Comments on: The Amazon Solution: An Interview with Jerry D. Simmons

By: J. Frances

J. Frances — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:23:42 +0000

While the controversy over Amazon’s decision will no doubt rage on for some time, I’d like a marketing “expert’s” opinion:

1.If a writer has not decided on a POD publisher yet, what influence should the Amazon decision have on the writer’s choice?

2.Does the obvious advantage that Amazon brings to the process of distribution and fullfillment tip the scales in their favor if all other factors (price, feature/benefits) are about equal among the POD companies under consideration?

3. Based on the Amazon decision, how will this impact the advice you (Author Marketing Experts) give to future clients concerning your recommendation for a POD publisher?

By: Jamie Saloff

Jamie Saloff — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:13:33 +0000

I agree that small publisher need to be vocal and be prepared to take a stand, even if that means leaving Amazon. Writers and Readers helped to create Amazon, they can also help create new Internet worlds which serve their needs. Has anyone seen the South Park on Wal-Mart? Think in those terms. The Polka Dot Banner- the OTHER site for authors that welcomes Independent publishers (in fact all authors). We welcome the introduction of NothingBinding and will continue to work with authors helping them be visible to readers and book buyers on the World Wide Web.

By: Jerry D. Simmons

Jerry D. Simmons — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:12:40 +0000

Your story is one I’ve heard time and time again, and I’m sorry to hear once again. Let me encourage you not to allow Amazon the opportunity to take money out of your pocket. Let’s take a stand and stop this in it’s tracks. Join with other authors in the creation of a new community of Independent writers. We can make a difference if we create a voice that will be heard. There is strength in our numbers.

By: Waverly Fitzgerald

Waverly Fitzgerald — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:55:26 +0000

I watched Amazon sink my independent bookstore back in 2000 when they offered such deep discounts no physical bookstore could compete with them.

Now I’m watching Amazon go after my ability to make money from my self-published book, Slow Time. (I do fine when I sell it off Lulu but it is a lot easier for readers to find on Amazon).

I’m embarrassed that I have actually bought books through Amazon and pledge never to do so again.

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:14:18 +0000

Thank you for your comments on my recent Q&A regarding Amazon, it’s always nice to get another perspective from an author, however we differ on our opinions. My Q&A comes from a much different view of the overall picture and problems with publishing, that is just now reaching the self-published, print-on-demand and small presses that use POD technology. What Amazon is trying to do to you is what they tried doing to the New York publishers more than five years ago in a different way. My point is that somewhere Independent authors must take a stand against this intrusion into their business.

If you feel protected by your short discounts, and ability to deal with the situation I wish you luck. Unfortunately having dealt with Amazon since their inception from New York, I can tell you the shark is just circling and nibbling, wait until they take a big bite, and they will!

This morning after my newsletter went out, which dealt exclusively with Amazon, the only emails I received were from authors reassuring me their books were still on Amazon, their buy button was live, and books were shipping….terrific! But in terms of the bigger picture, they do not seem to understand the larger implications of Amazon’s move. Certainly there are authors who do understand but the large majority do not. As for my survey, we had over 1000 respondents, from 47 states and 31 foreign countries in various stages of publishing frustration, that was the basis for my data.

We all have various opinions on this subject, I have mine and you have yours. The beauty of this is that we can have as many opinions on Amazon as we have new authors publishing their books each day. That fact remains I’m trying to put out a warning based on my experience, I’m also offering a solution that is free, there is no attempt to sell anything. It’s one thing to complain and quite another to offer a solution at the same time, that was what I attempted to do.

I wish you complete and continued success with Amazon and your publishing venture. I hope all authors can find ways to sell books. I’ll continue to offer my solutions to the problems of publishing, distribution, marketing and sales.

Jerry D. Simmons

By: Lupa

Lupa — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:03:02 +0000

First off, Mr. Simmons is completely ignoring a significant portion of the POD publishing community–Lightning Source and their clients. Unlike Lulu and other such companies, LSI lets us choose our discount; therefore we can make money off of Amazon by offering a short discount of 20-25%. So it’s not just a matter of always having to give Amazon 55%–that’s why we’re angry, because neither Advantage nor Booksurge allow us to short discount. Additionally, Amazon’s programs significantly cut down on independent distribution relationships between small presses and distributors other than B&T and Ingram, because Booksurge clients cannot make money from offering the same discount to both the publisher and the distributor–and then pay shipping out of pocket.

However, that’s not all he’s missing. He’s also completely insulting authors by saying that universally all we care about is whether our books are on Amazon or not. As if we’re utterly clueless about what’s going on! And I’d like to see what sort of respondents he had for his survey–how representative are they really of the industry as a whole, and what results of the survey isn’t he telling in his spin? Finally, he assumes that all authors and self publishers and even small presses have the exact same feelings on this situation.

Finally, he completely ignores Lightning Source’s recent move to partner with On Demand Books, manufacturer of a book printing kiosk that can print and bind a book to order in 15 minutes. http://www.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=talkBackCommentsFull&articleid=CA6547006&talk_back_header_id=6521144

That doesn’t seem like backing down to me.

I recommend that Mr. Simmons take a good long read of Aaron Shepherd’s “Aiming at Amazon”, then come join us over at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pod_publishers to see what’s actually going on. (But please don’t try to sell us on your networking site, okay?)