People are finally getting their hands on their Kindle DX and the reviews are coming out. As many experts expected, a lot of people are complaining about Kindle DX being too expensive. It’s true that you get your wireless connection for free, and who can forget about the money you save with e-books. Still, a lot of people are finding it a bit hard to justify paying close to $500 for a device that will last you a couple of years. And surprisingly, a lot of them are still buying Kindle DX (how would you explain Kindle DX being sold out?). The Kindle line has been quite successful for Amazon despite of prices looking too high on the surface. But the question is how can Amazon turn Kindle to next iPod?
Amazon needs to take a page out of Apple’s book. It needs to continue listening to its customers and provide them with innovative features to keep them on their toes. Amazon will probably have to find a way to make Kindle look like a bargain gadget. Think about it. People are paying $1000+ for their iPhones but Apple is making the impression that the device only costs $199. A lot of people don’t seem to take into account the total cost of ownership for these gadgets. I do believe that Amazon can make folks realize the bargain they are getting by coming up with multiple pricing tiers. Why not offer Kindle for free to those who want to pay a monthly fee for the wireless service?
Amazon also needs to get its act together with e-books. Paying $9.99 for an e-book you can sell is just too much. It’s true that Amazon has to take on a lot of costs to get the Kindle ecosystem going, but the e-book prices seem to be a bit high. Why not offer a pricing tier for e-books as well. Amazon can always charge extra for the right to share the book with others. And how about allowing people to rent e-books and pay as they go?
I have talked in the past about the need for Amazon to focus on developing an SDK and adopting new technologies (such as solar to power Kindle). More importantly, Amazon needs to work on Kindle’s image. With all the value that you get from a Kindle, it is a real bargain. Yet, people feel more comfortable paying thousands of dollars to own an iPhone and complain about Kindle being too expensive. I am not suggesting Kindle and iPhone are comparable by any means, but Kindle provides you with a bigger bang for your buck. Amazon needs to show people just that.
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2 Responses to “Is $489 for Kindle DX Too Much To Ask?”
I still don’t think Amazon should bother being in the consumer electronics business.
Also for most people i’m just not sure if the Kindle is a good investment.
I love my kindle, but from an economic perspective it is a very questionable buy.
I completely agree with you. But Jeff does love Kindle. As much as I like Amazon and their customer service, there are big issues that Amazon needs to address with repairs and returns. Apple’s success with iPod has made a lot of companies dream about having that kind of success. But it won’t work for everyone.