Claude Bouchard Books

A brief intro although the emails which follow explain the story quite succinctly. Last week, I did a free promotion with ASYLUM on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, I noticed two things. First, the retail price of the print version of ASYLUM had been reduced by Amazon from $11.99 to $3.13. Strange but not alarming since I'm paid for print sales by the supplier, not the retailer. Second, the price for the Kindle version was discounted 2 cents to $2.97. This was cause for concern since Kindle books under $2.99 pay a 35% rather than 70% royalty. What follows is the email I sent to KDP, the response I received this morning and my subsequent response:

Sent to KDP Feb 24, 2012, 8:28am

My novel, ASYLUM (ASIN: B005CBWQ22) is priced at $2.99 but, for some reason, Amazon has discounted it to $2.97. Does this two cent decision taken by Amazon throw me in a 35% royalty bucket rather than 70%? I trust this isn't the case as if it is, it is theft and completely unacceptable. Please advise ASAP and rectify as required.

Regards,

Claude Bouchard

Received from KDP Feb 27, 2012, 6:02am

Hi Claude,

I'm sorry for the delay in responding to your query.

After researching this issue I found that your Kindle edition of "ASYLUM" is being price matched with the paperback version. Keep in mind that the digital version of your book can not be more expensive than the physical version.

Also, I can confirm that you will still keep the 70% royalty rate.

Feel free to write back to us for further concerns or clarifications. Thanks for using Amazon KDP.

Regards,

Craig V

Kindle Direct Publishing

Sent to KDP Feb 27, 2012. 7:38am

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your response which, although probably no fault of your own, I find completely ludicrous. The print version of ASYLUM retails at $11.99. This is the retail price set by me with the supplier and should be the retail price with any distributor. For some reason, AMAZON decided to discount the print version to $3.13 which I initially noticed on Friday, February 24, 2012. Since, AMAZON has further lowered the price to $2.82. You are now telling me that due to AMAZON's decisions to reduce the retail price of of the print version to well below the cost of production, I am being penalized by price-matching for my Kindle version? What if AMAZON decides to give away print versions of my book? Will the Kindle price drop to $0.00, thus reducing my royalty to 70% of nothing?

I find it curious that this whole pricing issue came into play on the first day following a two day free promotion of ASYLUM via the KDP Select program. As a result, during the period when I was maximizing paid sales, AMAZON has arranged to lower my price and effectively reduce my royalties by over 10%. This is theft, pure and simple and completely unacceptable.

I impatiently await a logical response,

Claude Bouchard

Received from Amazon.com Customer Service Feb 28, 2012, 2:47am (Sent from an address that cannot accept incoming e-mail.)

Hello Claude,

I understand your concern about discount offered on paperback edition affecting the price for Kindle edition.

Our decision to discount books is based on a number of strategic considerations, which can vary over time. As a result, we cannot confirm how long your title will be discounted. I can assure you that many people work to make our pricing calculations as competitive as possible for both you and your readers.

Please also be assured that the discount does not affect the royalties you receive for sales made while the book is discounted. Royalties will continue to be calculated from the list price provided by your publisher, which you can see listed here above the discounted price on your book's Detail page:

http://www.amazon.com/ASYLUM-Claude-Bouchard/dp/0981279090/

It's possible that a future change in policy will result in the discount's removal from your title. In that case, the discount will disappear automatically and immediately.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Best regards,

Preethi R.

Sent to KDP Feb 28, 2012. 8:00am

Hello Preethi,

I'm sending this email to the address to which I had replied to Craig yesterday since your response was sent from an address I could not reply to. Why make it easy to solve an issue, yes?

Once again, I must point out that the information supplied to me by Amazon fails to address the issue at hand. I have no concern whatsoever about royalties received for my print version of ASYLUM. Any given retailer could order 1,000 copies and give them away and I would receive full payment from the supplier. What I AM concerned about, as explained in previous emails found in this thread, is that Amazon has arbitrarily decided to discount the print version of ASYLUM to a price low enough that Amazon's price matching policy affects the selling price of the Kindle version of the same book. The result of this decision by Amazon has a direct negative impact on MY Kindle royalties. Simply stated, this is stupid. How can Amazon give me the price-matching argument when it is Amazon who is setting the comparable price to begin with?

That said, I will once again impatiently await for a sound, reasonable response which accurately addresses the issue I have brought to your attention. If this is not clear, please advise and I will explain it once again.

Claude Bouchard

Final email received from KDP Feb 28, 2012, 4:00pm

Hello Claude,

We're sorry we haven't been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. We will not be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters.

Regards,

Nicholas Y.

Kindle Direct Publishing

So, the moral of the story for all my writer friends out there, if Amazon screws up, rest assured, it's YOUR problem...

Final note: Upon rising February 29, 2012, I found the print version of ASYLUM back at its regular price of $11.99 and the Kindle version at @2.99 as it should be.

If you're curious about ASYLUM, you can check it out here: http://amzn.to/xzSuz3