Words Like Coins Kindle Edition by Robin Hobb
Shows as - This title is not currently available for purchase
Yet if I check Amazon with Opera VPN in Private Mode, it is available on the Amazon author's page for $3.99, but despite all that, when I go to the ebook page, I get the same message. It used to show $3.99, but either it is no longer available to anyone or they know I am not really from America.
But if it was available to me as a pretend American, then from my research it would seem like I would need to go to a lot of trouble to get it.
There is no AUS Amazon equivalent, so that rules Gifting out I imagine, from an American friend.
So the only way forward, would be to do the following.
1. Have an American residential or billing address.
2. Have an American credit card, to which I can input and withdraw funds at need.
3. Have a Kindle device dedicated to being a pretend American one ... or the PC For Kindle app on a device or PC that doesn't have my existing AUS version, and which also pretends to be American. So in other words, different hardware than I already use for my current Amazon account.
4. Of course, you also need a (American) new Amazon account and a different email address.
Personally I am not willing to experiment with losing everything, even though I do have backup copies. I'd rather not risk losing my existing Amazon Kindle account.
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Of course, the whole situation with a digital product is ludicrous and defies sense. It seems pretty clear to me, it is about control and nothing to do with profits. Some, perhaps a lot, of these publishers jealously guard their rights beyond the point of reason. Especially when they mix up ebooks with physical books. Quite often I can buy a physical book here, that is available in America as an ebook, but not available here as an ebook. All supposedly due to publishing deals or rights.
There should be rules to stop this nonsense.
And nonsense it certainly is, because in most cases there are legitimate ways around the situation ... if not ideal for the end user, who just wants an ebook.
For instance, I don't have to buy the physical book from my country or even brand new. I have bought many physical books from overseas, especially second hand from libraries in America and Canada ... and also new from American online stores.
What does the author or publisher get if I buy the book second (third, etc) hand?
What does some AUS based publisher (that is probably causing all the issues) get if I buy brand new from an online American Book Store?
Nothing in both cases, it would seem to me.
And the lack of sense doesn't end there. For even if I can buy the ebook, quite often the physical book is a similar or cheaper price ... depending on where you purchase of course. The end result of course, is less profit for author & publisher, if I buy the physical book. Just totally idiotic that an ebook isn't much cheaper, and they still reap the same profit, without any of the physical issues to endure.
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I have essentially, in many cases (fair publishers aside), been driven away from many main stream publishers, and just grab Indie publishings (despite their often existing flaws), while I just shelve (sic) interest in authors I have followed for years, until sense re-enters the publisher mindset. It is not too hard for me (if not ideal from a fan perspective and wanting to keep up with series etc), as I have a huge backlog of books that need reading. So it is just a matter of changing my priorities.
It is sad really, that it has come to this, but publishers (perhaps even well established authors) have only themselves to blame if they have stuck their hand in the sand, and fight against the digital revolution ... or try to take unjust or unethical advantage of it. They should be embracing and focusing on the positives, not negatives, as in all reality there is no going back ... not long term anyway.
I still love physical books, and have a huge library of them, but like many others I want my new books to be ebooks from now on, and I refuse to bow to publisher pressure to do otherwise. In a worst case scenario, if desperate, I will buy second hand or placate my conscience with justifiable excuses to use the other option available ... perhaps both in tandem.
It is quite overwhelming the number of ebooks (alone) that are available now, and with great sites like BookBub, to help you cut through the chaff, to some degree, I can afford to be picky and choosy about who I am prepared to give my money to.
In reality, the saddest thing of all, is the relationship between author and reader has now been impacted with a dark side. Ask yourself - Can you really enjoy reading a product from someone you are struggling to respect?
I like to start a book with a clear mind, no negatives ... which is why I rarely read book reviews. If an author/publisher has really irritated me with price or availability of their product, then I am not feeling well disposed toward them, even as I have found, after decades of being a huge fan. Perhaps I am to blame though, for having kept these authors on pedestals until now?
Of course, I totally want to just blame the publisher for the current state of affair, but I cannot ignore that the author may be playing a part too.
Sad Times indeed!
P.S. Apologies for the long post ... but hey, don't we all love to read.
