Amazon Matchbook was a program that that launched in 2013 and gave the ability to authors and publishers to provide a heavily discounted ebook, when a reader bought a hardcover or paperback. The Kindle book often cost as little as $2 to $3, but it doesn’t look like many people were even aware this program existed, since Amazon never promoted it. It has been announced that Matchbook is going to be shuttered on October 31st.
Matchbook is the type of program that major publishers never really embraced, so if you bought something from a known author, Matchbook was never an option. It primarily was used by indie authors who self-published via Kindle Direct Publishing, smaller publishers and Amazons own imprints, such as Thomas & Mercer.
The lack of bestselling title from authors who sell a lot of books was likely the reason why Matchbook is being discontinued. There is also some credence that when people buy a hardcover, paperback or ebook, they tend to just buy one format and are happy with that.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
