did Tor books withdraw from the ebook lending program

Joykins · 05-09-2011, 03:28 PM

I went to lend my friend a book with the LendMe feature (B&N) and it was no longer lendable. I checked out some other Tor books that were lendable not too long ago, and, nope, they're not lendable anymore either.

When did this happen and does anyone know what publishers imprints were involved?

AnemicOak · 05-09-2011, 03:39 PM

Sometime around the middle of April it appears Macmillan (Tor, St. Martin's) have withdrawn all their books from both the nook and Kindle lending programs.

Joykins · 05-09-2011, 04:01 PM

Thanks.

Oh, and

Soon there will be nothing at all to lend but Christian books, B&N Classics, self-pubs, and paranormal erotic romances.

NightBird · 05-09-2011, 05:24 PM

All of the agency publishers have backed out of the lending program and it looks like Harlequin also, from the searches I've done. There are still a lot of the other small to mid-size companies that haven't, like Pinnacle, Nightshade, Macabre Ink, Subterranean, etc. Also, apparently from what I've been reading, the imprints are often given a choice as to whether to go along with all this stuff (agency model, no lending, etc.) or not. For instance, Angry Robot and Soho Press were acquired by Random House but still not doing the agency pricing. Soho does not have lending enabled but Angry Robot does.

Joykins · 05-09-2011, 11:13 PM

I don't think Harlequin ever participated, though; I've been reading 'em since I got my nook in Jan 2010 and they've never been lendable. It makes me angrier when I buy lendable books that later have the feature disabled; it feels like they're taking something away that I paid for.

As for the imprints, if they are new acquisitions sometimes there is a transition period before they're all put under the parent company's policies--that's how it's worked in the acquisitions I've had to suffer through at work, anyway.

jgaiser · 05-09-2011, 11:39 PM

Yep.. Once again the big 6 bite themselves in the ass.

Joykins · 05-09-2011, 11:40 PM

I really wanted to lend my friend _Among Others_ because it is fabulous, and borrow the 2 Hunger Games books I don't own and now I will never be able to...*whine*.

jhempel24 · 05-10-2011, 12:45 AM

based on your own ethical beliefs there are "other" ways to lend. I myself have no problem letting my sister or sister-in-law read an eBook that I've bought if they want to.

jedifarfy · 05-10-2011, 01:20 AM

That totally totally bites.

::mini rant::
As someone whose job is to sell digital devices, publishers screwing around like this really bites US. It almost never gets back to the publishers. Everyone jumps on Amazon or B&N for not having the books to lend. People really WANT to lend books, even if it is just once. They'd love to do it multiple times, but publishers, again, are big babies. They aren't listening to their customers, the readers, and then wonder why there is so much piracy.

::end rant::

As my signature says, this is just my opinion...

NightBird · 05-10-2011, 01:37 AM

Quote:

I don't think Harlequin ever participated

Oh I didn't know if they did or not, I was just checking them now.

I agree about the transition period, but there was one imprint whose website I was reading where they specifically mentioned they were given those options. I just can't remember which one it was now and I don't know if it was just that particular company or what.

CRussel · 05-10-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

based on your own ethical beliefs there are "other" ways to lend. I myself have no problem letting my sister or sister-in-law read an eBook that I've bought if they want to.

Yup, and I remove it from my Kindle while they are reading it. Seems only right. But no way do I let the Agency [explitive] control what I can do with the book I paid for. Though, admittedly, I buy very few agency books because of their pricing.

CRussel · 05-10-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

did Tor books withdraw from the ebook lending program
I went to lend my friend a book with the LendMe feature (B&N) and it was no longer lendable. I checked out some other Tor books that were lendable not too long ago, and, nope, they're not lendable anymore either.

When did this happen and does anyone know what publishers imprints were involved?

Compare TOR's policies to Baen's and then think about which you want to support. I haven't bought a TOR book yet for my Kindle, and I don't expect that to change.

Joykins · 05-10-2011, 02:16 PM

The problem is, when I buy books, I choose them based on what I want to read, not the publisher's policies! Now obviously if one of them were running a slave gulag, I'd have to reconsider, but generally if I can't read it free otherwise (library, promotion) and want the book at the price it's offered, I'll buy it.

I love Baen so much I want to marry them, but Jo Walton doesn't write for them, for starters.

Sydney's Mom · 05-10-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joykins

Iit feels like they're taking something away that I paid for.

Absolutely. A great class action for someone.

astrodad · 05-10-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

Compare TOR's policies to Baen's and then think about which you want to support. I haven't bought a TOR book yet for my Kindle, and I don't expect that to change.

This is why I am buying so many Baen books lately.

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05-09-2011, 03:28 PM	#1
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	did Tor books withdraw from the ebook lending program I went to lend my friend a book with the LendMe feature (B&N) and it was no longer lendable. I checked out some other Tor books that were lendable not too long ago, and, nope, they're not lendable anymore either. When did this happen and does anyone know what publishers imprints were involved?

05-09-2011, 03:39 PM	#2
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Sometime around the middle of April it appears Macmillan (Tor, St. Martin's) have withdrawn all their books from both the nook and Kindle lending programs.

05-09-2011, 04:01 PM	#3
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	Thanks. Oh, and Soon there will be nothing at all to lend but Christian books, B&N Classics, self-pubs, and paranormal erotic romances.

05-09-2011, 05:24 PM	#4
NightBird Wizard Posts: 2,364 Karma: 3724797 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: California Device: KPW, KF, KF HD, iPod Touch	All of the agency publishers have backed out of the lending program and it looks like Harlequin also, from the searches I've done. There are still a lot of the other small to mid-size companies that haven't, like Pinnacle, Nightshade, Macabre Ink, Subterranean, etc. Also, apparently from what I've been reading, the imprints are often given a choice as to whether to go along with all this stuff (agency model, no lending, etc.) or not. For instance, Angry Robot and Soho Press were acquired by Random House but still not doing the agency pricing. Soho does not have lending enabled but Angry Robot does.

05-09-2011, 11:13 PM	#5
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I don't think Harlequin ever participated, though; I've been reading 'em since I got my nook in Jan 2010 and they've never been lendable. It makes me angrier when I buy lendable books that later have the feature disabled; it feels like they're taking something away that I paid for. As for the imprints, if they are new acquisitions sometimes there is a transition period before they're all put under the parent company's policies--that's how it's worked in the acquisitions I've had to suffer through at work, anyway.

05-09-2011, 11:39 PM	#6
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Yep.. Once again the big 6 bite themselves in the ass.

05-09-2011, 11:40 PM	#7
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I really wanted to lend my friend _Among Others_ because it is fabulous, and borrow the 2 Hunger Games books I don't own and now I will never be able to...whine.

05-10-2011, 12:45 AM	#8
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	based on your own ethical beliefs there are "other" ways to lend. I myself have no problem letting my sister or sister-in-law read an eBook that I've bought if they want to.

05-10-2011, 01:20 AM	#9
jedifarfy Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 100 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: rooted nook color, nook wifi 1st edition	That totally totally bites. ::mini rant:: As someone whose job is to sell digital devices, publishers screwing around like this really bites US. It almost never gets back to the publishers. Everyone jumps on Amazon or B&N for not having the books to lend. People really WANT to lend books, even if it is just once. They'd love to do it multiple times, but publishers, again, are big babies. They aren't listening to their customers, the readers, and then wonder why there is so much piracy. ::end rant:: As my signature says, this is just my opinion...

05-10-2011, 02:16 PM	#13
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,610 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	The problem is, when I buy books, I choose them based on what I want to read, not the publisher's policies! Now obviously if one of them were running a slave gulag, I'd have to reconsider, but generally if I can't read it free otherwise (library, promotion) and want the book at the price it's offered, I'll buy it. I love Baen so much I want to marry them, but Jo Walton doesn't write for them, for starters.

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