Comments

1
Heh. Like Starbucks partnered with locally-owned coffee shops and Japan partnered with SE Asia.
2
You should leave a message on Amazon's PR hotline asking why they never answer their voicemail and what they think this may mean for their public image.
3
I see a lot of Kindles used by Asian students from Korea, Japan, and China here.

Do people still answer phones? I just let them ring.
4
You must really know how to cultivate sources, Paul. A book writer who can't even reach a PR person at the world's largest bookseller -- with offices just a bit more than a mile from yours. That's sad.

5
I don't understand why the owner would be so surprised, and dismiss the idea out of hand. Yes, Amazon has caused the indie bookseller market to shrink, but there seems to also be a fundamental belief on the part of many sellers that there is only the binary choice of physical vs. digital books.

Many people use both, depending on the circumstance. Why would it be so unreasonable to investigate the possibility of offering both options to your customers? Couldn't that increase loyalty to a physical seller vs. a format? And what might Amazon offer me as an incentive, as a seller?

I admit, it may or may not be the right decision for any particular indie seller, but seems narrow-minded and potentially self-defeating to handle things the way they're cited in the article. Evolution can be a good thing.
6
Hello, Trojan Books?

Yes, this is Greekazon.

I have this horse I'd like to bring around. You can put it inside your store. You know, leave it there for the weekend to bring in customers. That sort of thing.
7
@5 Definitely. "Nope! We aren't interested in working with the most successful online book seller ever! We are just about to turn things around."
8
@5: I would be surprised because a lot of independent book stores are already working with Kobo. Kobo lets you buy books through your independent book store's website and download it that way; Amazon won't let you download books that you've gotten any place other than Amazon.
9
Check their job listings. Seems plausible.

@5: What's the long-term revenue stream available to the indies for doing this? Do they get five bucks from each unit sold (which are already loss leaders for Amazon)? Do they get a cut of each sale made from that unit sold in their store in perpetuity? I can't imagine many scenarios where it makes sense to actively market your competition's entire storefront in a box.

This has little to do with format, IMO, and everything to do with answering what's in it for me. Why bother if all you get is scraps from an affiliate program.
10
@8: Good point. I guess I'm most surprised at the out-of-hand dismissal of any potential partnership. I assume Amazon is most interested in selling Kindles vs. selling ebooks through a small indie site, and they do have millions of customers along with ways to get people into my store. So, as an owner, what could I get in exchange for having a Kindle display?

As far as ebook sales, I don't know enough about the indie online book business to have an answer to this, but what do they make off of online sales and would they convert at a higher rate if they sent customers to buy at Amazon and collect a commission that exceeded their current earnings? Could I find a way to get them to send me traffic if I agreed to this?

Again, I understand why Amazon is a sore subject for small bookstores but the fact is that ebooks aren't going away and while it's noble to give them the finger, it doesn't mean it's smart for business. I would think it would be in the best interest of at least some of these owners to investigate new ways to partner (especially if Amazon recognizes they have hurdles to clear to make it happen and is open to new ideas; I have no doubt that their prepared proposals heavily favor Amazon).
11
@9: Those are all good questions that should be asked. My point was that, based on the above post, the store cited simply said "No, that's ridiculous/impossible." Believe me, there will be booksellers out there that find a way to make it work for them.
12
@4: If only I had your charm, I'd be cultivating sources like a boss, I'm sure.

Amazon.com's PR people notoriously never contact the press unless they want the press to act like a press release-republishing machine. I know people at Amazon, but none of them are willing to speak on the record, for fear of losing their jobs.

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