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Old 04-30-2009, 09:48 AM   #37
BarryTX
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Posts: 88
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Device: Kindle 2
Interesting debate, but what seems obvious to me is that this is a classic marketing move: offer a 'loss leader' service early on to garner sales, and when you have enough user base, increase the price of the money-losing service. It isn't 'bait and switch' because you are not locked in to using their service at all. We can use the USB cable for free, and Amazon can even still show that they are nice people and are willing to convert your docs for free (...at least for now...).

I imagine Amazon's business model shows they make a lot more money off of book sales than they ever could hope to by charging for wireless transfer of our personal documents, or for that matter, for any potential fees for conversion services. This simply is a service they can tout as available if you need it - read flexibility and ease for the user, which is always perceived to be a good thing in the marketing world.

Personally, it isn't a big deal to me because Calibre and a USB cord solves the problem very well. If I lose my cord I can always bite the bullet and email it to them and pay the pennies required for them to load it on my K2 for me.

But I understand those who thought Amazon would never escalate the cost of this service are disappointed and bothered by the change. I would recommend voicing the concern to Amazon customer service. Amazon is, at its core, a marketing-based company, and if enough people are aligned with a common view they will ultimately take note.
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