Amazon, the greedy giant with small publishers in its grip

To sell online, indie publishers must use Amazon. But its methods leave them out of pocket – or out of sight, paying hidden charges, says the founder of Linen Press Indie publishers need transparency and support from online companies that sell their books. Amazon fails such publishers on both counts. Ostensibly, it offers two ways of selling, but only one – the costly Amazon Advantage – does the job. So, in effect, Amazon offers no choice at all, since the successful sales method is financially prohibitive. The cheaper, more confusing marketing option disadvantages small publishers by making them less visible on Amazon and landing them with hidden problems and costs. Related: Amazon's profits are small publishers' losses Related: Amazon is not the small publisher's enemy We’re down to a profit of 60p. But after the author's royalty, we're in minus figures Related: My week as an Amazon insider Our authors expect us to sell on Amazon, but they don't always know the full and hidden story Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #small publishers #indie publishers #online companies #small publisher

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French Publishers Want to Charge Google for Republishing Articles

French publishers have relaunched a discussion about the republishing of headlines and the first paragraph of articles by Google and other search engines without... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German media giant to grab ACP

Debt-laden broadcaster Nine Entertainment confirms the sale of its magazine portfolio to the privately owned Bauer Media Group. Continue reading at The Sydney Morning Herald

[ The Sydney Morning Herald | 2012-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Cruel Paradox of Self-Publishing

Digital and print-on-demand technology has made self-publishing much easier. But for every self-published work that gains traction, the overwhelming majority of books don't. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2012-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How French Publishers Are Fighting Back Against Facebook and Google's Display Ad Dominance

The battle to keep online advertising yields and returns high in a market of infinite volume and little scarcity rages on. But some publishers are deciding that it's not their fellow broadcasters, magazines and newspaper who are the problem but t ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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W&N to publish 100 years of New Statesman

Weidenfeld & Nicolson will publish a celebration of the New Statesman magazine’s 100th... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon’s Prime Advantage

Just how important Amazon’s Prime shipping offer has been to the online giant’s success can be seen in data recently compiled by the Codex Group. Last Monday, Amazon announced that Prime, which allows customers free two-day shipping for a $79 annual fee, had surpassed its free shipping on orders... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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FastStats: Publishing Industry Statistics, News and Trends

Smartphone Junkies Would you admit not being able to live without your smartphone? Over two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey by the Online Publisher's Association did just that. The survey, conducted online with 2,540... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2012-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Beef Up Digital Deals

In recent weeks a number of big consumer magazine and newspaper publishers have expanded their ability to deliver digital advertising in a variety of formats with acquisitions and investments in digital ad platforms. The deals continue a long-term tr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book price-fixing: three publishers agree to pay $69 million to consumers

Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster say they will pay consumers to settle claims they conspired to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EU investigation: publishers 'concede ebook discounts'

Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette Livre and Macmillan owner Verlugsgruppe Georg von... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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States reach $69 million settlement with three publishers in ebook price fixing case

When the US Department of Justice sued Apple and five major book publishers over alleged ebook price rigging, it immediately became clear that a few of these companies would do just about anything to avoid trial. That same day, three of the publishers -- HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rebooted Borders takes on Amazon

Bookworld, formerly Borders.com.au, has internet giant Amazon in its sights with new book business. Continue reading at The Sydney Morning Herald

[ The Sydney Morning Herald | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon launches Appstore in Europe

Amazon has today (30th August) launched its Appstore in Europe, including in the UK, Germany,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US publishers face $69m payout for price-fixing

Hachette US, HarperCollins US and Simon & Schuster US have agreed to pay out a total of more... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book Publishers Reach $69 Million Settlement With States

Three book publishers will pay more than US$69 million to U.S. states to settle charges they collaborated to fix prices of ebooks. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nook and Kobo to stock Amazon's ebooks

E-book releases from Amazon’s New York-based publishing imprint will be available through... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German Cabinet Backs Law That Could Allow News Publishers to Sue Google

The German cabinet gave its backing Wednesday to a draft law extending copyright protection to snippets of news articles republished by search engines, although... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2012-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon launches London discounted deals website

Amazon has also begun piloting a UK discounted daily deals website, AmazonLocal, to rival sites... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries battle with ebook publishers

Libraries are having to engage in new discussions with publishers and booksellers over electronic books, similar to those already settled in the printed-book world and with loans of CDs and DVDs, says Association of Public Library Managers chair Ian Littleworth. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2012-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Will Paid Reviews Bite Amazon Back?

At least one entrepreneur sells positive book reviews to Amazon authors. How an apparently unreliable customer-review system might finally eat itself. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2012-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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