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| As an e-book here, and as print here |
The publisher of my novel that you see yet again in all of its high class uncensored glory, Solstice Publishing, has made the decision this week to use Amazon as an exclusive distributor of their e-books and print books. Apparently, they took a good hard look at where they had their product for sale and decided that Amazon was the place to be. So for the past few weeks, they've been slowly removing their product from all the major online retailers (including B&N) and now if you click on the link up above (go ahead, click on it), it will take you to their website, but now instead of being able to buy it directly from the publisher, you'll be sent directly to Amazon.
Now my feelings about Amazon are basically "take it or leave it". While yes, it is good for buying certain things, like c.d's of artists who are long gone from the music scene, or e-books, because hey, almost everyone has a Kindle or a tablet, for others, I would rather buy it directly from the manufacturer or have face to face contact with a human being.
But it is interesting for a small-to-mid-sized publisher to simply move all of their product to one gonzo website and not even sell it on their own website anymore.
While I have nothing against what my publisher is doing (more power to them in trying to do what's best for their stable of writers), on the surface it seems like that they're just throwing in the towel and bowing to the inevitable.
Do you think that more publishers might make the same move, which is basically hooking their trailer to that huge freighter known as Amazon? Do you think that this sounds like a good move for a publisher, not just mine, but for any publisher to make?
Why would you give your publisher the affiliate money you could be getting from Amazon?
ReplyDeleteMight as well point people from your site directly to Amazon and collect affiliate money as well.
Amazon gives some incentives for publishers to do that so there may be some benefits like that.
ReplyDeleteBearman: To be honest, I don't participate in the affiliate program. Sometime ago Amazon blocked people from certain states from participating because those certain states were trying to collect sales tax from them.
ReplyDeleteBut you do have a point.
Charles: My publisher elaborated on that particular subject today. From what I understand, B&N was the last place she decided to pull titles as B&N decided not to produce any more versions of the NOOK.
I'm puzzled, because even if B&N is discontinuing the Nook, why not sell it on their own site? Is fulfillment that much of a pain for them? And what did Amazon offer in return? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteYou've summed up Amazon well. I still can't believe that guy owns the Washington Post.
M: B&N does charge higher prices for the same title. And apparently, they weren't selling a lot of books on their website.
ReplyDeleteIt just seems strange to me that they're putting all their eggs in one basket, so to speak, and thus eliminating everyone who doesn't have a Kindle or doesn't have the ability to convert MOBI files to something else.
I think Bearman made a great point, G.
ReplyDeleteTalon: He does at that. But like I've stated previously, I don't think I can become an affiliate because of where I live. Now that may change soon as Amazon has plans to build a warehouse/shipping center here the upper part of the state.
ReplyDeleteI'm alarmed that Barnes & Noble is discontinuing the Nook??? What? Sorry - I can't focus on anything but that now.
ReplyDeleteLynn:Yep.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know it either until I read the update that my publisher posted in their private group. Apparently B&N aren't going to make any more updates/version of the Nook.
Stupid I know, but B&N is very dysfunctional right now, so the corporate strategy is pretty much "throw something at the wall and hope it sticks".