Theimage1's new book...

Actually on further checking Amazon gets 55% off of list, plus you pay shipping to their distribution centers. They have another progrm where you can sort of sell it yourself, but Amazon handles the transaction, there it's $1 per transaction + a variable closing fee of $1.35 (per item) and a 15% commission fee. They then set two shipping fees, one for cheapest way and one for priority.

They credit you a fixed amount for each, and the $3.99 for the cheapest way actually works for a book using media mail, unless a buyer wants more than one book. The shipping credit for priority is $6.99 and that's actually $4 less than it costs for more than 1/2 of the country (from where I am located.) (If you are located in Kansas or Missouri the fees are about correct for all but Hawaii and Alaska) I currently lose about $1.50 on priority shipping to the western US and a I make about $1.50 on priority chipping to the Eastern US ... unfortunately Paypal has no finer adjustments available. But with Amazon I would lose an additional $2.50 on all priority shipments west, and break even on those in the east.

So the cost of using Amazon is 15% = $6 + $1 + $1.35 + $4 = $12.35 (for all sales west) and about $8.50 for all eastern sales. This for the privilege of using Amazon per book, and I still have to do the wrapping and physical shipments myself (another $1 cost in box+ tape+ packing material+ and label.) I can see the advantage of getting it out to more "casual viewers", and the reviews etc. would be nice, but I think I'll pass for now. By the way all of the above still does not get my book listed on Amazon, only on my Amazon Store. As far as I can tell I have to go to the next higher category, the "Sell on Amazon and have the store listed by Amazon acct." That runs $100 a month flat fee plus 7% of price plus the same shipping credit. Currently I get roughly a 4% fee on Paypal but don't have to pay the $100 a month flat fee for the service.

What I have learned about book publishing of specialty books is that you need to plan on a print run of about 5000 copes to get the price down where you can afford to pay the big boys, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders their 55-60% cut. I can tell you that on a 200+ page all color 9x12" book that it will cost you between $40,000 - $50,000 cash up front. I also discovered that if you get a publisher then it doesn't cost you any cash up front, but you will likely make no more than $1-$2 per book royalty. The good news is that all the advertising and shipping, etc. is handled by someone else, but Amazon, B&N, and Borders still get their 55% cut.

I think what I learned in the book business is that it is better to sell than to write! Unless you just gotta do it at least once to see if you can, and hope for the big "break even" when all is said and done.