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Buy the print-digital bundle and save, save, save!
Amazon Kindle MatchBook is for authors with both ebooks and paper books. The concept is smart, allowing buyers of the print versions to get a dramatically reduced rate on the ebook sale to go with their purchase. Reader gets paperback and ebook. Author sells paperback and reduced ebook together. Amazon sells both print and digital copies of the same book. Cha-ching! Sounds like a free bag of chips with a sandwich order.
The idea offers price incentive to purchase a new paperback or hardcover, which typically cost quite a bit more than their ebook counterparts. The idea also encourages digital reading to people who are used to buying print. Could it be aimed at converting traditionalists?
From the official announcement:
We are excited to introduce Kindle MatchBook, an innovative new program which enables you to offer your Kindle book at a discount when readers purchase your print book, so you can sell more books. It’s easy to enroll.
Here’s how it works:
- Select your Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) title on your KDP Bookshelf and check the Enroll box for Kindle MatchBook on the “Rights & Pricing” page.
- Set the discount for your book by choosing a promotional list price of $2.99 or less.
- Save your Kindle MatchBook preferences.
By enrolling your book, you will be among the first to be able to take advantage of this new program. The Kindle MatchBook discount you select will not appear on Amazon.com until the program is fully launched in the coming weeks. We will notify you by e-mail as soon as your Kindle MatchBook discount is live. Your readers will soon have an easy and affordable way to read your book in both print and digital formats.
Bundling sales, a good idea to sell more books? What do you think?
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How to Make, Market and Sell Ebooks 
September 11, 2013 at 1:26 pm
The big question is whether the trend will be to price dirt cheap (.99) or free. Any idea where the trend is now or appears to be heading?
September 11, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Great question. Ultimately the trend seems to continually go lower and lower. I doubt that will change anytime soon but we all still need to make a living.
September 16, 2013 at 3:54 am
… Buy the print-digital bundle and save, save, save! …
The old trick – spending more for something on top you might not need?
Will be interesting to see where this is going, and who gains.
September 20, 2013 at 3:07 pm
For me, if I buy an e-book, why would I also want the print version?
September 20, 2013 at 3:52 pm
Donna, that’s a good question. My sense is this plan only makes to a select set of readers who prefer the paper versions and might also want an ebook copy for traveling or something. Really it sounds like Amazon trying to entice print readers to check out ebooks with a tempting sale.
September 29, 2013 at 5:58 pm
I think you’re right!