Well what do you know – Amazon has done something I can truly agree with! Assuming of course, that I have an accurate understanding of what they are doing.
Their new program is called Kindle MatchBook. Simply put, if you (the reader) buy a print book from Amazon (hardcover, paperback, whatever), then you can also download the Kindle version of the book for a reduced price. Perhaps even for free.
Here’s the fine print:
You have to buy the book from Amazon. That makes sense, right?
The author or publisher has to enter the book into the program. I don’t know what the big 5 or 6 will think of this program, but unless they enter their books, you have to pay full price for the Kindle version. Even if you buy the print book.
The author/publisher determines how much your discount is. The choices are 50% of the listed Kindle price, or FREE.
Indie publishers – like me – should be all over this. I know I am, because guess what? I read books! Lots of books! And I LOVE the idea that if I buy a print copy of say… Amy Raby’s Spy’s Honor (due out this October) I also get the ebook on my Kindle. (Please Penguin, please).
Yeah, I won’t hold my breath for Penguin to do it.
BUT –
I’m doing it! Because I absolutely agree that if you buy a paperback version of one of my books, then you should get the Kindle version, too. For FREE.
A word of caution: I don’t know how this will work in practice. I haven’t seen anything from Amazon that informs readers about this program. It seems the only way to know about it is to hear from author. Or just get lucky when you buy a book that happens to be in the program.
Along those lines, if you’re an author and you’ve put your books in this program, let me know. I’d like to do a practice run to see how it works.
Marlene Dotterer 
Reblogged this on R.S.A.Garcia and commented:
This is an interesting development. I think it might actually work as a promotional method, and I know I’d love to give someone half-off or free on an ebook if they went to the trouble to buy my book.
You can never have too many free things on the internet.
Thanks for the mention! 🙂
I personally would love for readers who buy my paper books to get the ebook inexpensively. It feels like a win-win situation for authors and readers.
However, I can’t see the big publishers signing on because if they do, it will infuriate all the other bookstores because it gives customers yet another reason to buy from Amazon instead of from them. And publishers don’t want to alienate booksellers.
That’s my read on the situation. It will be interesting to see how it develops.
Thanks for reblogging Rhonda!
Amy, regarding bookstores, I was wondering about that, too. I wonder if they could include a coupon with each book or a code that prints out on your receipt or something. The code would be good for one ebook in any format the buyer chooses. The buyer could get the ebook from the publisher’s web page or from Smashwords, Amazon, wherever.
It might take a bit thought and logistical maneuvering, but it could be done.
As a reader I am now (mostly!) getting all my books on Kindle. I wish I could transform some older books I have to the Kindle without buying them again!