Boycott Amazon's eBooks

JSWolf · 04-02-2010, 08:41 AM

From an email message received from Amazon.

Quote:

We’re excited to announce that all 5 titles in author F. Paul Wilson’s award-winning The LaNague Federation series are available for the first time in digital format, exclusively on Kindle.

It's time we boycotted Amazon's eBooks until they stop this exclusive nonsense. Given the agency mess we have now, the last thing we need is exclusive content at any one store. So I say we boycott Amazon until they give up on this.

ATimson · 04-02-2010, 09:17 AM

Were this a title by a major publisher, I'd see your point. But since he's self-publishing, it looks to me like it's "exclusive because it's convenient" (or perhaps because he uses Topaz), and not "exclusive because Amazon is paying him more money"...

HarryT · 04-02-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's time we boycotted Amazon's eBooks until they stop this exclusive nonsense. Given the agency mess we have now, the last thing we need is exclusive content at any one store. So I say we boycott Amazon until they give up on this.

Go ahead, Jon. I'm sure that you not buying books from them will soon bring Amazon to its knees.

In the mean time, I entirely support the right of an author to distribute their work in whatever way that they choose.

abookreader · 04-02-2010, 09:40 AM

I have to agree w/ ATimson

Despise Topaz but go Indie Pub!

wallcraft · 04-02-2010, 07:33 PM

These are DRM-free AZW ebooks. So they are only sold by Amazon, but they are usable on any device. For ePub, format shift using Calibre.

It is entirely rational for an author with limited time and resources available to invest in preparing ebooks to produce them for the Kindle only. They are after all a huge fraction of the total market, particularly in the US. If Amazon will actually pay the author for exclusivity, then that is icing on the cake.

DawnFalcon · 04-02-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's time we boycotted Amazon's eBooks until they stop this exclusive nonsense.

How about you boycot the agency model cartel? That at least would make sense...

Oh, right, that'd mean market forces would be in play. My bad!

(And I won't buy from Amazon because of their contingency fee scam, but if an author choses not to sell to me by say going Kindle Only... well, it's their choice. The second hand store beckons)

leebase · 04-02-2010, 08:32 PM

I don't care about the exclusives. More power to Amazon and it's authors -- and to everyone else as well. If someone sells a book only through a store/format that I don't have access to...well....I'll just read other books.

Lee

Kali Yuga · 04-02-2010, 09:17 PM

Haven't you perpetually boycotted Amazon for some reason or another since day one?

SensualPoet · 04-02-2010, 09:23 PM

I'm not miffed about exclusives either. But one has to ensure one doesn't become too exclusive ... the name of the game remains to "be sold and be read", not necessarily in that order, but ultimately both conditions apply. This would not be a trigger for a boycott in my household.

DawnFalcon · 04-02-2010, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Haven't you perpetually boycotted Amazon for some reason or another since day one?

Only their ebooks.

delphidb96 · 04-03-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

From an email message received from Amazon.

It's time we boycotted Amazon's eBooks until they stop this exclusive nonsense. Given the agency mess we have now, the last thing we need is exclusive content at any one store. So I say we boycott Amazon until they give up on this.

F. Paul Wilson is right to go through Amazon, and had you actually taken the time to *look* at the deals, you'd have agreed that his actions are customer-friendly. He's right. You're wrong. And yes, I snatched up all the LaNague series at that wonderful price!

Derek

EowynCarter · 04-03-2010, 02:51 AM

Well, i don't have a reader that read mobi anymoire. So i'll have trouble buying from amazon even if I wanted to.

wallcraft · 04-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Well, i don't have a reader that read mobi anymoire. So i'll have trouble buying from amazon even if I wanted to.

It does involve extra steps, but for DRM-free Kindle books you can download to Kindle for PC (or Kindle for Mac) and then format shift using Calibre. Most Kindle ebooks are not DRM-free, but the point and click script unswindle.pyw will strip K4PC DRM infested AZWs for you (watch out for the TOPAZ ebooks, which are harder to convert). This does not work on Macs though.

You could well ask if all this is worth it, particularly since Amazon has lost its price advantage for ebooks from most major publishers. Now ebook stores will be judged primarily on buying experience and customer support. The Kindle store is one of the best for finding and buying ebooks and has unrivaled customer support.

DawnFalcon · 04-03-2010, 11:12 AM

So...erm...where's the Amazon search option for non-DRM?

Mike4672 · 04-03-2010, 01:15 PM

Check under Product Details:

When you see Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited that means that it's DRM free.

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04-02-2010, 09:17 AM	#2
ATimson Evangelist Posts: 456 Karma: 1044878 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	Were this a title by a major publisher, I'd see your point. But since he's self-publishing, it looks to me like it's "exclusive because it's convenient" (or perhaps because he uses Topaz), and not "exclusive because Amazon is paying him more money"...

04-02-2010, 09:40 AM	#4
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I have to agree w/ ATimson Despise Topaz but go Indie Pub!

04-02-2010, 07:33 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	These are DRM-free AZW ebooks. So they are only sold by Amazon, but they are usable on any device. For ePub, format shift using Calibre. It is entirely rational for an author with limited time and resources available to invest in preparing ebooks to produce them for the Kindle only. They are after all a huge fraction of the total market, particularly in the US. If Amazon will actually pay the author for exclusivity, then that is icing on the cake.

04-02-2010, 08:32 PM	#7
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,960 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	I don't care about the exclusives. More power to Amazon and it's authors -- and to everyone else as well. If someone sells a book only through a store/format that I don't have access to...well....I'll just read other books. Lee

04-02-2010, 09:17 PM	#8
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Haven't you perpetually boycotted Amazon for some reason or another since day one?

04-02-2010, 09:23 PM	#9
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I'm not miffed about exclusives either. But one has to ensure one doesn't become too exclusive ... the name of the game remains to "be sold and be read", not necessarily in that order, but ultimately both conditions apply. This would not be a trigger for a boycott in my household.

04-03-2010, 02:51 AM	#12
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,337 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Well, i don't have a reader that read mobi anymoire. So i'll have trouble buying from amazon even if I wanted to.

04-03-2010, 11:12 AM	#14
DawnFalcon Banned Posts: 2,094 Karma: 2682 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: N/A	So...erm...where's the Amazon search option for non-DRM?

04-03-2010, 01:15 PM	#15
Mike4672 Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wisconsin Device: Kindle Paperwhite; iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, LG G3	Check under Product Details: When you see Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited that means that it's DRM free.

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