Authors and independent publishers are sometimes upset to find that online bookstores like Amazon.com are selling their book at a discount from the list price (the price printed on the book).
For books sold and shipped by Amazon, the fact that Amazon has chosen to sell at a discount to list price typically has no effect on the amount of money that authors earn – they still receive their standard payment from Amazon or their publisher, distributor, or wholesaler.
Amazon is reducing their own profit margin (to undercut their competitors) when they choose to sell a product below the list price. Of course if you are selling books on your own website, then you are competing with Amazon.
If you have a publisher, it's possible that Amazon's discounting could affect your royalties. Check your contract to see if there are any provisions that lower your royalty rate when books are sold to consumers at below list price. But keep in mind that there is nothing you or your publisher can do to affect Amazon's pricing. Although Amazon's discount policies may not affect how much you get paid for each book sale, there are ways to increase your profits through Amazon. My ebook, How to Sell More Books on Amazon, discusses five ways to potentially increase profits from Amazon and provides a wealth of information about promoting books on Amazon. Be sure you are taking full advantage of strategies to mazimize your sales and profits on the world's largest bookstore.
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