Amazon price match

[B.]

So what's the deal with the Amazon price match? Specifically, I'm curious whether I can take my book priced at $.99 (35% profit), mark it up to $2.99 and then set it to $.99 on Smashwords and refer Amazon to that price. Will this technique allow me to get 70% margin on the $.99 price? And does Amazon frown on this practice?
thanks!

[Sharon]

It won't get you 70%. You get 35% at under $2.99 and over $9.99, period. Authors are using the price-match to set books as free, getting around the minimum for distribution by Amazon.

[B.]

Thanks for the reply, Sharon. After posting this I got up off my lazy duff and did some searching on kindleboards. There are several threads over there that tell the tale of authors getting the 70% royalty on a $.99 price by using price match. BUT the caveat seems to be that you are technically violating your agreement with Amazon by doing this. Theoretically they could pull your book at any time. Personally, that's too much of a risk for me (and I don't like operating outside of contracts in general--even when the contract stinks and the "partner" is tantamount to a monopoly).

[B.]

One question I do have for Jeff (Big J) if he sees this is whether he used (and continues to use) price match to get Bakkian vol 1 to be free?

[Jeffrey, Lentarian Fire Thrower]

Howdy! Ever since I proved to Auntie Emmy that Bakkian book I was free, they have left it there. I still have it free on Smashwords, so once I change that it should be reflected everywhere SW has influence.

[Sharon]

I hadn't heard authors had done that and it's a very strong point in the contract. Though, as I think about it, I can see it would create a dilemma for Amazon. They lowered the price. Nope, I wouldn't do it either. I'll get the first of a trilogy set to free to sell the other two books, but I won't be selling them for $.99.