First up, let me say, there should be a Sticky topic at the very least, but probably better as a sub-forum, called something like -
Problems with Ebooks, Ereaders and Stores. Not somewhere to complain about missing features, but somewhere to share stories about bad formatting and other errors, plus features that don't work as they are supposed to ... or are maybe just incomplete, plus lack of service or poor service ... even stupid policies.
Sharing such stories, can help others, especially where a resolution was found, or just make us all better informed, especially potential buyers.
I have a few stories myself. Here is the latest, which I dealt with today, but has been ongoing for weeks.
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I have had to get a refund for three parts of a story, because Amazon have put an incorrect restriction on the 4th part and have wasted heaps of my time trying to correct the issue. My apologies to author Wilson Harp, but this needed doing, if just to point out the flaw in their Help system, and to warn others. At the very least, the Publishing Team should have contacted me at some point in the last few weeks.
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Here is my story, as presented to Amazon Help.
Well, this is my third and final contact with Amazon Help in an attempt to fix this issue.
A few years back,
Hugh Howey wrote the
Wool Trilogy ... an Indie writer sensation.
He then very kindly allowed Fan Fiction authors into that Universe.
To date there have been well over a hundred stories or part stories written by these authors, and I have purchased most of them.
Generally they have been released under the banner of
Kindle Worlds, and all form a part of what is called collectively the
Silo Saga.
One of these Fan Fiction authors is Wilson Harp, and he wrote a four part story, releasing each part gradually over time.
I purchased each part as it came out, but never saw the release of the fourth part until recently, while browsing
Wilson's Amazon Page.
When I clicked on the ebook, it took me to the usual ebook web page, but no purchase option was available, instead it said -
This title is not currently available for purchase.
Clearly this is an error.
This is not about some Publisher who doesn't allow releases for Australia, as Amazon is the sole publisher. I have had a conversation with the author, Wilson Harp, and he confirms this and also says I should be able to purchase it.
On two previous occasions I have tried to get Amazon staff to understand, and eventually they do, and they agree with both Wilson and myself, that an error has occurred, and needs fixing. They however don't do it, just offer to pass my concerns onto The Team.
On my last (second) communication with Amazon over this issue, which went for well over an hour, until I lost the connection, nothing was resolved and I still cannot purchase the story.
On that occasion, I tried going up the chain, until I could find someone who had the power to fix the issue. That clearly did not happen, and I have expended too much time already on this ridiculous state of affairs. Even so, I decided to write this as my third and final attempt to get the correct result.
All the Amazon staff I have spoken to, agree this is an error and an unfair situation, so if this is not resolved shortly, I only have one option open to me ... getting a refund.
There is no point to me having an incomplete story, especially when missing the ending, so I will be asking for a refund for the first three parts. If the fourth part cannot be sold to me, then neither should the first three parts have been. To do otherwise would be wrong and unfair, if not illegal.
I will also, in that scenario, no longer purchase any more Silo Saga stories, as I will no longer feel I can trust Amazon. And of course, my lack of trust will extend beyond Silo Saga stories. I will also be publishing my experience everywhere I can think of.
This issue should have been fixed immediately after notifying Amazon the first time.
Here is the link for the ebook in question,
Silo Saga: Conspiracy (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Hart's Folly Book 4) Kindle Edition -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ies_dp_rw_ca_4
Wilson Harp's Amazon Page -
https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Harp/e...t_pop_ebooks_1
It is notable, that the ebook, the 4th part of the story, is not visible to me when searching for it or when browsing Silo Saga stories. Only visible to me at Wilson Harp's Amazon Page.
I believe he has also released the four parts as a complete ebook, but that is also invisible to me.
I am an Australian citizen, who bought my first Kindle before there was an Australian Amazon website. I have not changed over to the Australian Amazon Store, as most of the authors I follow are American. Obviously I don't have to change over, as it is one of choice.
ADDENDUM - During my second contact, I cleared my web browser history, both reloaded & refreshed the web page, plus also restarted my browser, and logged in and out of my account a few times etc, all to no avail.
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I had hoped, that the threat of asking for a refund for the first three parts, plus not buying any more Silo Saga stories, and the added threat of posting on Social Media etc, would have been enough to heighten their concerns enough to fast track a resolution, but clearly not. So anyway, it was no idle bluff by me, and the refunds should be granted to my account within a few days. A very unsatisfactory situation all up. I have also of course written a review for each part at Amazon, containing most of this post. Now I will sit back after posting a few other places, and see what happens. Never poke the bearded dragon.
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