tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post2283239869944389381..comments2024-03-28T12:01:31.049-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Understanding Amazon’s Book PricingJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38978483526997518662012-07-23T13:32:56.215-04:002012-07-23T13:32:56.215-04:00I think the number left is pure marketing hype. T...I think the number left is pure marketing hype. This has started appearing on Amazon.com in the past few months for virtually all books. Either that, or Amazon.com is decreasing their inventory markedly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20533686274424224642012-07-23T12:07:45.028-04:002012-07-23T12:07:45.028-04:00Jim, Amazon originally sold my book at the publish...Jim, Amazon originally sold my book at the publisher's list, 14.95, then dropped the price when the book became available at B&N for a couple of dollars less. The last time I looked it was selling for list at both sites.<br /><br />I think "only blank left" is pure balderdash, to be polite. Equally mysterious are the Amazon rankings. The greatest mystery of all is why the Justice Department hasn't acted against a company which, to my admittedly non-lawyer mind, is in violation of the Sherman Act.Anita Pagehttp://www.anitapagewriter.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-35313423087337734382012-07-22T12:49:35.965-04:002012-07-22T12:49:35.965-04:00Warren,
I suspect the ratings are actually based ...Warren,<br /><br />I suspect the ratings are actually based on an algorithm -- the specifics of which may indeed have elements of voodoo.<br /><br />I'm sure there are legions of Marketing MBAs out there who design the "optimal" pricing for hardcovers, paperbacks, etc. But it should would be interesting to peek under the hood.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-39870812120071323742012-07-22T11:42:23.496-04:002012-07-22T11:42:23.496-04:00I don't have a clue about the Amazon pricing u...I don't have a clue about the Amazon pricing used for my book, Jim. All I know is I had to squeeze out a bunch of characters plus spaces, so they wouldn't have to price the hardcover even higher. They were happy with the book as it was, but it needed to come in under a certain character plus space limit, or the "price point" for the book would have to go higher. Since hardcovers are so darn expensive anyway, I didn't want my book any higher-priced than it had to be, so I squeezed those words out an already tight book.<br /><br />And the rankings are part-voodoo, I think, Warren.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-9098220419381119692012-07-22T11:07:51.010-04:002012-07-22T11:07:51.010-04:00If the pricing is strange, the ranking is downrigh...If the pricing is strange, the ranking is downright unfathomable. My experience with Amazon includes having my work disappear from their site with no explanation ever given.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76266556680894319512012-07-22T09:28:54.008-04:002012-07-22T09:28:54.008-04:00Carl,
The author part of me also spends no time w...Carl,<br /><br />The author part of me also spends no time worrying about their pricing. However, the finance geek part of me is curious to understand the economics behind what they do--not that it will change what I do, but just because I'm a curious sort.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-54611316917352127842012-07-22T08:50:12.326-04:002012-07-22T08:50:12.326-04:00In answer to your question, I have no idea and you...In answer to your question, I have no idea and you know what? Since I have zero influence on the matter I spend only a tad more than that in time looking at and wondering about it. Not to be snarky, but I think we authors can better spend our energies dealing with marketing and writing aspects over which we do have a say.carl brookinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400731716746662544noreply@blogger.com