Friday, December 9, 2011

Fleecing the Flock

There has been much ado about nothing regarding Amazon's new KDP select program. Some authors/publishers/etc. have cried foul, saying Amazon's practices are tantamount to a monopoly.

Pu-lease. They're asking for a minimum of 90 days exclusivity for a few promotional benefits. Don't like it? Don't sign up. I don't know that I've ever signed a short story contract for less than 90 days exclusivity, and several of those were for token-paying markets.

But--and here's the fleecing--Kindle Nation Daily is offering a "Free Book Highlighing" Service to "Help Indie Authors Get the Word Out About New Free Book Listings!"

You see, KDP will now allow an author to list his/her book for free for up to five days within the 90 day period. For the low (cough, cough) cost of $25.99 a day, Kindle Nation Daily will highlight the book for you.  Go on. Read the fine print. 

I know how I feel about this. Your thoughts?

6 comments:

Barry Napier said...

I did the free promo thing just for the weekend for two of my titles that are selling VERY poorly, just to see if it would work at all. Otherwise, I do see this as something to be wary of in the long run...

Aaron Polson said...

Barry - I'd agree that "permanent" exclusivity would be a bad idea. As a producer of content, I don't want Amazon to be the only game in town.

Robert said...

I might try it for a brand new title, but I'm not going to unpublish stuff I have elsewhere. At least not yet. I don't see the benefit, as the overall percentage I might get from the thing would probably be less than what I already make at, say, B&N.

Lyn said...

I wouldn't pay $25 a day for a promotional campaign. Seems pricey, but then I'm not in that game at the moment.

K. Allen Wood said...

I'm trying it with Shock Totem. Made issue #4 free on Sunday. Here are some of my quick and dirty thoughts on it...

http://www.shocktotem.com/12/12/2011/only-time-will-tell

Katey said...

Don't like it? Don't sign up.
This. Always this. Whatever an author or publisher chooses, I'm behind it, because that's what's right for their stuff.

End of story, for me!

That other thing though... that does sound like a rip and a half. But hey. I hope it works for people!