Amazon.com said Monday that its new generation of the Kindle e-reader has already become the fastest-selling Kindle of all time as well as the best-selling product on the company’s web sites in the United States and the United Kingdom. What’s more, Kindle e-book best sellers continue to surpass their print counterparts at Amazon.com, even as the online retail giant’s traditional print book sales continue to grow.
Sales of Amazon’s latest Kindle devices, which became available for pre-order in late July, have already surpassed Kindle device sales during the entire fourth quarter of last year, noted Amazon Senior Vice President Steve Kessel. This is “astonishing because the fourth quarter is the busiest time of year on Amazon,” Kessel said.
E-Book Best Sellers Beat Print
Amazon’s customers are flocking to the new Kindles with their all-new electronic ink screen with a 50 percent higher contrast level that delivers superior readability even in bright sunlight, Kessel explained. He also touted the devices’ extended battery life of up to one month, light 8.5-ounce form factor, and $139 price as reasons for the product line’s success. “It’s clear that this is going to be the biggest holiday for Kindle yet — by far,” Kessel said.
Though the Association of American Publishers reports that e-book sales overall during the first eight months of this year grew 193 percent, Amazon reports that the growth rate of Kindle e-books exceeded the market. What’s more, during the past 30 days customers purchasing the top 10 best-selling books on Amazon’s web sites have been choosing Kindle e-books over hardcovers and paperbacks at a rate of more than two to one, he added.
“Kindle books are also outselling print books for the top 25, 100 and 1,000 best sellers — it’s across the board,” Kessel said. This is “remarkable when you consider that…