[Hitch]

Originally Posted by meeera

Will it only be verified purchasers who are allowed to report errors, or will you be able to report them from the sample or the Look Inside?

It's verified purchasers with KF8 e-ink devices--PPW and Voyages for in-app reporting, primarily, although formatting errata may also be reported through the relevant link on the Amazon sales page for the book in question. Presumably, Amazon's only interested in feedback from actual purchasers, right? I mean, given what's happened previously with people abusing reviews (in both directions), etc., I'm sure that they'll be careful.

Originally Posted by Catlady

It seems silly to me. Other than the most egregious formatting screw-ups, how is Amazon going to objectively verify actual errors?

With human validation.

An author might choose to have characters speak in dialect, for example, or to have an unconventional first-person narration. Even regarding formatting, an author might decide to be nonstandard. These may be stupid and annoying editorial choices, but they may be choices, not mistakes.

If, say, a dozen people incorrectly report something as an error, is Amazon going to decide it's an error?

Just like they do now. A reader or reader reports a mistake. Amazon looks into it. They send you an email, to which you may respond. Trust me, I'm acquainted with this process from our clients. It's NOT, repeat, NOT the automated spellchecker's results, or anything like that.

Originally Posted by ottdmk

I see some potential for abuse here. Any warning is going to cause lost sales. Should someone troll particular books, there could be multiple warning periods, multiplying the income loss.

Indeed, which is why Amazon has specifically stated that they will only occur for VALIDATED errors.

Originally Posted by Catlady

If the author of the self-pubbed book is able to ignore the error reports, whether they're valid or not, then what's the point?

Because if they continue to ignore it, the book WILL be removed from sale. And really--other than someone who knows about the author's style, and who is determined to ignore it--who'll buy the book if they know it has significant quality issues? Isn't that the entire point?

Originally Posted by tompe

It is marked as containing errrors so people can avoid buying it.

And I thought all books will be marked. Not just self-pubbed. Is that not correct?

I don't factually know. My current understanding, which is hearsay, is Indy-pubs only, at this moment in time. I don't see the need, if you think about it, for a trade-pubbed book (Big whatever-the-number-is-now). After all, as I believe I've pointed out previously, trade pubs simply won't do it. They'll have printed volumes out there with (generally) the same issues. They're not going to reprint the bloody book for 3 typos.

(Anyone here who hasn't read my rants about instant gratification and snotty readers won't know this, but I think that it's absurd to insist that a KDP publisher INSTANTLY run around and fix 3 bloody typos. Random House wouldn't do that; don't know why an eBook publisher should have to, either. Not to mention--what worked for an upload in, say, 2010, won't work now. It'll be interesting to see how that's all sorted.)

Amazon's announcement specified KDP-published eBooks. Trade pubs don't use the KDP, so...presumably, not trade-pubs. Will it eventually become that? Possibly, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

All in, I expect that this won't be abused BY AMAZON. I seriously doubt that they'll Scarlet Letter a book for 3 typos, or even 5. I would tend to think that they are targeting the worst offenders; illiterate grammar and egregious amounts of typos, and horrible formatting. That's my take, FWIW.

Hitch