Kindle 2 Price Cut to $299 - Page 5

brecklundin · 07-11-2009, 08:19 AM

BTW, the K2 is still over priced. Shave off another $50 and I think they hit a sweet spot where the wireless is the difference maker for a lot of folks. Still will not be buying another Kindle until the displays improve in terms of the dingy grey background. If it was not grey but rather more of a parchment color (you know that sort of pale yellow/brown) I would have an easier time using it. In fact that is the color I have my TFT readers set to use. I know it's weird but it works for me....I can read for HOURS with that background.

daffy4u · 07-11-2009, 08:49 AM

So here's my question. Since some of you say the Kindle is (still) overpriced, what about the 505? I don't recall seeing complaints about it's high price. Shouldn't it be $100-150?

rhadin · 07-11-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

So here's my question. Since some of you say the Kindle is (still) overpriced, what about the 505? I don't recall seeing complaints about it's high price. Shouldn't it be $100-150?

I think the Sony 505 is overpriced by $50; its suggested retail price should be $249. People readily spend $200 to $250 for music players and I think that is an acceptable price for an ebook reading device.

As far as I am concerned, the Kindle should be the same price, that is, $249. Its advantage is Whispernet (BTW, Sprint/Nextel is still bleeding customers and so is now plans to outsource network management to save some money.), but that is only an advantage to those who care about the Amazon bookstore and wireless access to it.

OTOH, Sony's ergonomics are better (in my opinion) and the device itself is more attractive (again, in my opinion; I really dislike the Kindle's keyboard). In addition, Sony offers a better format choice with the relowable PDF (even if it doesn't work perfectly) and the ability to read ePub, both DRMed and DRM-free.

So I think the 2 devices -- Kindle 2 and Sony 505 -- both should be at $249.

BUT, what I would really like to see is more competition among retailers to sell both devices at various prices. I suspect that Sony greatly restricts the amount of discounting retailers can do; it shouldn't. If a retailer wants to sell the device at $5 over cost, the retailer should be able to do so. similarly, Amazon restricts the price by simply not letting anyone else sell the Kindle. I think if Amazon wants to be a manufacturer, it should manufacture the Kindle and let anyone who wants to sell it at whatever price point the retailer wants do so. Then prices would settle where the market really thinks they should be.

daffy4u · 07-11-2009, 09:57 AM

I don't see the Kindle and the 505 as being in the same class, so I don't see them as needing to be equal in price. Even without Whispernet, the Kindle 2 has features the 505 doesn't (dictionary, note taking, TTS, more font sizes). The 505 can read more formats natively and aside from PDF support (for some), I don't think that is enough to justify it's cost.

Of course, for me, the question of ergonomics is opposite from yours because I love the buttons and the keyboard.

Kindle 2 and the 700 are closer in class than the K2 and 505 (IMO).

Kris777 · 07-11-2009, 02:42 PM

I think Kindle must be available for FREE - the same as BlackBerry available for free with 2 years T-mobile or AT&T contract. If you spend $30-$40 per month (it must be in contract) to purchase ebooks from Amazon it must be enough to cover the cost of Kindle hardware and still get some profit. I will not be surprised if Amazon will start sell it for free (with contract) in the future.

Teddman · 07-11-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

So here's my question. Since some of you say the Kindle is (still) overpriced, what about the 505? I don't recall seeing complaints about it's high price. Shouldn't it be $100-150?

Well, a lot of people recently got a 505 for $199 in the Border's sale, as did I. I think that is the right price for the 505 and at that price point it's the "best buy" in e-readers. Sony should make that cut the official MSRP.

ProDigit · 07-11-2009, 05:55 PM

I'm not really impressed.
If the Kindle would go for $199,Sony and all others would have a hard time, but as the situation now is,I'd still prefer any other brand over the kindle.

Asphodel · 07-12-2009, 12:34 AM

Another successful refund here, I ordered my K2 on June 24th and called this evening (actually, I clicked the little button to have Amazon call me - no waiting on hold) and in less than five minutes the issue was resolved.

This has only increased my satisfaction with Amazon and the Kindle, I have to say.

fugazied · 07-12-2009, 12:46 AM

That settles it, I'm buying one for my Grandma! My mom already has a K2, she loves it.

Kris777 · 07-12-2009, 01:23 AM

http://www.tmcnet.com/ce/articles/59...e-2-prices.htm

And with the price cut, analysts appear optimistic of Amazon’s Kindle sales. For example, Sandeep Aggarwal, an Internet research analyst at Collins Stewart, said in a report this week that the Kindle would generate $310 million in revenue and $70 million in profit this year for Amazon, according to the New York Times. The company’s revenue is projected to grow to $2 billion and $560 million in profit by 2012, the report said.

...
As TMCnet reported, Google said it plans to introduce a program of its own that would let publishers sell digital versions of their newest books direct to consumers. The company held discussions with publishers about entering the e-book market at the annual BookExpo convention in New York to test the waters.

...

Start-up Pixel Qi (News - Alert) is another playing looking to capture market share from Amazon with its 3qi device. The new notebooks, which include e-reader functions, will likely feature displays that can swivel around to cover the keyboard and a tablet mode ideal for e-book readers, TMCnet reported.

griffonwing · 07-12-2009, 02:38 PM

Once the Ez Reader Pocket Pro comes out with a $200 price point, it's going to take the competition away from Sony and Amazon. It seems that 200 is the sweet spot for most people.

kelly1010 · 07-12-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brecklundin

BTW, the K2 is still over priced. Shave off another $50 and I think they hit a sweet spot where the wireless is the difference maker for a lot of folks. Still will not be buying another Kindle until the displays improve in terms of the dingy grey background. If it was not grey but rather more of a parchment color (you know that sort of pale yellow/brown) I would have an easier time using it. In fact that is the color I have my TFT readers set to use. I know it's weird but it works for me....I can read for HOURS with that background.

I agree. Had the Kindle been in the $199-249 range I might have considered it, but I felt that $359 was way too much. I still feel that $299 is too much. Especially when you consider the price of the books. I know they are supposedly the cheapest place for books, but its still an additional cost. Not to mention the cost of a cover. I don't understand why something that price wouldn't include a cover. I got my Sony for $100 cheaper than the Kindle was at the time and it included a nice cover. I was able to spend that extra $100 on books.

[QUOTE=rhadin;518496]I think the Sony 505 is overpriced by $50; its suggested retail price should be $249. People readily spend $200 to $250 for music players and I think that is an acceptable price for an ebook reading device.

If you look hard enough, you can find several 505s for around $250. Sony seems to have sales and promotions more often than Kindle does. This was the first time I heard of any type of discounted price on the Kindle.

griffonwing · 07-12-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelly1010

INot to mention the cost of a cover. I don't understand why something that price wouldn't include a cover.

I agree. With the high price of the reader itself, you'd think they could spring for the cover. Esp when they charge an extra 40-50 bucks for it, when it only actually costs about 3-5 dollars worth of materials/labor.

Astak actually includes a solidly built cover with their readers, which is another plus they have going for them.

Now, if Amazon actually dropped their price to 250, and included a hard cover for the Kindle, they might actually get more sales. Heck, if they opened up and allowed the unit to read more formats, they'd get even more sales.

Too bad that will most likely never happen on its own. They will soon have to adjust to the rising tide of the smaller companies who will slowly take up their market share.

Kris777 · 07-13-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Heck, if they opened up and allowed the unit to read more formats, they'd get even more sales.

I think they will never do it because they want make money selling ebooks for Kindle and don't want their competitors make profit on it.

griffonwing · 07-13-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kris777

I think they will never do it because they want make money selling ebooks for Kindle and don't want their competitors make profit on it.

I don't understand that way of thinking.

"Selling 25,000 Kindle books/month"
vs
"Selling 100,000 ebooks/month"

Which one do you think would make them more money?

07-12-2009, 01:23 AM	#70
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	some numbers... http://www.tmcnet.com/ce/articles/59...e-2-prices.htm And with the price cut, analysts appear optimistic of Amazon’s Kindle sales. For example, Sandeep Aggarwal, an Internet research analyst at Collins Stewart, said in a report this week that the Kindle would generate $310 million in revenue and $70 million in profit this year for Amazon, according to the New York Times. The company’s revenue is projected to grow to $2 billion and $560 million in profit by 2012, the report said. ... As TMCnet reported, Google said it plans to introduce a program of its own that would let publishers sell digital versions of their newest books direct to consumers. The company held discussions with publishers about entering the e-book market at the annual BookExpo convention in New York to test the waters. ... Start-up Pixel Qi (News - Alert) is another playing looking to capture market share from Amazon with its 3qi device. The new notebooks, which include e-reader functions, will likely feature displays that can swivel around to cover the keyboard and a tablet mode ideal for e-book readers, TMCnet reported.

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07-11-2009, 08:19 AM	#61
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	BTW, the K2 is still over priced. Shave off another $50 and I think they hit a sweet spot where the wireless is the difference maker for a lot of folks. Still will not be buying another Kindle until the displays improve in terms of the dingy grey background. If it was not grey but rather more of a parchment color (you know that sort of pale yellow/brown) I would have an easier time using it. In fact that is the color I have my TFT readers set to use. I know it's weird but it works for me....I can read for HOURS with that background.

07-11-2009, 08:49 AM	#62
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	So here's my question. Since some of you say the Kindle is (still) overpriced, what about the 505? I don't recall seeing complaints about it's high price. Shouldn't it be $100-150?

07-11-2009, 09:57 AM	#64
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	I don't see the Kindle and the 505 as being in the same class, so I don't see them as needing to be equal in price. Even without Whispernet, the Kindle 2 has features the 505 doesn't (dictionary, note taking, TTS, more font sizes). The 505 can read more formats natively and aside from PDF support (for some), I don't think that is enough to justify it's cost. Of course, for me, the question of ergonomics is opposite from yours because I love the buttons and the keyboard. Kindle 2 and the 700 are closer in class than the K2 and 505 (IMO).

07-11-2009, 02:42 PM	#65
Kris777 Banned Posts: 1,767 Karma: 2520493 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Nexus 7, jetBook-Lite, jetBook mini, Toshiba Thrive, JETBOOK COLOR	I think Kindle must be available for FREE - the same as BlackBerry available for free with 2 years T-mobile or AT&T contract. If you spend $30-$40 per month (it must be in contract) to purchase ebooks from Amazon it must be enough to cover the cost of Kindle hardware and still get some profit. I will not be surprised if Amazon will start sell it for free (with contract) in the future.

07-11-2009, 05:55 PM	#67
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	I'm not really impressed. If the Kindle would go for $199,Sony and all others would have a hard time, but as the situation now is,I'd still prefer any other brand over the kindle.

07-12-2009, 12:34 AM	#68
Asphodel Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle 2	Another successful refund here, I ordered my K2 on June 24th and called this evening (actually, I clicked the little button to have Amazon call me - no waiting on hold) and in less than five minutes the issue was resolved. This has only increased my satisfaction with Amazon and the Kindle, I have to say.

07-12-2009, 12:46 AM	#69
fugazied Wizard Posts: 1,305 Karma: 1958 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: iPod Touch	That settles it, I'm buying one for my Grandma! My mom already has a K2, she loves it.

07-12-2009, 02:38 PM	#71
griffonwing Suave Swabby, Savvy? Posts: 1,602 Karma: 520350 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Harrison, ARrrr, USA - southern Ozark mountains Device: Slate Blue PEZ (Astak Pocket Pro), CVSCX-9300 Quad-band watch phone	Once the Ez Reader Pocket Pro comes out with a $200 price point, it's going to take the competition away from Sony and Amazon. It seems that 200 is the sweet spot for most people.