Amazon Kindle and me...

[TheSmitty]

So, I have a Voyage that I have been successful using to get my books purchased since the removal of D&T into Calibre. The process works and isn't any more painful (maybe a touch easier) than when I was able to use D&T.

But I had read an article that they recently hobbled our android friends from backing up their books now. It seems that Amazon is certainly focusing on and spending resources to tightly close up their garden.

I guess this isn't too surprising and not something inherently evil, I mean a lot of companies do this (Hello Apple). I am primarily an Apple guy but their garden doesn't bother me at all, go figure. I guess I trust Apple mor than Amazon.

Anyway, with all this activity in recent months I am starting to think that they are planning something and a shoe will drop soon that this is all building up to. I have no idea what it could be. I mean since we are "leasing" the books we buy, I wonder if at some point they will want to switch things in which your purchases are "checked out" for a period of time and then they are removed (even if in airplane mode) until you check them out again. I am sure there are more sinister ideas out there.

So, even though I am still able to buy and get my books I am seriously considering buying all books from Kobo now except for those indie authors that are exclusive to Amazon (Ryan Cahill).

For me this is rather sad. I have been a Amazon customer since they began and just sold physical books which has been a long time. I love my Colorsoft with some exceptions that Kobo Colour has.

Sorry for the ramble but these forums are great for chatting with other people who love books and tech and what they can do together.

[jlinear]

Originally Posted by TheSmitty

So, even though I am still able to buy and get my books I am seriously considering buying all books from Kobo now except for those indie authors that are exclusive to Amazon (Ryan Cahill).

For me this is rather sad. I have been a Amazon customer since they began and just sold physical books which has been a long time. I love my Colorsoft with some exceptions that Kobo Colour has.

I have already arrived at the point of buying my books from Kobo whenever possible. Amazon has become a place to search for deals I buy elsewhere. But I am not particularly sad about it. I never warmed to Kindle firmware which, from day one, has forced me to use workarounds such as FONT_RAMP and Calibre to get the "printed" page looking acceptable. Hope for any upgrades that will change that situation has been extinguished long ago. At this point, I would only consider buying a Kindle if I could install KOReader on it. Even then, I have to be perpetually on guard to prevent Amazon from forcing an update down my throat that will prevent me doing even that. Not worth it.

[Sirtel]

I've also been an Amazon customer since 1997. For a long time, I loved both Amazon and Kindles, but I never bought my ebooks exclusively from them - I always bought them from many different stores.

I lost all my affection for Amazon when they started to make DRM removal harder, though. I also found I liked the Kobo software much better, and after the last Oasis they haven't released any eink Kindle I'd want to buy even for hardware.

So no, I no longer have any sad feelings about Amazon. I feel mostly indifferent about their Kindles and frankly hate them for cracking down on DRM removal.

[johnnyb]

I just ordered a Boox Go Color 7 off of Amazon

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by johnnyb

I just ordered a Boox Go Color 7 off of Amazon

You have my condolences. The contrast is going to be poor.

[pdurrant]

I started buying mostly from Amazon after Fictionwise closed. An average of about two a week

But with the changes to DRM this year, I've bought only two in the last three months. (Amazon-only books)

The rest I've bought from Kobo. Easy to download, easy to strip the DRM and send to my Kindle.

AND cheaper! Kobo's price matching (which makes the price 10% less than the competitor's price), combined with their "Buy a £60 gift card, get a £10 gift card free" offers, mean that I've been paying less than I would have if buying from Amazon.

[troubledMan]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

...

AND cheaper! Kobo's price matching (which makes the price 10% less than the competitor's price), combined with their "Buy a £60 gift card, get a £10 gift card free" offers, mean that I've been paying less than I would have if buying from Amazon.

Not always, at least here, in Spain. But, yes, I'm also buying my ebooks from Kobo whenever the price is convenient. Amazon stinks lately, and not only because its Kindle store.

[pdurrant]

I did forget that Kobo only price match in certain stores.

[Dr. Drib]

If there's something I want to read, then I buy it.

I could care less (at this point) who sells it, just as long as I can remove the DRM - and I can so far.

[Ebookus]

How long does the kobo matching process take, like if a book is discounted on Amazon as a daily deal for £0.99, can you get it matched the same day? And do still get 10% off of that?

[DNSB]

I've done that so yes. I did take a screenshot of the price on Amazon and mentioned it to the Kobo rep. This ended up getting me the book for $0.89 Cdn.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Ebookus

How long does the kobo matching process take, like if a book is discontinued on Amazon as a daily deal for £0.99, can you get it matched the same day? And do still get 10% off of that?

Yes. I have seven £0.89 purchases this year from daily deals.

I take a screenshot of the daily deal, and I mention on the price match form that I have a screen shot if needed. I haven't been asked for one so far.
I usually get the refund for the price match well within a day.

I recommend not downloading the book until you've received the price match. That way, in the UK/EU at least, you're legally entitled to a refund if you want one, i.e. if they refuse the price match.

I've price matched a £14.99 book to a £0.99 daily deal and got back £14.10! (I just checked the timing of that one - ordered at 8:46, refund arrived at 9:58)

I do recommend ONLY doing one price match per order. That's not something Kobo ask for, but IMO it makes keeping track of things a lot easier, especially if books have similar titles/prices.

[Ebookus]

nice, I'll give it a go then. thanks!