How to legally & ethically “game” Amazon
Published: Sat, 08/03/19
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...as you know, Amazon has the ability to control the pricing on books. They discount products down so low, no other retailer can compete, including authors like me on our own websites. They've created an ecosystem where there's literally ZERO profit margin for the creator. But since damn near everyone uses Amazon so publishers and authors feel like we have to have their books available there. And to add insult to injury, they keep the customers names and addresses from the creator. Yep, you’re flying blind and at the mercy of their every decision.
UNLESS you channel your inner-villain:
I got fed up and decided I am sticking it to “the man”.
Just before Prime Day they dropped the price on my book down to $5 bucks (85% off). Which is lower than the price I pay to buy copies for my own inventory. My former publisher (who I had to threaten to sue for breech of contract to get the rights back to my book) charges me $13 a copy to purchase my own books PLUS I have to pay the shipping.
The Villainous Stealth Operation:
He doesn’t know it but Jeff Bezos basically became my book printer, fulfillment company and my bitch in the process.
On Amazon's website, Jeff (aka my bitch), was dumb enough to lower the price to $5. and on top of that stupidity he was foolish enough to offer “Prime” (aka free) shipping on the book.
So I deployed my villainous henchmen and henchwomen and had them purchase almost all of Amazon's inventory of my book and had it all shipped to me. And Bezos essentially paid me to do so.
Amazon now works for me, NOT the other way around. You read that correctly, Jeff Bezos is my beeotch right now.
How exactly did I “get paid” to purchase copies of my own book and turn Amazon into my bitch?
I receive a royalty from the publisher on each copy sold
By having my henchmen use my Amazon affiliate link to purchase the $5. copies from good ol’ Jeff Bezos, I receive a commission on not just the sales of the book but also of anything else my henchmen happened to purchase as well during Prime Day. (For example a high end kitchen table and an expensive espresso machine among other things) I replenished my personal inventory at a fraction of what I'd normally have to pay per copy.
And conveniently the shipping was free.
The icing on the cake:
Did I mention that the spike in sales resulted in the book becoming a best-seller again?
(Plus this helped me stick it to the incompetent, unethical publisher I was dealing with too.)
The moral of the story:
When you're a villain, even when you’re out-manned, you’re not out-matched because villainous intellectual resources trump financial resources. Over, under, around or through -- there is always a way. You just have to get creative and find it.
Ben's Thank You (aka The Email Player part)...
So while I was relishing the moment of making Bezos my bitch, the very wise El Benbo was in my ear: "Okay, that's great and all but how are you going to tie it into an offer in your daily emails Bru?"
And here's my answer:
The whole story I shared with you will be my info-taining email content and the offer is ....
I'm offering my list signed copies of the book direct on my website at a very reasonable $15. along with several bonuses they could NEVER get via "Scam-azon". (2 months access to my membership site, a coaching call, the eBook version, and the satisfaction of knowing they helped David slay Goliath.
Plus, the remainder of my newly found inventory is being sold at full retail price bundled into 3 speaking engagements this fall that were booked as a result of my commitment to Email Player style daily emails.
None of this would've happened if you hadn't changed my mindset with your Villains books and the Email Players system. So, from the middle of my heart, please accept this as a massive thank you and tip of my hat to you.
Best,
John Brubaker
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I ain’t just whistlin’ dixie about why my books do not apply to those incapable or unable to think beyond “swipe & deploy” and who need their hand held, a 15-point checklist telling them what to do, and have to be carried around like Baby Huey with a pacifier everywhere when it comes to what to do in their business.
I don’t do any of that in my books or newsletter.
But they do teach a way of thinking.
And, my “Villains” books are a great, low-cost way to start.
The third book of the trilogy officially launches soon on (ironically) Amazon.
To get your eager mitts on the first two volumes beforehand, go here:
http://www.VillainsBook.com
Ben Settle