit from giving away your book free of charge? __________________ Harry Currently proofreading The Poison Belt, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

06-16-2011, 05:15 PM	#8
Harper Kingsley Clone Trooper Posts: 212 Karma: 4566103 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Washington Device: kindle	So should I leave it or just pull it off Amazon? Or should I go around making it $0.99 everywhere? I'm such a wuss... I just don't want to get in trouble. __________________ Find me on: Amazon - Goodreads - Smashwords. twitter: @harperkingsley0 - tumblr: harperkingsley0. Why So Serial? Free reads at Kimichee. slashy sci-fi and fantasy.

06-17-2011, 07:06 AM	#12
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 2,606 Karma: 28692326 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color	Leave it at 99 cents on Amazon, and list it free else where is the best you can do. I did that with my book, and eventually Amazon noticed and made my book free (but only on USA store, in UK it still costs money) __________________ Vincent My Books on: Smashwords and Amazon My E-Book Series homepage: http://losttalesofpower.com All of my books are available DRM free through Smashwords.

06-16-2011, 02:14 AM	#2
ApK What did you call me? Posts: 3,168 Karma: 16000009 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Is it published through KDP? Last I checked, KDP had no way to offer a freebie. But ask Amazon support directly. Perhaps you can pull it from Amazon until Smashwords starts distributing through them?

06-16-2011, 06:40 PM	#11
The Redbaron Member Posts: 19 Karma: 22 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle 3	I'd leave it on Amazon at 99c, anything's better than pulling it completely. I'm assuming it costs nothing to list it on Amazon, if nothing else it's keeping your book(s) out there.

06-17-2011, 02:17 PM	#13
Harper Kingsley Clone Trooper Posts: 212 Karma: 4566103 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Washington Device: kindle	Well, I went to the Kindle boards, which were kind of hard to deal with because you ask a question and some people just kind of assume you know what they're talking about because they had a conversation about the same thing 12 months ago... Anyways, I was thinking that I could put some extras in the Amazon version. Is there a way to replace the copy I've got up with another one or do I have to unpublish then republish? Then I can be like "This is the Super Deluxe Edition" or something. __________________ Find me on: Amazon - Goodreads - Smashwords. twitter: @harperkingsley0 - tumblr: harperkingsley0. Why So Serial? Free reads at Kimichee. slashy sci-fi and fantasy.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Free guide on how to make and sell your first ebook	avisolo	Author Self-Promotions	1	05-11-2011 02:16 PM
Amazon allows DRM-free ebook, Apple refuses	vaughnmr	News	33	08-12-2010 05:43 AM
How to make a new word: ebook, e-book, eBook?	Falbe Publishing	General Discussions	8	04-14-2010 01:08 PM
Make: HOW TO - Make PDFs for the Sony Reader (Ebook e-ink device)	kalivoodoo	Sony Reader	6	02-01-2007 11:56 AM


Advertisement Enthusiast