I haven’t yet gotten my head around the Kindle’s pricing for newspapers and magazines. Unlike with books - generally cheaper than print editions - periodical subscriptions often cost as much or more than print while including less content.

Here’s an example. Wall Street Journal, unbidden, quoted me $12/month for a print sub plus online access behind the pay wall. Kindle’s edition fetches $15/month, without online privileges and lacking some print content for a mix of technical, and unexplained-editorial, reasons.

The situation clashes so starkly with expectations a majority of the 200+ reviews are ★☆☆☆☆; rare for featured products. In fact, Kindle’s periodical reviews correlate so tightly with price, you could mistake it for the app store.

The reviews also hint at a distribution rift: neither Amazon nor Dow Jones own up to production mistakes, botched e-deliveries and content omissions, preferring to blame each other. The WSJ doesn’t acknowledge Kindle subscribers as their clients; nor does it advertise the option. (Some of these points also come up with the more favorably reviewed NYT, among others.)

I’m hoping these are just growing pains.

2 years ago  /  11 notes