KU Payment

Waylander · 11-11-2015, 03:16 AM

Do authors get paid if you leave your kindle in aeroplane mode? If you do, how can amazon tell how much you've read? What about if you download the KU ebooks via usb? I don't want to cheat authors out of money, or am I worrying too much?

MikeB1972 · 11-11-2015, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

Do authors get paid if you leave your kindle in aeroplane mode? If you do, how can amazon tell how much you've read? What about if you download the KU ebooks via usb? I don't want to cheat authors out of money, or am I worrying too much?

You are worrying too much

Seriously either Amazon have it covered or they don't, but that is between Amazon and the KU authors.
When I buy a book from Amazon or Kobo etc I don't worry about if the author will get paid or not, not my circus, not my monkey, if the author is not getting paid the correct amount that is up to either them or their agent to sort out.

Waylander · 11-11-2015, 06:28 AM

But KU authors are paid by the number of pages read, so how can Amazon now that if my kindle is in aeroplane mode when I'm reading the book? Btw, I leave it in aeroplane mode so they can't sneak an update in.

fjtorres · 11-11-2015, 06:58 AM

Sooner or later you need to reconnect to get new books.
Otherwise you're giving Amazon money for nothing.

Theoretically, you could sign up, download ten books, and then cancel and never ever connect again just to spite the authors but, seriously, what's the point of that?
(And Amazon will notice.)
At most you'd be stiffing them $10-20.
Anybody who would bother with that is more likely to go for bigger targets and there really is no shortage of books out there for the unethical; entire libraries by the thousand so why bother with a handful of titles?

The kind of person that signs up for KU is typically a heavy reader who intends to get their money's worth. Which means refilling the reader regularly.

And, remember, the reason authors put their titles in KU is for a visibility boost that pays. Visibility comes first.

To put it another way: KU is paying out over $100M a year. Pilferage on the order of $20 isn't going to break the system.
It's no biggie.

Waylander · 11-11-2015, 07:53 AM

Thanks for the replies so far. So, if I get a book through KU and transfer via usb, while leaving my kindle in aeroplane mode, Amazon can't tell how many pages I've read and the author won't get paid? In that case, if I turn the kindle wifi on at the end of the KU book, I guess Amazon will know I've finished a book, or do you have to have the kindle wifi on the whole time you're reading a KU book? I hope this makes sense, as I want authors to get paid for their work. Sorry for the lack of knowledge regardingKU's subtleties, it's a new thing for me. That's why I like this forum: civil discussion and useful, practical advice.

booklover6 · 11-11-2015, 08:29 AM

Your Kindle keeps a log. So the next time you turn on your wifi, the log will transmit to Kindle, and the pages read will be noted. You do not have to keep your wifi on while you are reading.

Waylander · 11-11-2015, 09:00 AM

I thought it must have been something along those lines, otherwise why would the option to transfer via usb still be open? Thanks for the clarification.

Cinisajoy · 11-11-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

I thought it must have been something along those lines, otherwise why would the option to transfer via usb still be open? Thanks for the clarification.

Do you mean borrowing a book through the KU program or buying a book that just happens to be in KU?

Let me rephrase, do you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited?
If you just buy the book, the author gets paid roughly 60 days later if I remember right.
If you borrow the book, they will get credit for pages read when you either turn on your wifi or return the book.
I don't think transfer method matters.

I can buy any ebook at Amazon.com. It doesn't matter if the book is in KU or just on Amazon.

If I wanted to give Amazon $10, I could click the read for free button on up to 10 books at a time.

Does this clear things up?
Oh unless the author is running a free sale. If you buy a free book, the author gets exactly what you paid for it.

Waylander · 11-11-2015, 10:33 AM

I mean borrowing a book through KU, which I've subscribed to.

Josieb1 · 11-11-2015, 10:53 AM

I do think if you are going to subscribe to KU you should regularly sync to wifi so the author actually gets paid for the pages read. The page rate is very little so every page counts.

SleepyBob · 11-11-2015, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I do think if you are going to subscribe to KU you should regularly sync to wifi so the author actually gets paid for the pages read. The page rate is very little so every page counts.

This just affects the distribution of the same pie, though, right? So in the long run, it probably averages out, more or less.

Rizla · 11-11-2015, 12:18 PM

If you only d/l via PC, and never turn on wifi, that would affect payment. Can't you turn it on now and again very briefly so the pages read is updated? I imagine that most people that use KU will regularly turn on KU. Of course, this might be an issue if one is waiting for the new JB.

fjtorres · 11-11-2015, 12:38 PM

KU works off a 10-book queue so it doesn't matter how you move the books : until you connect and the app reports reads and/or deletions you can't download any more.

Josieb1 · 11-11-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepyBob

This just affects the distribution of the same pie, though, right? So in the long run, it probably averages out, more or less.

Oh I agree, it's just I know an author in KU that blogs about her own experience and she's pulling her books because she reckons she could earn more selling them. The page rate will just get lower and lower until other authors have to make the same choices.

latepaul · 11-11-2015, 01:56 PM

I suspect keeping your Kindle in airplane mode to avoid an unwanted update is one of those things MR types do and regular people not so much. As such it's probably a blip in the statistics.

Even if not you could argue that the playing field is even for everyone as everyone will be losing an equivalent % amount of page-reads, and since KU pays out based on a proportion of a pot of money, it shouldn't really hurt the author if you don't sync.

Of course that's an idealised average situation. In practice there'll be differences between authors as to the rate of "non-sync-ers" in their readership. And if your on the low end then that could represent a bigger proportion of lost page-reads. But if you're on the low end then your focus - as an author - is getting more readers, not persuading a handful to turn on Wifi regularly. Because the later will at best only earn you a few extra bucks.

So to the OP I'd say, keep it in airplane mode if that's what you prefer but recommend the books to your friends.

11-11-2015, 03:16 AM	#1
Waylander Guru Posts: 662 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	KU Payment Do authors get paid if you leave your kindle in aeroplane mode? If you do, how can amazon tell how much you've read? What about if you download the KU ebooks via usb? I don't want to cheat authors out of money, or am I worrying too much?

11-11-2015, 06:58 AM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Sooner or later you need to reconnect to get new books. Otherwise you're giving Amazon money for nothing. Theoretically, you could sign up, download ten books, and then cancel and never ever connect again just to spite the authors but, seriously, what's the point of that? (And Amazon will notice.) At most you'd be stiffing them $10-20. Anybody who would bother with that is more likely to go for bigger targets and there really is no shortage of books out there for the unethical; entire libraries by the thousand so why bother with a handful of titles? The kind of person that signs up for KU is typically a heavy reader who intends to get their money's worth. Which means refilling the reader regularly. And, remember, the reason authors put their titles in KU is for a visibility boost that pays. Visibility comes first. To put it another way: KU is paying out over $100M a year. Pilferage on the order of $20 isn't going to break the system. It's no biggie. Last edited by fjtorres; 11-11-2015 at 07:03 AM.

11-11-2015, 07:53 AM	#5
Waylander Guru Posts: 662 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	Thanks for the replies so far. So, if I get a book through KU and transfer via usb, while leaving my kindle in aeroplane mode, Amazon can't tell how many pages I've read and the author won't get paid? In that case, if I turn the kindle wifi on at the end of the KU book, I guess Amazon will know I've finished a book, or do you have to have the kindle wifi on the whole time you're reading a KU book? I hope this makes sense, as I want authors to get paid for their work. Sorry for the lack of knowledge regardingKU's subtleties, it's a new thing for me. That's why I like this forum: civil discussion and useful, practical advice. Last edited by Waylander; 11-11-2015 at 08:12 AM.

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11-11-2015, 06:28 AM	#3
Waylander Guru Posts: 662 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	But KU authors are paid by the number of pages read, so how can Amazon now that if my kindle is in aeroplane mode when I'm reading the book? Btw, I leave it in aeroplane mode so they can't sneak an update in.

11-11-2015, 08:29 AM	#6
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	Your Kindle keeps a log. So the next time you turn on your wifi, the log will transmit to Kindle, and the pages read will be noted. You do not have to keep your wifi on while you are reading.

11-11-2015, 09:00 AM	#7
Waylander Guru Posts: 662 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	I thought it must have been something along those lines, otherwise why would the option to transfer via usb still be open? Thanks for the clarification.

11-11-2015, 10:33 AM	#9
Waylander Guru Posts: 662 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	I mean borrowing a book through KU, which I've subscribed to.

11-11-2015, 10:53 AM	#10
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	I do think if you are going to subscribe to KU you should regularly sync to wifi so the author actually gets paid for the pages read. The page rate is very little so every page counts.

11-11-2015, 12:18 PM	#12
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	If you only d/l via PC, and never turn on wifi, that would affect payment. Can't you turn it on now and again very briefly so the pages read is updated? I imagine that most people that use KU will regularly turn on KU. Of course, this might be an issue if one is waiting for the new JB.

11-11-2015, 12:38 PM	#13
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	KU works off a 10-book queue so it doesn't matter how you move the books : until you connect and the app reports reads and/or deletions you can't download any more.

11-11-2015, 01:56 PM	#15
latepaul Wizard Posts: 1,270 Karma: 10468300 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: a variety (mostly kindles and kobos)	I suspect keeping your Kindle in airplane mode to avoid an unwanted update is one of those things MR types do and regular people not so much. As such it's probably a blip in the statistics. Even if not you could argue that the playing field is even for everyone as everyone will be losing an equivalent % amount of page-reads, and since KU pays out based on a proportion of a pot of money, it shouldn't really hurt the author if you don't sync. Of course that's an idealised average situation. In practice there'll be differences between authors as to the rate of "non-sync-ers" in their readership. And if your on the low end then that could represent a bigger proportion of lost page-reads. But if you're on the low end then your focus - as an author - is getting more readers, not persuading a handful to turn on Wifi regularly. Because the later will at best only earn you a few extra bucks. So to the OP I'd say, keep it in airplane mode if that's what you prefer but recommend the books to your friends.

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