Create Space Pricing Issues

[Robb]

This is an issue of pricing on Amazon. The short take-away is that low prices for library-expanded channels are showing up on Amazon, competing with my other pricing structures.

I have a couple of books for sale through Create Space, and I've used multiple distribution channels. The Amazon pricing is straightforward. If I price a book at 14.95, it shows up at that price. But when I use the expanded distribution, even if I price at 14.95, the books are showing up for sale on Amazon at a substantially discounted price. So, if the wholesale price on expanded distribution is, say, $11.30, then it's showing up on Amazon at that lower price.

I want my stuff out there an Barnes and Noble, and I understand that everyone gets a cut. But the expanded distribution takes, as anyone who has opted to use it, a bigger cut/markdown. I don't know if there's any way around this. It appears that Amazon just taps into the expanded distribution, and takes that markdown.

I suspect this is part of pushing authors to using Amazon exclusively, to get away from losing so much up front.

Does anyone have experience with methods to keep this from happening? I noticed the same thing happening when I used the channel to distribute to libraries. I thought I'd give them a better deal--I have a soft spot for libraries--but then I saw these books turning up on Amazon at the discounted price.

These are all softcover print books.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions. I want broad distribution, but I'm facing a situation where the "worst deal" I get, in terms of markdown, is showing up on Amazon.

[C.P.]

I think that Amazon.com has a clause in its fine print that it cannot be undersold. Check the terms and conditions. I have heard stories of writers who had their e-books chosen for free distribution by Apple for a one-week promotion, and Amazon.com lowered the book's price to zero and refused to raise it, even after the free distribution was over. You have to be careful when adjusting pricing in CreateSpace as a result.

[Robb]

Thanks for your response.

The thing is that the retail is the same, it's just the markdown I have to take in Create Space for the privilege of using the "extended" channel. I see all sorts of stuff popping up from publishers who mark stuff down and then offer it up on Amazon, undercutting the books they list right next to the discounters. I understand that there will be discounts, but I'm frustrated that, in an effort to get my book into Barnes and Noble for, say $14.95, it's discounted to $9 wholesale. OK, I know about this. But then I see it retailing out on Amazon for $9 or so.

The only way I know of, offhand, to stop this is to deal only with Amazon. When I look over at Barnes and Noble, I see the book offered at the suggested retail.

It occurs to me that this creates pressure to go only with Amazon. Not surprising since they own Create Space... (and now Goodreads.)

[M.]

Hey guys, not quite related but as of tonight, Amazon drops price of CreateSpace ED (Extended Distribution) to $0.00.

That's right, it's free now! Sign all your babies on!

[D.M.]

M. wrote: "Hey guys, not quite related but as of tonight, Amazon drops price of CreateSpace ED (Extended Distribution) to $0.00.

That's right, it's free now! Sign all your babies on!"

omg, that's the greatest news. Heading right over. ty.