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

[John Carroll]

10 of my books are in print and I've made the ebook version free for all of them. I have no idea what the result will be, but I'm happy to give the ebook away with the print book. I think it's awesome for the customer.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I *THINK* that from now on when you buy a print book that is in the program it will tell you at time of purchase if the ebook is free or low cost. BUT I don't know for sure and I don't know if that phase is working yet.

Sort of. I tried this out. If you got to a kindle edition that is eligible for matchbook it tells you right at the top... right above the audio book reduce price.

However, if you go to buy a pbook then you have to scroll down to description to see there there is a matchbook price ebook for it.

At least this is what I see. Search for the book Prey, it is a matchbook book and toggle from the pbook version to the kindle version.

It would be nice if when you bought a pbook it would say "Add kindle edition for $x now" or something like that if you have kindles on your account.

BOb

[DreamWriter]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

However, if you go to buy a pbook then you have to scroll down to description to see there there is a matchbook price ebook for it.

I find it odd that Amazon didn't prominently display the Matchbook price info box on the paperback page like it is on the Kindle version. Placing it just to the right of the boxes that say "Kindle" and "Paperback" would be perfect, and there's plenty of room there. Many customers aren't going to see the Matchbook price information where it is now on the paperback page.

It would be nice if when you bought a pbook it would say "Add kindle edition for $x now" or something like that if you have kindles on your account.

I agree. I was hoping they'd have a button that says "Buy the Bundle" or something similar, where you could purchase both paperback and e-book at one time.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

I find it odd that Amazon didn't prominently display the Matchbook price info box on the paperback page like it is on the Kindle version. Placing it just to the right of the boxes that say "Kindle" and "Paperback" would be perfect, and there's plenty of room there. Many customers aren't going to see the Matchbook price information where it is now on the paperback page.



I agree. I was hoping they'd have a button that says "Buy the Bundle" or something similar, where you could purchase both paperback and e-book at one time.

Agreed... and if they did that, I might start buying p-books again... cause I can lend those... if the ebook is free with it, or the combined price is the same as the ebook (yes paperbacks are still at times less than ebook prices).

BOb

[Yapyap]

Not sure if this warrants a separate news thread or not, but I just came across this piece of news, which is sort of related (if different, and in the UK for now): http://www.thebookseller.com/news/ha...et-bundle.html

HarperCollins and Foyles have partnered to sell e-book and print book bundles on selected titles.

Foyles will sell eight HarperCollins titles—including Catastrophe by Max Hastings, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The Demon Dentist by David Walliams— shrink-wrapped with a voucher inside containing a code to download a digital version.

[jersysman]

I had 0 matches. I haven't new paperback books in a very long time. I would either buy used ones from Amazon, Halfbooks, or Ebay. So, I wasn't expecting much. If they start offering reference books in this program, then I might be able to get some of those.

[SampleAndy]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

...

It would be nice if when you bought a pbook it would say "Add kindle edition for $x now" or something like that if you have kindles on your account.

BOb

Hey BOb,
At first, it sounded like a great idea to make it that much easier to get the Kindle editions, but after thinking about it, I don't think I'd ever buy both editions, unless I was trying to complete a set of pBooks. For me, the eBook concept is all about the convenience. If something comes to mind, I don't have to worry about which shelf of which bookshelf or which box in which room the book is stored on, or wherever ELSE it might be. I just go to the Kindle, or worst comes to worst to calibre, find the book and start reading it. How many people would want to buy two different editions of the same book? (of course, if they were FREE...)

The way it works for me (so far) was that since I'd already had purchased those five pBooks, I was able to add five eBooks for only $10. If I'd had to pay the list price of $33, I still wouldn't have them. (shrugs)
Andy

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

Hey BOb,
At first, it sounded like a great idea to make it that much easier to get the Kindle editions, but after thinking about it, I don't think I'd ever buy both editions, unless I was trying to complete a set of pBooks. For me, the eBook concept is all about the convenience. If something comes to mind, I don't have to worry about which shelf of which bookshelf or which box in which room the book is stored on, or wherever ELSE it might be. I just go to the Kindle, or worst comes to worst to calibre, find the book and start reading it. How many people would want to buy two different editions of the same book? (of course, if they were FREE...)

The way it works for me (so far) was that since I'd already had purchased those five pBooks, I was able to add five eBooks for only $10. If I'd had to pay the list price of $33, I still wouldn't have them. (shrugs)
Andy

True... but if the ebook is free with the purchase of the pbook, I will buy the pbook, and donate it, trade it, or sell it.

BOb

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by SampleAndy

How many people would want to buy two different editions of the same book? (of course, if they were FREE...)

Me. I want certain paper books for permanence, and the e-books for convenience.

[BearMountainBooks]

I think the free idea is the one that will work for most readers. However, for a writer, it's tough to offer the ebook for free with purchase of paperback because the commissions on most of the paperbacks are...very low. If we price the paperback where most 9 by 6 books are, it's fine because for a 13 to 15 dollar paperback, the author is probably making 2 to 3 dollars. BUT if we priced the paperback under 10 to be competitive with mass market...that means we're making maybe 35 cents. Maybe up to a dollar or so, depending on length of the book, etc.

I suspect most of us authors actually make better money by just selling the ebook.

That doesn't mean I didn't put mine in there, but I have pretty low expectations for the program.

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I suspect most of us authors actually make better money by just selling the ebook.

On the other hand, it may lead to increased sales in paper, since it makes a paperback a better deal. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by avantman42

On the other hand, it may lead to increased sales in paper, since it makes a paperback a better deal. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I know. That's why we have to kind of have a finger in all the pies. I'm seeing quite a bit of enthusiasm from readers for the cheaper audio options (many of which are indie). Groan. I don't have the resources to devout to doing an audio of any of my books at this time. But it seems like I need to have a presence there. Hard to be everywhere at once. But I too am glad to see audio prices come down. I don't read a lot of audio, but...with the better prices, I admit it's more likely.

[avantman42]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I know. That's why we have to kind of have a finger in all the pies. I'm seeing quite a bit of enthusiasm from readers for the cheaper audio options (many of which are indie). Groan. I don't have the resources to devout to doing an audio of any of my books at this time. But it seems like I need to have a presence there. Hard to be everywhere at once. But I too am glad to see audio prices come down. I don't read a lot of audio, but...with the better prices, I admit it's more likely.

Not all of my books would suit audio versions. I'd like to do them for those that it would suit, and it's something I'm hoping to do at some point in the future.

I don't own many audio books, and the ones I have were relatively cheap. I quite like audio books, but not enough to pay high prices for them, so I only listen to the ones I can get fairly cheap

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by avantman42

Not all of my books would suit audio versions. I'd like to do them for those that it would suit, and it's something I'm hoping to do at some point in the future.

I don't own many audio books, and the ones I have were relatively cheap. I quite like audio books, but not enough to pay high prices for them, so I only listen to the ones I can get fairly cheap

For roadtrips I love them, but the price does keep me from ordering what I actually want and hunting through used bargain prices to find something I'll listen to. With the audio matching program there were several in my list that I haven't read yet that I could see buying the audio if I had a roadtrip coming up. So it will provide more options for me.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

Not sure if this warrants a separate news thread or not, but I just came across this piece of news, which is sort of related (if different, and in the UK for now): http://www.thebookseller.com/news/ha...et-bundle.html

Problem is, their bundle prices are higher than buying both separately:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...uk/#more-59535