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Kindles for $425: What do the tea leaves say?
February 18, 2008 | 6:43 am
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By David Rothman
No more $800 for a Kindle. Some profiteers on eBay are now reduced to selling new, unopened Kindles for $425 as “Buy It Now” items, just $25 above Amazon’s own price. Shipping may cost you $20.
Hmm. Is the $425 a hint that the Kindle shortage is about to relent? Or could it instead say that, beyond the early adopter crowd, the demand for the machine will be limited? Hard to guess. Anyone care to read the tea leaves here?
I’m also curious what experiences people have had with Kindles bought from third parties. Did the registration go well? Are you on Amazon’s list for software updates and the rest?
I just may buy a Kindle myself if the price slips below $250.
Technorati Tags: eBay
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Comments:
What’s even more interesting is that the Buy it Now price from sellers who will ship internationally is down to $449. I know from personal experience that the Sony Reader used to sell for $75 more if shipped out of the country. If the Kindle isn’t selling for that much more, then it has likely achieved market saturation on Ebay.
Thanks, Nate. I think both angles–domestic and international–are pretty interesting.
As a Kindle booster (yes, despite my standards-related concerns, I see the machine as a net positive for the industry), I hope that eBay saturation won’t indicate general market saturation.
Perhaps the real test will come in the next few months. Will used Kindles end up going for a mere $200?
If so, that could indicate that the Kindle will be up against the same barrier that the Sony apparently has been. Check out my just-made post on industry sales as a whole. I’m surprised the Sony didn’t contribute more to them.
Reminder to newcomers to this discussion: I myself own a Sony Reader. I’m not out to badmouth either Amazon or Sony, just to arrive at the truth and avoid the hype that has characterized the e-book business in the past.
Thanks,
David