Why My Books Now Cost More On Amazon
Some writers price their work according to what the market will bear; I want to sell mine at a price so that I get mass-market appeal. I sell my books on Smashwords at US$0.99 but from now on the same titles on Amazon will be sold at US$2.99. The reason lies in Amazon's payment system.
I live in Malaysia, so they won't direct deposit into my bank account. And for writing a cheque, something they will only do if I make more than US$100, they will charge me a fee.
In contrast, Smashwords pay into a Paypal account as long as you make over US$10. No fees and no messing about.
Amazon are also under fire for changing their royalty scheme: if you charge more than US$9.90, they drop royalty fees from 70% to 35%.
Buy this at Smashwords for 99 cents
- or at Amazon for US$2.99
Everyone has a right to run their business in any way they like but I must confess that I find that Amazon treat writers based in Malaysia very badly. I didn't realise quite how bad it would be when I signed up. Apart from the payment issues, I have trouble getting my writer's profile working (if you buy one of my books in the US, it won't tell you I have written other books, it sends you to other writers instead), and I can't buy any Kindle books even though I've been a customer since 1996.
Amazon have a huge market in theory so I'm leaving my books there for a year to see if it's worth dealing with the hassle but so far I must say that I've sold more through Smashwords than Amazon.
I'll let you know what happens.
Hugs, Storm
I live in Malaysia, so they won't direct deposit into my bank account. And for writing a cheque, something they will only do if I make more than US$100, they will charge me a fee.
In contrast, Smashwords pay into a Paypal account as long as you make over US$10. No fees and no messing about.
Amazon are also under fire for changing their royalty scheme: if you charge more than US$9.90, they drop royalty fees from 70% to 35%.
Buy this at Smashwords for 99 cents - or at Amazon for US$2.99
Everyone has a right to run their business in any way they like but I must confess that I find that Amazon treat writers based in Malaysia very badly. I didn't realise quite how bad it would be when I signed up. Apart from the payment issues, I have trouble getting my writer's profile working (if you buy one of my books in the US, it won't tell you I have written other books, it sends you to other writers instead), and I can't buy any Kindle books even though I've been a customer since 1996.
Amazon have a huge market in theory so I'm leaving my books there for a year to see if it's worth dealing with the hassle but so far I must say that I've sold more through Smashwords than Amazon.
I'll let you know what happens.
Hugs, Storm
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