Kindle is Amazon's top selling gadget for 2008

wallcraft · 12-30-2008, 02:46 PM

Amazon has released its "Best of 2008" Lists.

The Kindle was Amazon.com's top selling gadget for 2008, beating out the likes of the Nintendo DS, PSP, and others. The device topped every list it was eligible for, except the most positive comments category, which was topped by the Samsung 46-inch LCD high-definition TV.

This is based on unit sales (not revenue), and no actual sales numbers were released.

mjh215 · 12-30-2008, 04:28 PM

If it wasn't their top selling gadget, anyone else think it would still be their top selling gadget?

-MJ

xianfox · 12-30-2008, 04:31 PM

I've still yet to see a Kindle in the wild. Granted I'm not that well-traveled, but if it was that big of a seller, I'd expect to see them now and again.

Sounds like a bit of PR spin to me.

lilac_jive · 12-30-2008, 04:42 PM

I'm not suprised. They are the only one who sell them, whereas other electronic gadgets can be acquired at many other places.

wallcraft · 12-30-2008, 04:46 PM

One reason unit sales are high is that there is only one model of the Kindle. The current bestsellers in Electronics have Kindle number one, but three variants of the iPod touch in the top 12. The latest bestsellers in Laptop Computers have Acer Aspire One in white at #2, in blue as #4 and in black as #6.

Alisa · 12-30-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xianfox

I've still yet to see a Kindle in the wild. Granted I'm not that well-traveled, but if it was that big of a seller, I'd expect to see them now and again.

Sounds like a bit of PR spin to me.

Unless someone were looking at me rather closely, they probably wouldn't notice my Kindle. If I'm sitting in a waiting room or on a plane, it's propped up in my lap, largely covered by my hands. It's in the case so unless you were looking over my shoulder, you probably wouldn't have seen the white cover (and now it's skinned so it's even darker). I believe my husband has seen a few Kindles and Sony Readers on the train to and from work, though. I think people who either travel a lot or commute on transit are more likely to have them.

Liviu_5 · 12-30-2008, 05:04 PM

Until Amazon gives the numbers, bestselling is irrelevant since as people pointed out you can cheat by listing other electronics by color and such and so on, plus Amazon has no exclusivity in selling Kindles.

I think Sony sold a bunch of PRS at Borders and Target and whatever retailer they use in the UK, while for Wii and such they are everywhere...

chester43 · 12-30-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Amazon has released its "Best of 2008" Lists. A Dailytech article has a good overview: This is based on unit sales (not revenue), but no actual sales numbers were released.

My wife got me one for Christmas, and I love it!

MaggieScratch · 12-31-2008, 11:26 AM

I see folks with Kindles on public transportation fairly often (in Philadelphia). Mostly on the commuter trains, though once I was waiting for the subway to go to the ballpark and another woman waiting was reading a Kindle. One of my co-workers has purchased two--one for herself and one for her husband. She bought her husband's after seeing my Cybook (I recommended the Kindle for his needs--he travels a lot for business and she thought he would like it for downloading the Wall Street Journal). I told her about the Oprah sale last month and she quickly ordered one for herself before they went on backorder.

I guess my point is that people really are buying them, though of course we knew that...

tcv · 12-31-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liviu_5

Until Amazon gives the numbers, bestselling is irrelevant since as people pointed out you can cheat by listing other electronics by color and such and so on, plus Amazon has no exclusivity in selling Kindles.

Thank you. The cynic in me says that, at this point, Amazon could say anything.

MidknytOwl · 12-31-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

One reason unit sales are high is that there is only one model of the Kindle. The current bestsellers in Electronics have Kindle number one, but three variants of the iPod touch in the top 12. The latest bestsellers in Laptop Computers have Acer Aspire One in white at #2, in blue as #4 and in black as #6.

That makes more sense then. I figured they were just saying it was, because you know there are people who would buy it just because it was the top gadget, as well as it helps promote it. However, if they're subdividing by color, then it makes it more plausible to me that it could be number one. Especially if the same thing is there three times in the top ten, then the Kindle probably wouldn't even make the list if you did it the other way.

I've never seen a Kindle in real life either...or any other person with any type of e-reader. Then again I was living in a 50,000 person town in Oregon and now I'm in South Korea, so that probably helps. I get some good stares on the subway here when I whip it out though, especially since we can't communicate and all.

imagitronics · 12-31-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh215

If it wasn't their top selling gadget, anyone else think it would still be their top selling gadget?

-MJ

That's exactly what I thought when I read that post!

To be fair, I think it's a good thing for ebooks in general even if Amazon is generating false hype around the device. If major news media outlets pick up the story that the Kindle was the best selling gadget of the year and run with it, I think a lot more people will start to take notice.

I still think public recognition is dreadfully low. My wife got me a PRS-505 for Christmas, and it was a huge hit with my coworkers who weren't even aware that such devices existed!

Tim

Andybaby · 01-01-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xianfox

I've still yet to see a Kindle in the wild. Granted I'm not that well-traveled, but if it was that big of a seller, I'd expect to see them now and again.

Sounds like a bit of PR spin to me.

ive only ever seen two. both bought by me. and i take the subway every day in new york city. pass by hundreds.

HarryT · 01-01-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Amazon has released its "Best of 2008" Lists.

The Kindle was Amazon.com's top selling gadget for 2008, beating out the likes of the Nintendo DS, PSP, and others. The device topped every list it was eligible for, except the most positive comments category, which was topped by the Samsung 46-inch LCD high-definition TV.

This is based on unit sales (not revenue), and no actual sales numbers were released.

I'm surprised, considering that it's only sold in the US. Or is this a "US only" list, as opposed to a world-wide sales list?

Liviu_5 · 01-01-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm surprised, considering that it's only sold in the US. Or is this a "US only" list, as opposed to a world-wide sales list?

I am not 100% but I think it's just Amazon.com top list - not including .uk,.fr,.de and let us not forget that are lots of products you cannot buy from one Amazon.** if you are in the geographical area of another, many electronics for example.

But Kindle exclusivity and listing gadgets different by color and other semi-cheating like this are the main factors.

Anyway why not list the numbers of Kindle sold? If it would be a big number, or even respectable, I think they would at least mention it.

Though listing an e-book device as top gadget bestseller is a major plus for all of us that love e-books, whatever opinion we hold of Kindle

12-30-2008, 02:46 PM	#1
wallcraft reader Posts: 4,608 Karma: 8003 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: iLiad, Kindle 1, EZ Reader Basic and Pocket Pro	Kindle is Amazon's top selling gadget for 2008 Amazon has released its "Best of 2008" Lists. The Kindle was Amazon.com's top selling gadget for 2008, beating out the likes of the Nintendo DS, PSP, and others. The device topped every list it was eligible for, except the most positive comments category, which was topped by the Samsung 46-inch LCD high-definition TV. This is based on unit sales (not revenue), and no actual sales numbers were released.

12-30-2008, 04:31 PM	#3
xianfox Ebook Addict Posts: 200 Karma: 1266 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin, USA Device: AT&T Tilt, Sony PRS-700	I've still yet to see a Kindle in the wild. Granted I'm not that well-traveled, but if it was that big of a seller, I'd expect to see them now and again. Sounds like a bit of PR spin to me. __________________ Ebook Device History: Pilot 1000 -> Palm Pilot Professional -> Palm IIIxe -> Handspring Visor Prism -> Toshiba e310 -> Toshiba e740 -> PPC6700 -> Treo 700wx -> iRex iLiad V2 -> Sony PRS-700

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12-30-2008, 04:28 PM	#2
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	If it wasn't their top selling gadget, anyone else think it would still be their top selling gadget? -MJ

12-30-2008, 04:42 PM	#4
lilac_jive Wizard Posts: 4,681 Karma: 12637 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I'm not suprised. They are the only one who sell them, whereas other electronic gadgets can be acquired at many other places. __________________ Ridiculous Goal: Attempt to read a majority of the books in the book 1001 Books to Read Before You Die Total Read: 33 Here's the whole list: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?k...8Z7g40xfEpiWKw Check out the MobileRead group on GoodReads and see what everyone else is reading! http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/15019.MobileRead

12-30-2008, 04:46 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 4,608 Karma: 8003 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: iLiad, Kindle 1, EZ Reader Basic and Pocket Pro	One reason unit sales are high is that there is only one model of the Kindle. The current bestsellers in Electronics have Kindle number one, but three variants of the iPod touch in the top 12. The latest bestsellers in Laptop Computers have Acer Aspire One in white at #2, in blue as #4 and in black as #6.

12-30-2008, 05:04 PM	#7
Liviu_5 Books and more books Posts: 887 Karma: 1971 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: White Plains, NY, USA Device: Sony 700, Nokia770, Ipod Touch	Until Amazon gives the numbers, bestselling is irrelevant since as people pointed out you can cheat by listing other electronics by color and such and so on, plus Amazon has no exclusivity in selling Kindles. I think Sony sold a bunch of PRS at Borders and Target and whatever retailer they use in the UK, while for Wii and such they are everywhere...

12-31-2008, 11:26 AM	#9
MaggieScratch Has got to the black veil Posts: 286 Karma: 1486 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Device: Cybook Gen3, Slate Blue EZReader Pocket PRO	I see folks with Kindles on public transportation fairly often (in Philadelphia). Mostly on the commuter trains, though once I was waiting for the subway to go to the ballpark and another woman waiting was reading a Kindle. One of my co-workers has purchased two--one for herself and one for her husband. She bought her husband's after seeing my Cybook (I recommended the Kindle for his needs--he travels a lot for business and she thought he would like it for downloading the Wall Street Journal). I told her about the Oprah sale last month and she quickly ordered one for herself before they went on backorder. I guess my point is that people really are buying them, though of course we knew that...