Amazon, BookSurge and the Future of POD
Among writers who self-publish, print on demand companies and even political sites like The Huffington Post, the ruckus over Amazon’s decision to force self-publishers to use their print on demand services in order to be sold through Amazon using their Buy Now button continues to grow, as it should.
Angela Hoy, over at Writer’s Weekly, basically broke the story and has continued to track it as it grows. It’s important because Amazon is the largest online retailer of books, and if they insist on this policy they will effectively kill much of the POD industry because they will create a monopoly-like situation. Given the number of POD books that are printed each year (guestimates run close to 200,000 titles) I don’t think a single company can hand them, let alone all the issues about if a single company should handle them.
Amazon first defended its policy saying that other POD publishers can still sell on the site via consignment - you and I know that link as leading to a whole variety of unknown sellers. The problem there is that those sellers are unknown, and people want to buy from a trusted source.
The issues became more convoluted when Hoy broke the news that several POD companies had actually reached an agreement with Amazon so their books could be sold with Amazon’s Buy Button. And it’s in this article that Hoy points out that, as owner of one of the original POD outfits, she always felt that having our BookLocker books listed in the online bookstores was a privilege. She’s right, of course, and as she points out many other POD companies actually charge their customers for an Amazon listing - a questionable practice in my not very humble opinion on this subject.
None the less, Hoy also makes it clear she feels strongly that Amazon is trying to create an unfair competitive advantage for themselves, and that profit is the only motive.
I agree.
There’s a link to a petition to sign on Writers Weekly - you’ll see it a short way down on the right. There’s also a link to a petition to the Washington State Attorney General as well as a wealth of other information.
Let us know what you think of this issue.
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POSTED IN: Book Writing, Editing, Pubishing & Marketing, The Power of Words / Words To Power
9 opinions for Amazon, BookSurge and the Future of POD
Fisk Gawsen
Apr 8, 2008 at 1:17 pm
It’s very difficult for me to let anyone handcuff my abilities to sell my products. Face it, we’ll never win against the big guys but there are many other ways to get your own products out to the market.
Personally, I create my info products based on what I learned with the InfoProdCreation.com course and I’m not running to Amazon or eBay with the product to sell it.
Regardless of that, I am for the people so I will go ahead and sign that petition:-)
Fisk Gawsen
Amazon Defends Itself
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:21 am
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Amazon Defends Itself
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:21 am
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Apr 10, 2008 at 11:28 am
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Apr 14, 2008 at 1:46 am
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Michael
Apr 14, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Amazon first defended its policy saying that other POD publishers can still sell on the site via consignment - you and I know that link as leading to a whole variety of unknown sellers.
Actually, the consignment policy that Amazon recommended (Amazon Advantage) would have Amazon listed as the seller. You’re conflating it with Amazon’s Marketplace, which lists other people and businesses as the sellers.
Anne Wayman
Apr 14, 2008 at 6:46 pm
thanks for the clarification, Michael
Cheryl Pickett
Apr 15, 2008 at 6:03 pm
It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how things change. A lot of POD authors have relied heavily on Amazon, and the new program asks them to give up a greater percentage. Also, the fees to use Booksurge, from what I’ve read at Writer’s Weekly etc. appear to be significantly higher than other POD services.
If Amazon fulfills their promise of better everything, then maybe there’ll be an upside. Downside will be people who really want to sell through major online sites, will likely have to set up with Booksurge and a Lightning Source participating program.
Maybe this will also finally increase the availability and popularity of ebooks/info products as mentioned above. That is one way Amazon is no concern at all.
Cheryl Pickett
http://www.publishinganswers.com
Anne Wayman
Apr 16, 2008 at 9:01 am
Thanks Cheryl… I sometimes wonder if I’ll live long enough to see how some of this works out… ever changing… I still want a really good ebook reader! That would once again turn pod on its head.
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