Quote:
Originally Posted by MGlitch
But Amazon didn't just offer the case, they made it mandatory. Arguing that the price would be lower if the case were not included is pointless, by that logic the device would be cheaper if the screen weren't included. But there's no option to get an ereader sans screen, nor is there one to get the Oasis sans case.
The low end Kindle will tell the tale, if they raise the price they're clearly pushing the price up, if they keep it the same it's still possible they're trying to push it up, but if they release a new low end for sub 80$ then they're playing both ends of the spectrum.
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For anyone who has been purchasing eReaders since they first debuted with eInk screens, the $300 current price tag is still less than they sold for a decade ago. It was difficult to find an eInk eReader for $300 or less in the first year or two or more. And those early models were dinosaurs compared to the premium devices available now. Yes, Amazon did sell cheap devices for long enough of a time to virtually capture the market. Look at what happened to so many of the competitors like the B&N Nook and Sony. Where are their eInk eReaders now? They are extinct! Kobo is holding on, but those guys still haven't learned how to produce stabilized FW, and even if they do they piddled away any opportunity to compete against the Amazon bookstore, just like B&N on Sony did before them. Is Amazon now reversing field after conquering the eBook industry and thus raising the prices on Kindles to make a larger profit? I doubt it. They are still selling Kindles cheaper than they did a decade ago, and those prices from a decade ago would have to be adjusted upwards to reflect inflation over the past decade. I think Amazon probably is trying to make a little profit now since they probably didn't make much profit off of the earlier Kindles since they sold them so cheap. But really, did they need to make a huge profit, or any profit, off of the Kindles? Probably not. Amazon makes good money off of the bookstore , enough money than can afford to sell the Kindles at cost or near cost if they so choose.