Amazon.com no longer giving discounts?

[Vraille Darkfang]

Is everybody no longer getting discounts at Amazon?

I usually buy my paperpacks from my local bookstore, but occasionally, when several titles come out at once & I can get the free shipping, I go to Amazon, where the paperbacks have ALWAYS been 10% off.

But, not now. (I also deleted all my cookies recently, so Amazon my not 'recognize' me as a semi-frequent customer).

I was looking to buy Elminster's Daughter, Darkblade (Warhammer; both a paperback & new Graphic Novel), plus the new Bran Mak Morn (Howard) Trade Paperback.

But, only the Bran Mak Morn is discounted.

So, does anyone know the best place to get books on-line? Esp those with a gaming emphasis.

Since I have a good local gaming store (where I run my game every week), I spend 90% of my RPG budget there. But, my only source for books is Barnes & Noble, so I feel very little loyalty there.

Thanks,

 

[eris404]

It really depends on the item. I'm still getting discounts on some things, but not on others. For example, Bujold's books are full price, but the Steerswoman books are 30-32% off. I'm not sure why.

I don't think there is one great place, unfortunately. If I'm buying online, Amazon usually is OK, sometimes Overstock has stuff, too. Since I don't mind used books, sometimes alibris and half.com have good deals.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I always assumed Amazon's discounts were kind of hit of miss, depending on the newness or popularity of the item.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

I always assumed Amazon's discounts were kind of hit of miss, depending on the newness or popularity of the item.

Every Paperback I have ever looked at on Amazon (assuming it was still in print), has alwyas been 10% off at least (and I've looked up hundreds, even those I haven't ordered).

And, many places have a local bookstore where you can get a 10% discount on things you buy (when I lived in Warrensburg, MO, I had a store like this).

In fact, without a discount, I can buy any book cheaper elsewhere, not worry about what kind of shape it will be in when it arrives.

As the only reason I shop Amazon is the discount....

No discount, no cash for Amazon.

 

[Glyfair]

I recently read an article that was discussing websites offering different discounts, based on your order history. Some sites look for how often you order, which websites you have come from (if you've come from a price comparison site, they don't offer you as deep a discount), etc. Amazon is mentioned as one of the sites that has done this. (You can read it at http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/06/01/internet.shopping.ap/index.html ).

So, deleting your cookies might matter.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I'm a big Amazon shopper, and I'm not seeing any discount on Elminster's Daughter (paperback) either. However, the hardcover is listed at 34% off. I think this has to do with the markup on paperbacks vs. hardcover, not your customer loyalty.

The Amazon complaint cited in the article link above was from 2000. That's like a geological age in internet time. Cookies don't affect your Amazon prices... all of that is stored on an online database, and the discounts I see are pretty consistant based on item type.

Although, I do think the whole Recommended for You feature of Amazon is really cool, and have made some purchases based on browsing around on those links.

 

[Fate Lawson]

I think this has to do with the markup on paperbacks vs. hardcover, not your customer loyalty.

Nope. As someone in the business, it has absolutly nothing to do with a difference in markup between hardcover and paperback. It is strictly due to common sense business practice.


The standard publishers discount for both "Trade" and "Mass Market" titles runs (on the average) between 40 and 48% of MSRP. Your paperbacks actually tend to fall into the upper end of the spectrum.

However, you very, very, very seldom see both a Hardcover and a Paperback being released at the same time. The way it usually works is:

Hardcover printed and released: Price 29.95 (avg.) with a discount to bookstore/vendor of 40%

12 to 18 months later --

Paperback printed and released: Price 7.99 (avg.) with a discount to bookstore/vendor of 48%

And here is where common business sense kicks in:

Now that the paperback is out I'm gonna have a damned hard time selling any hardcovers I have left. So my best bet is to try to at least get my invested capital back -- Thus the big discount on the hardcovers until I sell out.

 

[Bront]

I like Overstock.com, but they tend to be hit or miss on what they have. As far as any WoTC book though, you can usually get it cheep and fairly quickly.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

walmart.com.

It's odd, but they have a lot of gaming stuff on there. Usually cheaper than amazon, too.

I've never checked out novels there, but you can always give it a try. Overstock.com is good two.

I've bought from both of them and never had any problems.