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Topic: Mobility

Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

Summary: Amazon is now selling more Kindle books than print books. For every 100 print books Amazon sells it moves 105 Kindle e-books.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

Amazon is now selling more Kindle books than print books. For every 100 print books Amazon sells it moves 105 Kindle e-books.

The milestone, noted by Amazon in a statement, highlights how the Kindle ecosystem makes buying easy on many devices. Like many consumers, I often pick up Kindle books because it's simple. Now if Amazon can just find a way to create time in my life to read them.

Kindle books had already surpassed hardcover books months ago.

In addition, Amazon said that its ad-supported Kindle with Special Offers is the best-selling Kindle. That device goes for $114.

Other odds and ends from Amazon:

  • The Kindle Store has 950,000 books;
  • Most of those books are $9.99 or less;
  • More than 175,000 books have been added to the Kindle Store in the last five months. Disclosure: I published a Kindle Single on the Business of Media.
  • Amazon's UK Kindle store is selling more e-books than hardcovers.

Related:

Topics: Mobility, Amazon, Hardware

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8 comments
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  • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

    How many of those books are the "bonus" included ones?

    They continue to push the "e" book concept because its
    a lot more profitable for them; no costs to print, storage or mailing. Plus, you don't "own" your books you have a
    license that can't be transferred.

    I can buy a real book for much less than the "e" version,
    just look at the coupons from borders and the like. I can
    also get a real book signed, by a used copy for a $1, loan
    out my books, borrow them, trade them, etc.

    I like the concept of "e" books, but until I actually have
    the same rights I currently enjoy, and they start to price
    the books at a price that reflects the savings involved,
    I can't see doing it. Some of my books will never be
    replaced in any case, the "e" readers just can't replicate
    the feel of some of the books.
    richard233
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

      @richard233 LOL!, Yeah, I never thought of it like that-<br>I knew about the "touchy-feely" aspect of paper books, but never considered as what happens at book signings.<br> Can the author sign my kindle-file electronically?<br> And is there a collector's edition of a file?<br> And for a few bucks extra, can I pick up the leather-textured "root-kit" edition? ;-)
      PercySludge
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

    The $114 model is being pushed down the throat of the unsuspecting buyer. When I attempted buy my wife the $139 Kindle they pulled a $114 model from stock, when I said I wanted the ad free version they had no idea what I was talking about. They had to tear the store apart (Best Buy) to find the right one. Further, They wouldn't open a box so I could see what the $39 wallet looked like so I bought another wallet. Best Buy Customer service sux!
    larryvanerwegen
    Reply Vote

  • Wasn't this reported a couple months ago?

    I'm sure this is not the first time this was reported.
    Michael Kelly
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

    I am having trouble swallowing the $7.99-$9.99 of older titles that I can get for $1-$5 in paperback so while I use the Kindle and Kindle Ap for my iPad2 I don't buy as many as I would at a $4.99 price point. Since I cannot give away the ebook and it is DRMed I think the higher price point will keep me from replacing my paper versions any time soon.
    geoff.schardein@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

    Nice for Amazon but I prefer a more open format. I only buy ePub ebooks. Yes, most of them still come with DRM but it's easy to remove and then you can loan, borrow or trade books just as Richard suggests. You can even print and bind a copy if you like. ePubs can be read on most eReader devices other than Kindle, any computer, app enabled phone, or tablet.
    Unusual1
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Amazon: Kindle book sales eclipse print versions; $114 Kindle top seller

      @Unusual1
      I heard yesterday Amazon is about to announce they will start offering kindle support for the epub format too
      PieterRI
      Reply Vote

  • Very few tech books

    Those e-book sales would be even higher except for the fact that almost none of the high-priced technical books are available as e's.
    nfordtchrpub
    Reply Vote
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