Sony Connect Search

Taylor514ce · 05-12-2008, 09:03 AM

It doesn't work well. A search for specific author, say "Michael Dobbs", shouldn't bring up books written by "Lou Dobbs". At the very least, they need an option for "exact match".

You'll notice in their Advanced Search a link with the label, "Title not Found?", click the "Request Title" link to be taken to a survey form. Request your book, but also please fill in the comment section to prod Sony into improving their search engine. If every MobileRead Sony owner/Connect user did this every time they had a bad time searching... well, nothing would happen, but we'd all feel better.

Taylor514ce · 05-12-2008, 09:17 AM

In fact, I'd like to call on all Sony Connect users to use their "Email us" Customer Service link to mention price discrepancies between their books and the same book as an Amazon Kindle Edition. Sony should be striving to meet or beat Amazon's prices. Be specific, include ISBN numbers and a link to the Kindle Edition on Amazon.

Example: "I'm interested in purchasing e-book ISBN 1429502533, a book by Stephen Baxter. The Sony price is $17.46. I notice that Amazon has the Kindle Edition of the same book for $7.99. Since this is exactly the same book, from the same publisher, I'm wondering if Sony would consider matching Amazon's price."

Then, when they send you the boilerplate reply, "Please note that when publishers determine the pricing for print books (their “List Price”), they determine a separate List Price for the eBook version which is usually less expensive than the print counterpart (sometimes 40% less). The eBook Store from Sony then provides as much as an additional 20% discount to the customer...", you should keep the support ticket open by replying you weren't talking about e-books vs. printed books, and repeat the question until they actually answer you.

Ervserver · 05-12-2008, 10:33 AM

I don't buy books at Sony, I would think if they aren't competitive the market will drive their prices down, or out of the book selling business.

Taylor514ce · 05-12-2008, 10:39 AM

I understand. But I was primarily talking to people who DO buy books at Sony, or at least try to do so. Has anyone actually requested a book that then appeared? Or appealed a price that was then lowered?

Dr. Drib · 05-12-2008, 04:53 PM

I've requested numerous books, to include...

Joyce Carol Oates (specific titles)
Mario Vargas Llosa
John Updike (more titles)
Brian Lumley (they only have one title)

....all to no avail.

I've never asked them to lower a price.

Don

Taylor514ce · 05-12-2008, 04:54 PM

Ah well. Keep up the pressure. Sony needs to know we WANT e-books, and we WANT rational pricing.

Ervserver · 05-12-2008, 05:34 PM

Certainly doesn't hurt to give them feedback

sriram · 06-08-2008, 11:05 AM

Just sent them (yet) another note complaining about the huge disparity in price relative to Amazon. E.g. What Happened ...... is $16.77 at Sony vs $9.99 for Kindle. Gave them 3 - 4 other books that I would gladly buy if it were not for the sticker shock. Let's wait and see. This is ridiculous. The $ saving in itself will pay for a the Kindle vs Sony price differential in less than a year.

Taylor514ce · 06-08-2008, 11:06 AM

They did lower the price of "Spook County" by William Gibson to $10.50 when I requested.

Cthulhu · 06-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Requested some books yesterday, and mentioned that the author's work (R. Rankin) would find an audience with their readership, but was not so descriptive as you suggest. For what it is worth, Amazon does not offer that author's work digitally either.

Know that I have requested that they provide other content--like all of Christopher Moore's books--but since I rarely have a connexion and the Connect software is dung, have not really gone back to check if anyone ever listened to me.

Taylor514ce · 06-08-2008, 12:24 PM

I've asked about reviewing previous requests, status of feedback, and "Jesse", the one rep at Sony so far who actually responds in vernacular English and directly to the asked question, responded:

"We do not have a database in place that would enable customers to check on the status of their requests. We sincerely appreciate all the time and effort that you have taken to explore the service and to share your information and opinions with us. It is very important that we receive this type of feedback so that we may better serve our customers. We apologize for any difficulties or limitations you experienced using our Sony eBook service. We will share your concerns with the appropriate department here at Sony in an effort to address them."

vivaldirules · 06-08-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor514ce

They did lower the price of "Spook County" by William Gibson to $10.50 when I requested.

Hey, that's new. Is that a first for you (successfully lobbying for a lower price on an ebook)?

Taylor514ce · 06-08-2008, 12:40 PM

Yes, though I think it was just timing: the trade paper version was just released at $10.50. So, I doubt my request had anything to do with the adjustment.

05-12-2008, 09:03 AM	#1
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Sony Connect Search It doesn't work well. A search for specific author, say "Michael Dobbs", shouldn't bring up books written by "Lou Dobbs". At the very least, they need an option for "exact match". You'll notice in their Advanced Search a link with the label, "Title not Found?", click the "Request Title" link to be taken to a survey form. Request your book, but also please fill in the comment section to prod Sony into improving their search engine. If every MobileRead Sony owner/Connect user did this every time they had a bad time searching... well, nothing would happen, but we'd all feel better.

05-12-2008, 09:17 AM	#2
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	In fact, I'd like to call on all Sony Connect users to use their "Email us" Customer Service link to mention price discrepancies between their books and the same book as an Amazon Kindle Edition. Sony should be striving to meet or beat Amazon's prices. Be specific, include ISBN numbers and a link to the Kindle Edition on Amazon. Example: "I'm interested in purchasing e-book ISBN 1429502533, a book by Stephen Baxter. The Sony price is $17.46. I notice that Amazon has the Kindle Edition of the same book for $7.99. Since this is exactly the same book, from the same publisher, I'm wondering if Sony would consider matching Amazon's price." Then, when they send you the boilerplate reply, "Please note that when publishers determine the pricing for print books (their “List Price”), they determine a separate List Price for the eBook version which is usually less expensive than the print counterpart (sometimes 40% less). The eBook Store from Sony then provides as much as an additional 20% discount to the customer...", you should keep the support ticket open by replying you weren't talking about e-books vs. printed books, and repeat the question until they actually answer you. Last edited by Taylor514ce; 05-12-2008 at 09:21 AM.

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05-12-2008, 10:33 AM	#3
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I don't buy books at Sony, I would think if they aren't competitive the market will drive their prices down, or out of the book selling business.

05-12-2008, 10:39 AM	#4
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I understand. But I was primarily talking to people who DO buy books at Sony, or at least try to do so. Has anyone actually requested a book that then appeared? Or appealed a price that was then lowered?

05-12-2008, 04:53 PM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,404 Karma: 59504381 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I've requested numerous books, to include... Joyce Carol Oates (specific titles) Mario Vargas Llosa John Updike (more titles) Brian Lumley (they only have one title) ....all to no avail. I've never asked them to lower a price. Don

05-12-2008, 04:54 PM	#6
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Ah well. Keep up the pressure. Sony needs to know we WANT e-books, and we WANT rational pricing.

05-12-2008, 05:34 PM	#7
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Certainly doesn't hurt to give them feedback

06-08-2008, 11:05 AM	#8
sriram Nameless Being	Just sent them (yet) another note complaining about the huge disparity in price relative to Amazon. E.g. What Happened ...... is $16.77 at Sony vs $9.99 for Kindle. Gave them 3 - 4 other books that I would gladly buy if it were not for the sticker shock. Let's wait and see. This is ridiculous. The $ saving in itself will pay for a the Kindle vs Sony price differential in less than a year.

06-08-2008, 11:06 AM	#9
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	They did lower the price of "Spook County" by William Gibson to $10.50 when I requested.

06-08-2008, 11:57 AM	#10
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	Requested some books yesterday, and mentioned that the author's work (R. Rankin) would find an audience with their readership, but was not so descriptive as you suggest. For what it is worth, Amazon does not offer that author's work digitally either. Know that I have requested that they provide other content--like all of Christopher Moore's books--but since I rarely have a connexion and the Connect software is dung, have not really gone back to check if anyone ever listened to me.

06-08-2008, 12:24 PM	#11
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	I've asked about reviewing previous requests, status of feedback, and "Jesse", the one rep at Sony so far who actually responds in vernacular English and directly to the asked question, responded: "We do not have a database in place that would enable customers to check on the status of their requests. We sincerely appreciate all the time and effort that you have taken to explore the service and to share your information and opinions with us. It is very important that we receive this type of feedback so that we may better serve our customers. We apologize for any difficulties or limitations you experienced using our Sony eBook service. We will share your concerns with the appropriate department here at Sony in an effort to address them."

06-08-2008, 12:40 PM	#13
Taylor514ce Actively passive. Posts: 2,042 Karma: 478376 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: US Device: Sony PRS-505/LC	Yes, though I think it was just timing: the trade paper version was just released at $10.50. So, I doubt my request had anything to do with the adjustment.

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