More, More, More And IPG Doesn't Like It

Should you browse Amazon's e-book shelves today, you won't find anything listed that is distributed by Independent Publishers Group.

Amazon sells so many e-books that they won't feel the sting.

How long can IPG hold out? It's 5% of their business that's been excised, which doesn't sound like a critical mass, but even so....book selling isn't exactly a license to print money these days.

What about authors whose books are distributed by IPG?

Up shit creek without a paddle is where you'll find them.

Publishers and distributors negotiate with Amazon in regard to pricing, commissions, and all things profit-related. Amazon, as you'd expect, wants to make as much money as possible by offering books for sale, books that the publisher pays to promote so that more sales are made.

It's the publishers and distributors who have to finance the operation. They take the risk on a manuscript selling, and then pay to market the product and get the product to market. All of that takes money, which is supposed to come from selling the book.

Considering the fact that e-books cost much less to produce, and can be a profit center for the owner, there's greater incentive for one side to seek more to recoup overall costs, and for Amazon to squeeze a few more drops out of IPG.

IPG and Amazon failed to reach a mutually agreeable rate, so the mighty behemoth said, "See yez!" and closed the door.

IPG distributed books are now off the Kindle shelves, until IPG comes to their senses and yields.

Or enough people complain to Amazon that they can't find Best-Seller Du Jour for their Kindle and what is the problem.

What's an author to do?

Is it any wonder that literary agents are, more and more, helping their clients to e-publish on their own? Use a platform like Smashwords and reach Kindles, Nooks, iPads, iPhones, et. al., and the author can have some control over availability.

Amazon would be happier with such a scenario. Then they wouldn't have to deal with distributors trying to maintain their cut. The authors would have to take what Amazon offers, whether it's 70% or 20% or a few pennies for the effort.