Kindle MatchBook: Get the Kindle version of a previously-bought paper book cheap/free

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I like this. I can definitely see ordering a hardcover if it comes with a free or 99cent ebook version (probably wouldnt for the pricier ones). I still like physical books now and then.

I have pretty much phased out buying paper books entirely, but something like this might tempt me to get the hardback version with free or cheap ebook rather than waiting for the ebook to drop in price.

[Julius Caesar]

Amazon already charges printed books a lot more than other book sellers. So, whether it is a good deal remains to be seen.

I remember that I bought a brand new text book for $50 from half.com while it would cost me $135 from Amazon. Same book, same condition, same edition, same ISBN.

[kennyc]

Textbooks are a world of their own.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by avantman42

The possible fly in the ointment is "once a publisher enrolls a title in Kindle MatchBook". The press release says over 10,000 books will be available at launch, but that's a pretty small fraction compared to the millions of books that Amazon sells. Still, if the ones I want are included, I'll be happy

Since they are letting us indies include our books, I think it's safe to say which "publishers" will be first to market. I just got a notice that I can include my books and then saw that 18k books are already enrolled.

Of course, before anyone moans in disappointment, remember that us indies and our low prices have helped some publishers play the "sale" and "Free" game so I'm sure some publishers will try this with some books (it's not an all or nothing proposition, at least not where I signed up).

[Xanthe]

Originally Posted by miguel1626

Now that's something I wholeheartedly agree with, and it'll increase publisher's revenue wrt readers like me, since I tend to award myself the right to a darknet ebook if I own the pbook. Go Amazon!

That sentiment, I think, will be echoed by a lot of people.

I'm just thinking of the boxes and boxes of paperbacks that I've bought from Amazon over the years. If I can get free or cheap ebook versions of them, that's going to free up a lot of space in my home.

[FizzyWater]

It would be tempting to buy print books that can be matched, just to be able to donate those print copies to the library.

But I wonder if there's anything in the small print that says you should keep the hardcopy. (To be fair, I've never noticed/paid attention to whether that's also try of the CD match program, though).

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

It would be tempting to buy print books that can be matched, just to be able to donate those print copies to the library.

But I wonder if there's anything in the small print that says you should keep the hardcopy. (To be fair, I've never noticed/paid attention to whether that's also try of the CD match program, though).

That is assuming that the libraries want them. Over half of the books donated to libraries (at least when I worked there) did not land on the shelves. They were sold for pennies to raise money for books for the libraries--books that the librarians wanted to order, rather than the ones donated. Anytime you want to donate a book to a local library, first check with the librarian to ask if she will shelf it or sell it. If you ask, they will tell you. We had numerous patrons donate entire, LOVELY sets. They were furious to find that they were sold. Some were signed copies that the patrons had gone to a lot of trouble to obtain. In one case a lady donated all her romance books because she was moving to a small apartment. Imagine her outrage and dismay when she found that instead of "saving them someplace where she could always check them out again" she discovered that our library had a policy of carrying very few paperback romances...and all but two had been sold.

[elemenoP]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I didn't think the digital mp3 program applied to used CDs only new ones that are offered as digital.

It does seem strange but I can confirm through first-hand experience that it applies to used CDs, purchased through Amazon Marketplace.

eP

[John Carroll]

Originally Posted by johnnyb

Now is the best time to start promoting print
Worst case: nothing changes...
Best case: your books gain visibility on bookshelves and in public...

But I make more money off of the ebooks. And it costs the readers much less.

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

We had numerous patrons donate entire, LOVELY sets. They were furious to find that they were sold. Some were signed copies that the patrons had gone to a lot of trouble to obtain. In one case a lady donated all her romance books because she was moving to a small apartment. Imagine her outrage and dismay when she found that instead of "saving them someplace where she could always check them out again" she discovered that our library had a policy of carrying very few paperback romances...and all but two had been sold.

It seems like in both those cases those people were unaware that they had donated their books to a library. Otherwise I can't imagine such responses from healthy people.

[LovesMacs]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

It seems like in both those cases, those people were unaware that they had donated their books to a library. Otherwise I can't imagine such responses from healthy people.

I can imagine people who weren't aware that libraries sell or otherwise cull items from their collections.

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Since they are letting us indies include our books, I think it's safe to say which "publishers" will be first to market. I just got a notice that I can include my books and then saw that 18k books are already enrolled.

That's a fair point I've been doing something similar with OneBookShelf (with the ebook at free when bought with paper) for some time, so I've already enrolled mine.

That said, though, I've been surprised at the indie author reaction that I've seen. There seems to be a lot of hesitancy, rather than the immediate jumping on that I'd expected

[Fourl29]

I was in the vast minority that demanded free or reduced price ebooks with every printed book.

I am so glad amazon is leading the way for this, as apparently everyone else to far up their behind to figure this out, or too greedy (hello apple) thinking that they are going to get away with becoming software companies churning out one "e" copy after the other at no cost, but keeping the prices at print book levels (or colluding to raise them even higher). Good luck with that.

Only yesterday as I let one book on the sitting room and picked up the kindle to go to bed reading with that I was thinking to myself, wtf is going here, why the hell am I not allowed the comfort of having my printed books and being able to read them occasionally on the kindle to, whatever is most convenient. To be sure, I 'd really lost all hope. I thought from now on I 'd be permanently taken advantage of and have to buy the book twice with no option for a combined price for both e and p books. I vowed to steal whatever ebook I could get my hands on (an 8 year old kid could do it, it's easy, it's the internet age) to make up for my paying double for the print and ebook combo, and to send a message to those bozos that unless they start treating the customer fairly books are fated to be like music and videos, stolen by everyone left right and center and seeing their sales crumble.

But now I have another request, what about the 30-40 e-books I bought from amazon, could I have a reduced price (not to the extent the ebook would be reduced of course) to own the printed versions now?

A much, much welcome and surprising decision by amazon. May kudos and I hope more publishers join.

[avantman42]

I applaud Amazon's decision to do this, but in the interest of accuracy and giving credit where it's due, I'd like to point out that they're not the first, as many people seem to think.

The various OneBookShelf stores have been doing this for years, and University Press of Kentucky began a similar program in August.

[Fourl29]

Originally Posted by avantman42

I applaud Amazon's decision to do this, but in the interest of accuracy and giving credit where it's due, I'd like to point out that they're not the first, as many people seem to think.

The various OneBookShelf stores have been doing this for years, and University Press of Kentucky began a similar program in August.

It's good that you mentioned them, and kudos to both. The right to read an electronic copy of whatever printed material you BUY and OWN on whatever eink/lcd device you choose for convenience and portability should really have been a no brainer.