by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
After my post Wednesday, where I extolledthe virtues of the feeling of control that one gets through the self-publishing
process, I thought I’d backtrack a bit today and talk about the times I don’t have a feeling of control as a
self-publisher.
A large exception is dealing with a
certain mammoth retailer. When Amazon
writes me an email, I pay attention and immediately do whatever it is that they
want me to do.
certain mammoth retailer. When Amazon
writes me an email, I pay attention and immediately do whatever it is that they
want me to do.
This is the first time I’ve received this
particular email from Amazon:
particular email from Amazon:
Hello,
We
recently noticed the digital list price for the title(s) listed below is higher
than the list price of the same book listed on Amazon.com or another website.
recently noticed the digital list price for the title(s) listed below is higher
than the list price of the same book listed on Amazon.com or another website.
A Body in
the Backyard (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) (ID: B009YAVVAU) is listed on Amazon.com
at $3.99 and at $2.99 on Sony
the Backyard (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) (ID: B009YAVVAU) is listed on Amazon.com
at $3.99 and at $2.99 on Sony
According
to our pricing policy, your book should be priced no higher than the list price
on Amazon.com or any other sales channel for either the physical or digital
edition of the book. Please adjust the list price for the above book(s) within
the next 5 business days. If the price isn’t updated within 5 business days, we
may remove the book(s) from the Kindle Store, at which point you will need to
republish the book with an updated price.
to our pricing policy, your book should be priced no higher than the list price
on Amazon.com or any other sales channel for either the physical or digital
edition of the book. Please adjust the list price for the above book(s) within
the next 5 business days. If the price isn’t updated within 5 business days, we
may remove the book(s) from the Kindle Store, at which point you will need to
republish the book with an updated price.
For more
information on our list price requirements, see section 4 on our Pricing Page
below:
information on our list price requirements, see section 4 on our Pricing Page
below:
Thanks
for your understanding.
for your understanding.
Sincerely,
The
Kindle Direct Publishing Team
Kindle Direct Publishing Team
When I read the email, I said, “Whoa,
whoa, whoa!” and quickly hopped over to the Sony page and the Amazon page to
see what the heck was going on. Had I
signed something like that? A “list
price requirements” thing? Why didn’t I remember signing something like
that? Note to self—review
contracts from time to time! I’m running a business, but clearly—at
least sometimes—I’m not completely paying attention.
whoa, whoa!” and quickly hopped over to the Sony page and the Amazon page to
see what the heck was going on. Had I
signed something like that? A “list
price requirements” thing? Why didn’t I remember signing something like
that? Note to self—review
contracts from time to time! I’m running a business, but clearly—at
least sometimes—I’m not completely paying attention.
Honestly, I had never been over to the
Sony page for my book. In fact, I’d
never been over to the Sony bookstore, period.
I deal with Smashwords for Sony, Kobo…the odds and ends of my income
from non-Amazon sources that aren’t B&N (whom I deal with separately.)
Sony page for my book. In fact, I’d
never been over to the Sony bookstore, period.
I deal with Smashwords for Sony, Kobo…the odds and ends of my income
from non-Amazon sources that aren’t B&N (whom I deal with separately.)
Sure enough, there was the book in
question, listed for $2.99. I do know that Sony can be painfully slow to
make changes to pricing. I know this from when I’m done with a free book
campaign and I’m trying to end it…and they’re the last holdout. I immediately
raised the price on Smashwords to $3.99, and then pulled up the book on Amazon.
question, listed for $2.99. I do know that Sony can be painfully slow to
make changes to pricing. I know this from when I’m done with a free book
campaign and I’m trying to end it…and they’re the last holdout. I immediately
raised the price on Smashwords to $3.99, and then pulled up the book on Amazon.
I looked at my Amazon page for Body in the Backyard…they’d already lowered
the price to $2.99 without waiting for approval.
the price to $2.99 without waiting for approval.
So, not really wanting to lose 95% of my
self-pub income for that title by having Amazon boot the book from its catalog,
I quickly lowered the price on the Amazon Bookshelf page (where it was still listed at
$3.99, even though the price for readers was a dollar lower.) Sony might not raise that price in five
business days and I wanted to cover my bases.
self-pub income for that title by having Amazon boot the book from its catalog,
I quickly lowered the price on the Amazon Bookshelf page (where it was still listed at
$3.99, even though the price for readers was a dollar lower.) Sony might not raise that price in five
business days and I wanted to cover my bases.
Not a lot of control here, right? But then—no
one has control over Amazon.
Penguin would agree with me there. How eager was I to correct this
matter and put Amazon on better terms with me as a publisher? I can’t
overemphasize how eager I was. I make a
good deal of income from them.
one has control over Amazon.
Penguin would agree with me there. How eager was I to correct this
matter and put Amazon on better terms with me as a publisher? I can’t
overemphasize how eager I was. I make a
good deal of income from them.
Where else do I feel as if I toe the
line? As I’ve mentioned many times
before—with my readers. They have Ideas
about Things. :) Their ideas encompass everything from chapter
length to profanity to storylines to characters they’d like to see more
of.
line? As I’ve mentioned many times
before—with my readers. They have Ideas
about Things. :) Their ideas encompass everything from chapter
length to profanity to storylines to characters they’d like to see more
of.
I’d like to say that I write to please
myself, but if that were solely the case, I’d be writing crummy and unpublished
poetry. No, I’m a commercial writer and I’m writing for an audience…am I
concerned about their opinions? You
bet. I’m not going to incorporate every
single suggestion I get (that would be taking things a bit far), but if I see a
trend on a particular idea or complaint—I’m absolutely
taking it into account. It would be
silly of me not to, considering my goal is to please my readers and have them
keep reading.
myself, but if that were solely the case, I’d be writing crummy and unpublished
poetry. No, I’m a commercial writer and I’m writing for an audience…am I
concerned about their opinions? You
bet. I’m not going to incorporate every
single suggestion I get (that would be taking things a bit far), but if I see a
trend on a particular idea or complaint—I’m absolutely
taking it into account. It would be
silly of me not to, considering my goal is to please my readers and have them
keep reading.
Summing up, I’d say that even on the
self-publishing side of things, we’re not totally independent. If we are, then
we’re perhaps not working with our retail outlets well or providing our readers
what they want. It’s good to be
independent…I enjoy it…but we still have responsibilities, red tape, etc.
self-publishing side of things, we’re not totally independent. If we are, then
we’re perhaps not working with our retail outlets well or providing our readers
what they want. It’s good to be
independent…I enjoy it…but we still have responsibilities, red tape, etc.
If you self-publish, have you come across
an email like this one from Amazon? Do you follow reader feedback? Are there other examples you can give where
you’re not really completely an
independent contractor/publisher?
an email like this one from Amazon? Do you follow reader feedback? Are there other examples you can give where
you’re not really completely an
independent contractor/publisher?
Update: I just checked (8:30 a.m. EST 8/9) and Sony has raised the price for the book. Took them about 72 hours. Going to re-adjust on Amazon now. Whew.
Elizabeth – Your experience with Amazon is a clear reminder that authors have to be pragmatic. Yes, we tell our stories because we want to, and we love writing or we wouldn’t do it. But at the same time, income matters. Can’t help it – it does.
One of the first things I made sure of before I queried my first novel was that I was clear about one important thing.
I wanted to get paid.
There’s no shame in treating art as a business. In fact, the best art in history has been created by artists who were expecting to be paid at the end.
But all artists need to understand that the moment you ask for a cent in return for their work, they have to take a whole range of things into consideration. Among those things are ensuring your work is commercial enough to succeed, and upholding your end of all business agreements.
Amazon is a juggernaut in the industry. The price we pay for a level of exposure that is unprecedented in the history of literature is that we have to agree to their terms. I, for one, am happy to do so.
This is eye-opening to me, Elizabeth. Had no idea you had to be so on top of things like this.
Paul–Exactly. I want to be paid. This is not just some sort of artsy endeavor for me…it’s a source of income. And Amazon is the biggest retail player. If I weren’t making such a large amount of my income from them, I really wouldn’t care what they think…but, with the way things are…I absolutely *do* care what they think. :)
Amazon is quick to note those things. It’s their business, but it’s annoying they HAVE to be the lowest. Sony is the slowest to change, so it was a good idea to fix it with Amazon.
I have all sorts of trouble with Sony and Kobo — both of them “refresh” to an older price or cover every so often. I’ve come close to dropping them from my Smashwords distribution for it.
As for not realizing that Amazon has a “best list price” policy: Yikes! That’s a big one to miss. That’s a cornerstone of their agreement with writers.
It’s also a part of the agreement with many other vendors, when you go direct (rather than through Smashwords).
In general, I try to move very slowly and carefully when lowering and raising prices.
BTW: Amazon doesn’t consider FREE to be a lower price — it’s in a different category — and so they match it (or not) without comment.
With differing prices, they have problems with different payment options. (Payment rates on list price vs. sale price in different options, in particular.) Some authors try to scam the system by forcing price matches. Amazon cracks down quickly partly because of that.
Margot–It sure does!
Diane–I was surprised, I have to admit. And I knew they *liked* to be the lowest, but I suppose I didn’t know they *had* to be the lowest.
It’s interesting that they sent you an email since it’s been my experience that they just drop the price accordingly– their “price-matching” policy that many self-publishers rely on to get their books free on Amazon. Put it free on Smashwords, Amazon will match on Kindle. I’m curious why Amazon is now sending out emails giving instructions about fixing the price to match, esp since they went ahead and matched it. I suppose to let you know if you want your book at $3.99 you’ll have to fix the lower price at Sony. I love Amazon. They are absolutely awesome for helping all of us little people make real money.
Karen–Me either. And clearly I *wasn’t* on top of things..lol.
Karen–I was surprised, too. I know they simply match a free promo when a book is listed free at another site…and I suppose I thought they did something similar for a price reduction at a different price point. I wonder if it’s a royalty thing….would they be forced to pay me a higher royalty if it’s price matching to a lower competitor price? That doesn’t seem right, though.
This is an eye-opener! Thanks for sharing…
I’m linking this post in the current Murder Lab Report…Elizabeth, you’ll get a copy. Thanks so much.
Kris
Camille–Oh great. So they might even revert to a lower price on their own at Sony? Something to watch.
No, as terrible as it sounds, I paid either no attention whatsoever to that point or else I immediately forgot it as soon as I signed it. Or else I skimmed through the contract, said, “right, right, right” and then signed it and didn’t absorb. This is another Bad Elizabeth Business Moment. :) I think I leaned on my agent too much in the past. And I didn’t notice it on B&N, which is making me think I need to pull *that* contract up and see what I’m potentially missing there, too.
Rarely do I change prices anywhere but on Amazon…so that’s probably why this hasn’t come up in 2 years.
Ahh…price matching as a royalty scam thing. I see. They’d definitely want to keep that from going on. I unfortunately wasn’t crafty enough to see that angle–I think I forgot what the list price at Amazon was and then stuck the wrong price up at Smashwords.
Sometimes I wonder if I should go to business school to figure this industry out…
Kris–Thanks. I didn’t know about Murder Lab…I’ll have to add it to my blog reader.
And thanks for linking. I know the post makes me look clueless (and I *can* be clueless with business issues, as hard as I try not to be), but it’s better to let others learn from my messes, I think, and air them out. :)
Yikes. I didn’t know this. So good to know.
I love hearing about your experiences.
Hi Elizabeth .. sounds like the kind of thing one doesn’t want to worry about – BUT .. no choice …
Well thanks for highlighting .. interesting to read about .. cheers Hilary
I know I’ll be the voice no one wants to hear, but I don’t change my art for anyone. I don’t change how I do business to accommodate prospects.
And my business keeps growing.
I’ve chosen areas in my business where I tell prospects up front that they have some leeway. But in most things, I do what I do, the way I do it, and anyone who wants something else really needs to go where they’re selling whatever that is.
If every single fan made an identical suggestion about my books, fiction or non, and it didn’t match my vision, I’d politely thank them and move on.
Yes, I plan to make money with my books. And my business experience has taught me that as long as I do it with grace and good manners, I can totally ignore the opinions of others, create my art (meaning both books AND the way I conduct my business, which is an art) and thrive.
I suspect that every single one of you could do the same. It just takes the courage and belief to do so.
Look at the musicians you revere (or at least the ones I do.) Can you imagine U2 or Dylan or Leonard Cohen being told what to do, by *anyone*? They make their own road, and people think they’re genius.
And there’s one of the challenges most authors have. They believe they have to be a genius before they’re allowed to go their own road. And yet, it’s those who’ve ploughed ahead, ignoring what fans think they want, who’ve become the “genius” we think we can’t emulate.
This was totally eye-opening for me. I had no idea one outlet would care what a book is selling for on another outlet. Made a mental note.
Hilary–Exactly!
Teresa–It was a startling moment when I realized I should take more care when reading my contracts, lol.
Joel–You’re absolutely right–but that’s scary stuff! It takes a lot of vision, a lot of energy…there are days when I feel exhausted from just regular day-to-day. What’s safe, what’s easy, what’s still rewarding for me (*currently*)…is trodding a well-worn path and listening in. And…safely getting income.
I’m thinking this won’t be the case for very long…maybe I could do this another 7 or 8 years, though. (Hmm, that coincides with an empty nest. :) ) Then I *do* have some ideas for different stuff. Although…yeah, it’ll still be genre. And I’ll be…50. It’s funny to think I might suddenly become brave at 50!
No, I definitely can’t imagine major music greats being pushed around by fans. I have a feeling I’m a lot more malleable than they are…ha!
Julie–I shouldn’t have been surprised…but I was.
This applies ONLY if you enroll your eBook in Amazon’s KDP Select (one perq of the program being able to run your book for free from time to time). When you check the KDP Select box, it states quite clearly that you agree to keep your eBook at the lowest price possible on Amazon…and that if they discover that you have it elsewhere for a LOWER price, they reserve the right to remove your KDP Select privileges.
It’s not fine print or anything–it’s clear and obvious when you upload your book to KDP…and proceed to check the box with a click.
Janet–Oddly, mine isn’t a KDP select book…I didn’t like the exclusivity terms so I’ve never signed any of my books up. When I go free, it’s the match-the-price thing through Smashwords. So this would be through their regular Kindle Direct program.