A Million Dollar Ebook Experiment - Too Dangerous?

Daniel A Roberts · 01-23-2011, 12:49 AM

Ok, so I have this idea. An ebook priced at 1 Million Bucks.

Only for millionaires, the trailer will read. A truth millionaires will all agree with. Something they need to know if they already don't. That all millionaires will agree with.

It's going to be only one page. In fact, one sentence long. It will read...

"Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can sure as hell take the edge off misery."

That's it.

No sampling of course. Either buy it or not. With a 60% royalty base, all I need to do is sell one. Just one.

Question is, will I piss off a millionaire to get my pants sued off? Or will they write it up as 'clever' and let me get away with it?

Burn me or learn me, either way try and have a little fun while contemplating this hypothetical ebook.

wvcherrybomb · 01-23-2011, 12:52 AM

Amazon has a 7 day return policy for ebooks so I wouldn't try it there.

CWatkinsNash · 01-23-2011, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Amazon has a 7 day return policy for ebooks so I wouldn't try it there.

neilmarr · 01-23-2011, 06:49 AM

Nice one, Daniel. I'd snap that one up immediately for a million bucks, Euro or even pounds. But, of course, I'm far too gullible ever to be a millionaire. Good luck. Neil

unboggling · 01-23-2011, 06:56 AM

For such an experiment, personally I'd choose a target market of billionaires or trillionaires who might have more disposable cash handy than a mere millionaire. And offer it not through an eBook vendor but through a posh New York auction house.

Mortis · 01-23-2011, 07:06 AM

Sounds like a perfect plan, just remember to use a pen name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Nice one, Daniel. I'd snap that one up immediately for a million bucks, Euro or even pounds. But, of course, I'm far too gullible ever to be a millionaire. Good luck. Neil

Neil you would be surprised how many very wealthy people get "Conned" there was a report about the "Nigerian Letter" email scam, over 500 people admitted to being scammed by it, the RCMP figured that they were the tip of the iceberg and that the vast majority of people conned wouldn't report it. they specifically mentioned "People with means" would be the least likely to report, but higher probability of being scammed.

Sorry, don't mean to hijack your thread.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-23-2011, 10:41 AM

The only way to make a millionaire want this is if it is absolutely exclusive. No one can know the contents except the person who buys it, and the people they share it with (if they are so inclined).

In fact, now that you've told us the contents... you need different contents. And don't tell anyone this time!

If a m/b/trillionaire likes exclusive things, they will pony up for it without a second thought.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 01-23-2011, 11:01 AM

You need to target this guy.

caleb72 · 01-23-2011, 11:22 AM

Well considering a guy got a million dollars just by asking for it on YouTube you've got a good chance.

Regards
Caleb

amoroso · 01-23-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Amazon has a 7 day return policy for ebooks so I wouldn't try it there.

He might consider packaging the ebook as an Android app. Android Market currently has a 15 minutes return policy.

Jellby · 01-23-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel A Roberts

Ok, so I have this idea. An ebook priced at 1 Million Bucks.

It sounds like this.

moyeen · 01-23-2011, 12:43 PM

Only for millionaires, the trailer will read. A truth millionaires will all agree with. Something they need to know if they already don't. That all millionaires will agree with

J. Strnad · 01-23-2011, 02:27 PM

Actually, someone who doesn't need the money could really do this. Say, Stephen King.

King writes a novel and makes a single Kindle file available for $1,000,000. That buys an exclusive for one year. Buying the file does not include copying rights. If a single bootleg copy gets out, the publisher knows who is responsible because only one copy was released and, contract violated, releases the book to the public.

Given King's fan base, somebody out there could pony up $1,000,000 without missing it. Then we'd find out how long they could sit on it and gloat before it got out to a girlfriend or chaffeur or somesuch.

Fastolfe · 01-24-2011, 09:39 AM

Your plan has a flaw: you need to realize that that vast majority of rich people didn't get to where they are randomly: many of them are corporate thieves of the worst kind and would have no qualms over stealing a copy of your "book", and many of them are so stingy they wouldn't buy it if it cost 10 cents anyway.

Kali Yuga · 01-24-2011, 01:24 PM

Yeah, well. Someone already tried a variant of your *cough* clever idea. Close to 2 years ago, in fact.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/tech...-i-am-ric.html

Chances are that Amazon also has a cap on how much you can charge. I doubt many people can charge $1,000,000 on their credit card as well.

01-23-2011, 12:49 AM	#1
Daniel A Roberts Author Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oklahoma City Device: Mobi Pocket	A Million Dollar Ebook Experiment - Too Dangerous? Ok, so I have this idea. An ebook priced at 1 Million Bucks. Only for millionaires, the trailer will read. A truth millionaires will all agree with. Something they need to know if they already don't. That all millionaires will agree with. It's going to be only one page. In fact, one sentence long. It will read... "Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can sure as hell take the edge off misery." That's it. No sampling of course. Either buy it or not. With a 60% royalty base, all I need to do is sell one. Just one. Question is, will I piss off a millionaire to get my pants sued off? Or will they write it up as 'clever' and let me get away with it? Burn me or learn me, either way try and have a little fun while contemplating this hypothetical ebook.

01-23-2011, 12:43 PM	#12
moyeen Banned Posts: 11 Karma: 220 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: none	Only for millionaires, the trailer will read. A truth millionaires will all agree with. Something they need to know if they already don't. That all millionaires will agree with Last edited by moyeen; 01-23-2011 at 12:43 PM. Reason: thanks

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01-23-2011, 12:52 AM	#2
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	Amazon has a 7 day return policy for ebooks so I wouldn't try it there.

01-23-2011, 06:49 AM	#4
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Nice one, Daniel. I'd snap that one up immediately for a million bucks, Euro or even pounds. But, of course, I'm far too gullible ever to be a millionaire. Good luck. Neil

01-23-2011, 06:56 AM	#5
unboggling Wizard Posts: 1,065 Karma: 858115 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kobo Clara, Kindle Paperwhite 10	For such an experiment, personally I'd choose a target market of billionaires or trillionaires who might have more disposable cash handy than a mere millionaire. And offer it not through an eBook vendor but through a posh New York auction house.

01-23-2011, 10:41 AM	#7
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	The only way to make a millionaire want this is if it is absolutely exclusive. No one can know the contents except the person who buys it, and the people they share it with (if they are so inclined). In fact, now that you've told us the contents... you need different contents. And don't tell anyone this time! If a m/b/trillionaire likes exclusive things, they will pony up for it without a second thought.

01-23-2011, 11:01 AM	#8
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	You need to target this guy.

01-23-2011, 11:22 AM	#9
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	Well considering a guy got a million dollars just by asking for it on YouTube you've got a good chance. Regards Caleb

01-23-2011, 02:27 PM	#13
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Actually, someone who doesn't need the money could really do this. Say, Stephen King. King writes a novel and makes a single Kindle file available for $1,000,000. That buys an exclusive for one year. Buying the file does not include copying rights. If a single bootleg copy gets out, the publisher knows who is responsible because only one copy was released and, contract violated, releases the book to the public. Given King's fan base, somebody out there could pony up $1,000,000 without missing it. Then we'd find out how long they could sit on it and gloat before it got out to a girlfriend or chaffeur or somesuch.

01-24-2011, 09:39 AM	#14
Fastolfe Bookworm Posts: 98 Karma: 55796 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650	Your plan has a flaw: you need to realize that that vast majority of rich people didn't get to where they are randomly: many of them are corporate thieves of the worst kind and would have no qualms over stealing a copy of your "book", and many of them are so stingy they wouldn't buy it if it cost 10 cents anyway.

01-24-2011, 01:24 PM	#15
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Yeah, well. Someone already tried a variant of your cough clever idea. Close to 2 years ago, in fact. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/tech...-i-am-ric.html Chances are that Amazon also has a cap on how much you can charge. I doubt many people can charge $1,000,000 on their credit card as well.

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