Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
The thing is that all these programs--free books, borrows and the like tend to eat into "buying habits" so even if authors exit the program they may find that purchasing is actually down. It remains to be seen how the whole thing works out. The first few months haven't gone particularly well for authors, but as someone said, 1.35 per read could look good a year or two from now if buying habits stay down.
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Isn't this the most worrisome thing about the Amazon program? How can it be good for authors long-term if Amazon manages to turn readers away from buying?
What I find interesting is that even with book purchasing declining, Amazon sees more "profit" for it in pushing Prime membership than in encouraging book purchases. Although this may bode well for Amazon's business plan, how long will it take for the majority of authors to recognize that Amazon's business plan is not proauthor and take steps to protect themselves?
If down the road the $1.35 looks like the golden egg to authors, then Amazon has decidedly won. First, it will have made authors dependent on it and its largesse (after all, there is nothing that requires Amazon to maintain the size of the pot that results in $1.35 payouts). Second, it will have conditioned authors to be satisfied with its largesse and not turn to other possible avenues.
I also find it interesting that authors who complain about KU still push readers to buy from Amazon. If I were such an author, I think I would be pushing purchases elsewhere.