Amazon to Bundle Ebooks and Print Purchases

Amazon is bundling ebooks with print copies for the first time, via its Kindle MatchBook programme.

The retailer’s AutoRip programme, already offers free MP3s with CDs and records bought on the site, and Amazon has now extended that idea to books, admitting that “bundling print and digital has been one of the most requested features from customers”.

Russ Grandinetti, vice president of Kindle Content, said it’s “ridiculous” to charge customers “full retail twice” for the same book, but the ebooks doled out via Kindle MatchBook won’t necessarily be free.