Fictionwise has shut down!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

I've checked my profile and everything is set correctly. I haven't received an email from Fictionwise or eReader since I ran out of Micropay.

Worth dropping a line to customer service via their web form, then. (& check your spam folder.)

[cromag]

I'm in the US. Still no email for me.

I'm not worried. I've got my books downloaded and backed-up, and it's not likely that they'll be updated.

[curtw]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

I've checked my profile and everything is set correctly. I haven't received an email from Fictionwise or eReader since I ran out of Micropay.

aha--good thing I left $1.22 in my account.

[fjtorres]

I cleaned out my Micropay account ages ago. (Saw this coming a mile away.)
Still got the e-mail.

[ATimson]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

I cleaned out my Micropay account ages ago. (Saw this coming a mile away.)

I saw it coming too, but spending $250 in Micropay without agency books proved to be quite difficult...

[Isles8008]

I have an eBookwise 1150 and I would like to side-load books onto it. I just received it today (I like playing with old gadgets) and installed the drivers, but without an online library to log on to, I'm not sure how to get my eBooks (which I converted to .rb format on Calibre) onto the device. It is not Calibre compliant.

Can anyone help me? Please reply or PM me.

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by Isles8008

I have an eBookwise 1150 and I would like to side-load books onto it. I just received it today (I like playing with old gadgets) and installed the drivers, but without an online library to log on to, I'm not sure how to get my eBooks (which I converted to .rb format on Calibre) onto the device. It is not Calibre compliant.

Can anyone help me? Please reply or PM me.

See if you can get your hands on a SmartMedia card (128 MB max, if I remember correctly). I used to copy books to the SmartCard, then insert the card in the eBookwise.

Be aware, unlike newer versions of ereaders, with the eBookwise, it's an either/or situation. If you insert the card, the eBookwise will display the contents of the card, and not what's saved in the hardware. (Unlike my Sony, for example, that will show the combined contents of the SD/MemoryStick cards *and* what's saved in the machine's drive).

EDITED TO ADD: One more thing, the eBookwise reads .IMP, not .RB.

[snarkophilus]

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you want "A Child's History of England", Simon, there's a nicely-formatted version right here in the MR library.

Thanks Harry, I keep forgetting about the MR library. I do have my original "A Child's History of England" from when I first downloaded it from eReader.com, but I'm absolutely certain that the MR library version will be much much more nicely formatted than my pdb-to-epub conversion without even looking at the MR library version first .

I really should run through and look for MR library versions of all my PD books.

Cheers,
Simon.

[Mikou]

Originally Posted by Isles8008

I have an eBookwise 1150 and I would like to side-load books onto it. I just received it today (I like playing with old gadgets) and installed the drivers, but without an online library to log on to, I'm not sure how to get my eBooks (which I converted to .rb format on Calibre) onto the device. It is not Calibre compliant.

Can anyone help me? Please reply or PM me.

The other option is the EBookwise Librarian. I traded away my reader a long time ago, but this the software I used to use. It can convert certain open formats (e.g. rtf or html) to the imp format and load documents to the reader. There is a download link at the bottom of the GEB Librarian page. This is Windows-compatible software.

If you are buying secure formats, you'll have to do some converting. Personally, I loved the device and only gave it up when Sony developed a model that offered a comparable user interface and my ebookwise reader started malfunctioning. Hope you enjoy yours.

[lfeuln]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Has anyone else still not received the first email from Fictionwise or eReader? I'm still waiting and I'm going to both sites to try and contact support.

I'm still waiting and actually set up a phone reminder to call support this week if it doesn't arrive.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lfeuln

I'm still waiting and actually set up a phone reminder to call support this week if it doesn't arrive.

I'm still waiting my code. On Sunday I'll try the link again and see what happens. I'll dig through B&N's site to find the number to call on Monday if I've not gotten it by lunch time Monday.

[gstew]

First, to keep the important part easy to follow, I'll put my story at the end.

I've gone through this thread again tonight and as far as I can see, NOONE who has posted here has seen all of their Fictionwise/EReader items transferred, with the greatest number being 185, then 46, then my 31.

I also did a little web-searching on this last weekend, but haven't since. I found a few references to the Fictionwise/EReader shutdowns and bookshelf transfers, a couple references to the debacle that it's been, but NO reports of anyone getting all of their bookshelves transferred. Has anyone here had that happen or seen reference to that happening?

And have you seen other good sources of info on the situation other than this thread?

I'm happy that I have all of my bookshelf items backed up. But I haven't really addressed removing DRM & converting them to a format I can use in the future... and I'm REALLY hoping that this transfer will keep me from having to do that quickly. I did start buying materials from B&N after the Fictionwise/EReader purchase, mainly because I REALLY dislike Amazon's EBook business practices. Now I get to choose between the devil and the incompetent!

Enough venting. Is there any effort to coordinate an organized response to B&N? If so, I'd like to participate... and if not, I'd sure like to be part of making that happen. Right now, all I think we know is:

1. B&N is shutting down Fictionwise & EReader.

2. They have promised to transfer our bookshelves over except for what in practice looks to be a very small percentage of items for most people.

3. Their processes to notify customers, allow them to opt-in, and convert/transfer their books are all broken.

4. They know this and have said they are fixing the problems.

5. We are seeing no results from their efforts and receiving no updates on what's going on.

I'd like to hear from B&N management a statement telling us that they know there's a problem and what they are doing to get everyone's eligible items transferred over... and by when that will happen. Oh, and also how they'll keep us informed in the future.

A bit more venting... They REALLY should take care of us. We've proven that we are book and Ebook consumers. As the reading population continues to decline, we'll be a core portion of their customer base. Given this, I'm a bit miffed at how we've been treated!

Enough venting... anyone got intell on any full transfers, any other good information sources, and whether there's an organized response started?

Thanks!

Greg




P.S. Here's my story... feel free to skip it if you wish.

I started ebooking with Peanut Press back in 1999 & now have 225 EReader & 690 Fictionwise estories/emags/ebooks on my bookshelves.

I got both an EReader and a Fictionwise notice email on 11/16. The Fictionwise notice came in the morning. I responded immediately, got a code, & submitted it to start the conversion. It looked as though it had stopped when I returned from lunch & saw the EReader notice. I responded to it also, got a code that was the duplicate of the Fictionwise one, and submitted it. The website said that the code had already been used.

I checked and saw that only 31 items had made it into my B&N bookshelf. I submitted customer service requests to B&N, EReader, and Fictionwise & then called the B&N Support number. They said there had been issues & it might take up to 24 hours.

I waited until midday 11/18, saw that no more books had converted, & saw a response from B&N support that said:


"Thank you for writing to us about the email which you received to transfer your eReader account books to your Nook.

If you have specific questions regarding the transfer of your eBooks to a NOOK® Library, we kindly request you to go through the FAQ's by clicking on the below link:

http://www.fictionwise.com/BN-Transition-FAQ.htm

If you need immediate assistance, we kindly request you to reach us through our toll-free number 855-654-9332. Our agents are available from Monday to Friday at 8AM-11PM ET, on Saturdays and Sundays we are available from 9AM to 11PM ET."



Basically, nothing, so I called called B&N Support again. They said that the Fictionwise techs were aware of the issue and that they'd be moving over the remainder of everyone's books during the next week.

11/23, I received an email back from Fictionwise support and another from EReader. Both said:


"Thank you for opting to transfer your eReader Bookshelf to a NOOK Library.

We are continuing the transfer process which is ongoing during the week of November 19, 2012. If you have more titles that are eligible for transfer, we will deliver those titles to your new NOOK Library. You do not need to do anything more in this process as any transferrable remaining titles will appear automatically in your NOOK Library."



I've looked for all of the authors I've purchased on the "no-transfer" list at B&N & saw 2 of my purchases there. I also saw 3 additional combos that contained books I'd purchased separately. I'm hoping the latter will be ok as the books are not listed separately.

So I expect MANY more than 31 to be transferred.

Enough of my story... Here's to getting all our books transferred!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by lfeuln

I'm still waiting and actually set up a phone reminder to call support this week if it doesn't arrive.

What did they say when you phoned them?

[pdurrant]

I am rather surprised at how poorly this seems to have been implemented.

With a bit of luck, they'll have the problems sorted out before they get to the UK.

Oh - and a reminder to anyone outside the US & UK that it might be an idea to come to the UK on holiday, so that you can legitimately put a UK address on your Fictionwise account. Otherwise you will simply lose all access to your books after 31st January 2013.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I am rather surprised at how poorly this seems to have been implemented.

Really?
This *is* B&N: when it comes to customer service, they have a reputation. It is well-earned and they live down to it.

This is going about the way I expected it from the moment I received the first email. As is, I fully expect that *nobody* is going to get all their available ebooks. The only question in play is whether the percentage will grow much higher than Nate Hoffelder's 10%:
http://www.the-digital-reader.com/20...t-doesnt-work/

The task they've taken on is inmense and the fact they only allocated 3 weeks or so to it tells me they didn't fully appreciate what they were getting into. Somewhere along the line somebody made promises they can't keep.

My suggestion is to expect nothing: download and strip DRM ASAP, make multiple backups both on- and off-site, and then sit back with some popcorn to watch the show.

They *might* come close to fulfilling their promises but it's going to get frantic. If they do, give'em a round of applause. But don't *expect* a happy ending for all or even a plurality.