Free Amazon Kindle in the future?

sirmaru · 03-13-2011, 10:36 PM

See this link:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Desktops-an...Tablet-506110/

From that link see this quote:

"It is more likely that Amazon will make the Kindle free to Amazon Prime subscribers and then make their money selling ebooks rather than introduce a full-featured tablet," Baker said. "They don't have an app store yet and admittedly that could change things, but for now I just don't think this makes sense."

It was stated in a discussion about whether Amazon would compete with Apple's iPad 2 bu Gartner analyst Van Baker.

crich70 · 03-13-2011, 11:59 PM

Would be nice if that did apply in the future. I just bought my 1st Kindle on the 11th (waiting for it to arrive now). I had borrowed one through my local library (a kindle 2) and just couldn't hold off on buying one I could keep after that. lol. I don't know how long kindles last, but if they start offering them for free in the future it would be good so that a customer can easily replace their old unit when it wears out.

kranu · 03-14-2011, 12:04 AM

I would rather that Amazon charge for the Kindle. If they give it for free to Amazon Prime subscribers, the prime subscription price would increase to cover for the costs (I doubt books alone can cover the cost of a whole Kindle).

Many people would just subscribe once, then cancel. As such, loyal users would have to fork the bill for those temporary subscribers. The Kindle is a one-time fee (better), rather than a yearly payment. Unless, of course, you get a brand new Kindle every year q:

jbcohen · 03-15-2011, 12:58 PM

Don't be so sure Kranu. We don't know what the actual cost of building a Kindle is rather than the sale price. You can't say if the amount they make on the sales of the books would cover the cost of the Kindle as yet. However if Amazon made them available free they would probably make customers sign an agreement commiting them to a certain number of books to buy before canceling. Would be interesting to see what that number of books is as that would help indicate the actual cost of the kindle is.

kranu · 03-15-2011, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Don't be so sure Kranu. We don't know what the actual cost of building a Kindle is rather than the sale price. You can't say if the amount they make on the sales of the books would cover the cost of the Kindle as yet. However if Amazon made them available free they would probably make customers sign an agreement commiting them to a certain number of books to buy before canceling. Would be interesting to see what that number of books is as that would help indicate the actual cost of the kindle is.

What??? I didn't say they would. I'm just saying that the idea is impractical.

bZkindle · 03-15-2011, 09:16 PM

Wait. What is Amazon Prime again?

kranu · 03-15-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bZkindle

Wait. What is Amazon Prime again?

It's a premium service for Amazon. See the link below:

Amazon Prime

bZkindle · 03-16-2011, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kranu

It's a premium service for Amazon. See the link below:

Amazon Prime

at 80 bucks a year they better give out free kindles!
I'm in Canada anyway, so I know it is off-limits.
I never even bother trying to get anything from amazon anymore. I'll click through to order something then finally at the end of the process it'll say DENIED.
this is why my wish list is called 'things I can't buy from amazon'.

kranu · 03-16-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bZkindle

at 80 bucks a year they better give out free kindles!
I'm in Canada anyway, so I know it is off-limits.
I never even bother trying to get anything from amazon anymore. I'll click through to order something then finally at the end of the process it'll say DENIED.
this is why my wish list is called 'things I can't buy from amazon'.

I think $80 bucks a year is too much for the current benefits, but not so much that you should get a free Kindle. If I could choose a reasonable price for it, I would set it to $40. Not only do your products come up to 3 business days sooner (up to 5 if you count weekends), but the shipping is FREE (no need to purchase $25 or more).

Plus, you can stream different TV shows and movies for free. If the library of streaming videos improves, I can see Amazon Prime surpassing Netflix.

The United States gets so many more opportunities (AFAIK) than other countries. The one hyped up thing that the U.S. does not have is Spotify.

SamuraiXSendai · 03-16-2011, 05:52 AM

Prime makes them a LOT of money. I have it and buy much more than I would otherwise, 2 to 3 items per week, many on "subscription". It makes Amazon the preferred retailer of the Prime purchaser, because one thinks, I can get this right away and I've got to take advantage of the Prime membership (yes I am aware how sheeplike I am).

Pushka · 03-16-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamuraiXSendai

I can get this right away and I've got to take advantage of the Prime membership (yes I am aware how sheeplike I am).

That makes two of us

DMSmillie · 03-16-2011, 08:23 AM

Three!

TallMomof2 · 03-16-2011, 02:55 PM

Four!!

Piper_ · 03-16-2011, 03:30 PM

Five.

Baaahhh...

bZkindle · 03-16-2011, 03:37 PM

Is amazon prime really worth it in the UK or Australia?
It doesn't seem to be worth it in Canada.
Isn't shipping only within the continental US?

03-13-2011, 10:36 PM	#1
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	Free Amazon Kindle in the future? See this link: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Desktops-an...Tablet-506110/ From that link see this quote: "It is more likely that Amazon will make the Kindle free to Amazon Prime subscribers and then make their money selling ebooks rather than introduce a full-featured tablet," Baker said. "They don't have an app store yet and admittedly that could change things, but for now I just don't think this makes sense." It was stated in a discussion about whether Amazon would compete with Apple's iPad 2 bu Gartner analyst Van Baker.

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03-13-2011, 11:59 PM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Would be nice if that did apply in the future. I just bought my 1st Kindle on the 11th (waiting for it to arrive now). I had borrowed one through my local library (a kindle 2) and just couldn't hold off on buying one I could keep after that. lol. I don't know how long kindles last, but if they start offering them for free in the future it would be good so that a customer can easily replace their old unit when it wears out.

03-14-2011, 12:04 AM	#3
kranu I <3 my Kindle Posts: 528 Karma: 51332 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United States Device: Kindle 3G + WiFi	I would rather that Amazon charge for the Kindle. If they give it for free to Amazon Prime subscribers, the prime subscription price would increase to cover for the costs (I doubt books alone can cover the cost of a whole Kindle). Many people would just subscribe once, then cancel. As such, loyal users would have to fork the bill for those temporary subscribers. The Kindle is a one-time fee (better), rather than a yearly payment. Unless, of course, you get a brand new Kindle every year q:

03-15-2011, 12:58 PM	#4
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Don't be so sure Kranu. We don't know what the actual cost of building a Kindle is rather than the sale price. You can't say if the amount they make on the sales of the books would cover the cost of the Kindle as yet. However if Amazon made them available free they would probably make customers sign an agreement commiting them to a certain number of books to buy before canceling. Would be interesting to see what that number of books is as that would help indicate the actual cost of the kindle is.

03-15-2011, 09:16 PM	#6
bZkindle Fanatic Posts: 510 Karma: 1025024 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada City, Soviet Canuckistan Device: k2, k3G, kindle DXG, Sony T-1, iPad, iPhone, stone tablet	Wait. What is Amazon Prime again?

03-16-2011, 05:52 AM	#10
SamuraiXSendai Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1234 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Earth Device: Kindle 1. Kindle 2. IPAD. KDXG. Kindle 3.Fire	Prime makes them a LOT of money. I have it and buy much more than I would otherwise, 2 to 3 items per week, many on "subscription". It makes Amazon the preferred retailer of the Prime purchaser, because one thinks, I can get this right away and I've got to take advantage of the Prime membership (yes I am aware how sheeplike I am).

03-16-2011, 08:23 AM	#12
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	Three!

03-16-2011, 02:55 PM	#13
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	Four!!

03-16-2011, 03:30 PM	#14
Piper_ ~~~~~ Posts: 761 Karma: 1278391 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle 3, Sony 350	Five. Baaahhh...

03-16-2011, 03:37 PM	#15
bZkindle Fanatic Posts: 510 Karma: 1025024 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada City, Soviet Canuckistan Device: k2, k3G, kindle DXG, Sony T-1, iPad, iPhone, stone tablet	Is amazon prime really worth it in the UK or Australia? It doesn't seem to be worth it in Canada. Isn't shipping only within the continental US?

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