Are there websites, besides Amazon, to download "good" e-books for lower prices?

[Zell]

Amazon seems to be THE place (maybe the only place) to download good/popular/best selling books to my Kindle 3.  However, many times Amazon's e-books are more expensive than the paper version they sell (What's up with that??  I would think paper would be more expensive).  Are there other websites to get these same books for a lower price?  Or has Amazon got a lock on that.

I ask this because I know you can shop around online for both paper and non-Kindle version e-books and get better prices on e-books compared to other online stores.

[pidgeon92]

In terms of purchasing popular titles? No. Popular titles are almost 100% DRMd, and would require breaking the DRM and converting the file. More trouble than it is worth, in my opinion.

[Zell]

By the way, I'm not suggesting getting pirated books at no or low cost prices.  My standard of ethics are higher than to do that.  I'm wondering if there are other above-the-table online sites out there where the same books that are on Amazon can be downloaded for a better price -- legally.

[Alice Y. Yeh]

Nope. Amazon has a policy where the Kindle book pricing has to match the lowest available pricing...period. In other words, they can't be undersold, and it's not like DTB where you can get a used copy.

[pidgeon92]

By the way, I'm not suggesting getting pirated books at no or low cost prices.  My standard of ethics are higher than to do that.  I'm wondering if there are other above-the-table online sites out there where the same books that are on Amazon can be downloaded for a better price -- legally.

The answer is still the same. You cannot access "popular" titles from other vendor sites. There are plenty of other websites where you can find other titles, like Baen for science fiction, Horror Mall for horror titles, etc.; but you're not going to be able to get the latest James Patterson or Stephen King from another vendor and have it work on your Kindle.

[Birstel]

For science fiction, Baen's website is pretty good.  Good prices and DRM-free!

www.webscription.net

[Zell]

Nope. Amazon has a policy where the Kindle book pricing has to match the lowest available pricing...period. In other words, they can't be undersold, and it's not like DTB where you can get a used copy.

So prices for e-books for the Nook and other e-readers out there are the same as Amazon's e-books?

[davem2bits]

Stop going it alone.  Almost any kbook purchased from Amazon can be loaded on up to six Kindle devices.  Find 2 or 3 other Kindle owners with similar reading interests as yours and form a book buying group.  

[pidgeon92]

So prices for e-books for the Nook and other e-readers out there are the same as Amazon's e-books?

They tend to be the same, or higher. If someone undercuts Amazon, they will usually respond with a price cut in a day or so.

[Ann in Arlington]

So prices for e-books for the Nook and other e-readers out there are the same as Amazon's e-books?

Pretty much.  There might be slight variations but usually not too large. . .. and probably none at all if it's a book sold under the "Agency Model".  

[BTackitt]

From this thread:
http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,1136.0.html

Ebook Sites

Free Ebooks (not necessarily Kindle):
http://www.anova.org/
http://www.baen.com/library/ (Science fiction)
http://www.bartleby.com/
http://darrylslibrary.wordpress.com/free-ebooks/
http://www.ebooksgratuits.com/ebooks.php  (Books in French)
http://feedbooks.com/books/top?order=week
http://finding-free-ebooks.blogspot.com/search/label/.mobi%20.prc
http://freekindlebooks.org/
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.kindleclassics.org/
http://manybooks.net//
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/ebooks.php?forumid=128
and for an annual fee http://www.worldlibrary.net
http://www.spontaneousderivation.com/kindle/

Not Necessarily Free Ebooks
Bristlecone Pine Press: http://www.bcpinepress.com/
Digital Book Index:  http://www.digitalbookindex.com/about.htm
EBooks Just Published:  www.ebooksjustpublished.com  PDF Format, sometimes free
Elisco Publishing:  http://eliscopublishing.com
Fictionwise:  www.fictionwise.com (select multi-format books for Kindle)
Horror-Mall:  http://www.horror-mall.com/Digital-Editions-p-1-c-370.html  more info Tor Books: www.tor.com (register, and they give away free books from time to time; also free short stories fairly often)
http://onedollarorbit.com/
Webscription (part of Baen) http://www.webscription.net

Foreign Language Websites (Non-English  )
http://www.ebooksgratuits.com/ebooks.php  Free! (French)

[Zell]

They tend to be the same, or higher. If someone undercuts Amazon, they will usually respond with a price cut in a day or so.

Good to know.  Thanks.

[daveconifer]

The Frugal eReader specializes in identifying cheap books:

http://www.thefrugalereader.com/2011/02/januarys-ten-most-popular-frugal-finds.html

[Joe Chiappetta]

Btackitt certainly covered it in his post above. You could probably spend the rest of your life reading books from that list free and never run out.

[DreamWeaver]

Btackitt certainly covered it in his post above. You could probably spend the rest of your life reading books from that list free and never run out.

Yes, that's for sure!  Many thanks for the very comprehensive list, Btackitt!

[KayakerNC]

The list should also include;
http://www.smashwords.com/
and
http://cheaplit.com/length/1/0/0/0 

[BTackitt]

That list is a part of a post in the Book Corner called Book lover's links. The rest of the post can be found through the link I left or just go to that thread under the Book Corner.
Kayaker, check the full list, I think Smashwords is listed in there. If not, let Betsy know. She updates that post.

[KayakerNC]

That list is a part of a post in the Book Corner called Book lover's links. The rest of the post can be found through the link I left or just go to that thread under the Book Corner.
Kayaker, check the full list, I think Smashwords is listed in there. If not, let Betsy know. She updates that post.

Sorry, should have looked first, I assumed (I know, I know) that you posted the complete listing.

[NadiaLee]

Amazon seems to be THE place (maybe the only place) to download good/popular/best selling books to my Kindle 3.  However, many times Amazon's e-books are more expensive than the paper version they sell (What's up with that??  I would think paper would be more expensive).  Are there other websites to get these same books for a lower price?  Or has Amazon got a lock on that.

I ask this because I know you can shop around online for both paper and non-Kindle version e-books and get better prices on e-books compared to other online stores.

Zell,

I'm not sure if you read romance, but if you do, you can get discounts and rebates from All Romance eBooks, and they do have publishers who sell DRM-free ebooks that you can upload to your Kindle (mobi or prc files).

(And I also second smashwords.com)

Re: print books being cheaper than Kindle books -- it's due to that odd Agency pricing many of the Big Six are doing (I think only 1 isn't doing it).  In order to sell their ebooks, Amazon cannot discount e-books (though Amazon can discount print books), and the publishers set their own prices. 

[luvshihtzu]

There is the new Kindle Book Lending Club.  It would be nice if you have some books to lend in return.