CNN Article About Only Being Able to Give Kindle eBooks

MickeyC · 12-30-2010, 06:40 AM

Article on the CNN Web site today (http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=C2) reporting that only Amazon now allows you to give eBooks as gifts. They point out Amazon now allows you to buy an eBook for someone after which they send that person an eMail announcing the gift. The eMail contains a link the recipient clicks on to download the book to their Kindle.

The article goes on point out that none of the other major eBook sellers (Sony, B&N etc) offer this service. But what the article fails to mention is that you can buy Sony, B&N etc eBook gift cards for people which allows then to choose and buy eBooks.

nashira · 12-30-2010, 06:51 AM

Honestly, I think gift vouchers are the way to go with ebooks, as when I give an actual book I like to be able to sign it and leave a message on the title page. Call me old fashioned like that?

basschick · 12-30-2010, 07:24 AM

i like the idea of being able to choose a book for a friend or family member that i particularly think they'll like. it makes it seem more like a personal present.

Ravensknight · 12-30-2010, 07:30 AM

I would find a big difference between a giftcard and an actual ebook. So the message that Amazon is the ONLY one doing this is big, imo...

avantman42 · 12-30-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

The article goes on point out that none of the other major eBook sellers (Sony, B&N etc) offer this service. But what the article fails to mention is that you can buy Sony, B&N etc eBook gift cards for people which allows then to choose and buy eBooks.

It mentions gift cards right at the start (my emphasis):

Quote:

It has been surprisingly difficult to give someone an e-book as a gift. You could buy them a gift card for the e-book service of their choice, and maybe suggest which book to purchase, but you couldn't actually purchase it for them.

avantman42 · 12-30-2010, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basschick

i like the idea of being able to choose a book for a friend or family member that i particularly think they'll like. it makes it seem more like a personal present.

I agree, though I currently can't do so, since the UK store doesn't support giving Kindle books as gifts yet.

MickeyC · 12-30-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

It mentions gift cards right at the start (my emphasis):

Sorry, missed that

fjtorres · 12-30-2010, 08:35 AM

In gifting a book you are gifting a *specific* title you choose.
In gifting a gift card you are gifting *money* and, in effect telling to recipient; "Buy a book. Any book."
In the former case you're basically recommending a specific book you think the recipient will enjoy. In the latter case you are farming out the selection process to the recipient. Less effort, less thought goes into it.
Any way you look at it it's a big difference.

Oddly, no mention that Kobo also allows gifting.
The even *announced* it a day before Amazon went live.

(Of course, the announcement was that the feature was coming, not that it was live, but still...)

ProfCrash · 12-30-2010, 09:34 AM

I received gift cards and books emailed to my Kindle account for Christmas. I prefered the books that were emailed to my Kindle account. They were books I asked for but it felt more personal to get the book then the gift card on Christmas.

The nice thing about the book that is emailed to you is that you can choose to turn it into a gift card if it is not something you want. You still have the option of buying the book that you want, it takes an extra step, but it allows the giver to send something more personal.

CommonReader · 12-30-2010, 10:31 AM

I hope the author was paid well by Amazon for this ill-concealed advertisement. The recipient gets an email and can download the book to his Kindle. Wow, isn't progress great. What has happened to the wrapped gift with a handwritten, personal note?

Maggie Leung · 12-30-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommonReader

I hope the author was paid well by Amazon for this ill-concealed advertisement. The recipient gets an email and can download the book to his Kindle. Wow, isn't progress great. What has happened to the wrapped gift with a handwritten, personal note?

No reason you can't handwrite a note when giving an e-book. For obvious reasons, you can't wrap one, lol.

When I give gifts, I try to figure out what will please the recipients. Some people like what you're talking about; some don't care.

ProfCrash · 12-30-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommonReader

I hope the author was paid well by Amazon for this ill-concealed advertisement. The recipient gets an email and can download the book to his Kindle. Wow, isn't progress great. What has happened to the wrapped gift with a handwritten, personal note?

Since it is a book for an e-reader it cannot be wrapped and given to a person in physical form. I prefered the emailed book to the emailed gift card. It is more personal and came with a note from my In Laws.

It worked for me.

And it is a feature that many people have been asking for. I read plenty of topics asking for the ability to give a specific book. Amazon heard that and found away of giving people what they want. Right now they are the only one doing it. I figure that will change in the next few months.

Shack70 · 12-30-2010, 10:44 AM

Not that I will ever use this service, but sending a gift card to me says "I don't know what to get you" whereas sending a book says there is some connection between us and that book.

This is a nice touch to the Kindle store, but not anything that is going to make you buy a Kindle over the other ebook readers.

mr ploppy · 12-30-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashira

Honestly, I think gift vouchers are the way to go with ebooks, as when I give an actual book I like to be able to sign it and leave a message on the title page. Call me old fashioned like that?

Is that so that you can spot it when they try to sell it on Ebay?

fjtorres · 12-30-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shack70

This is a nice touch to the Kindle store, but not anything that is going to make you buy a Kindle over the other ebook readers.

It's not about selling Kindles per-se; it is by satisfying customers (It was *the* most requested storefront feature.) and selling *ebooks*.

This kind of gifting isn't just for holidays or special ocassions:

I ran into an interesting title on the Deal of the day page for Kindle titles ($0.99 promo) so I bought a copy and gifted another to a friend with an attached note pointing out that it sounded interesting. It is the first of a trilogy so if either or both of us likes it the rest of the series will follow.

It's a nice small feature but you add a lot of nice small features and pretty soon they add up to a clearly superior product.

12-30-2010, 06:40 AM	#1
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	CNN Article About Only Being Able to Give Kindle eBooks Article on the CNN Web site today (http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/...ex.html?hpt=C2) reporting that only Amazon now allows you to give eBooks as gifts. They point out Amazon now allows you to buy an eBook for someone after which they send that person an eMail announcing the gift. The eMail contains a link the recipient clicks on to download the book to their Kindle. The article goes on point out that none of the other major eBook sellers (Sony, B&N etc) offer this service. But what the article fails to mention is that you can buy Sony, B&N etc eBook gift cards for people which allows then to choose and buy eBooks.

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12-30-2010, 06:51 AM	#2
nashira Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 73734 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Honestly, I think gift vouchers are the way to go with ebooks, as when I give an actual book I like to be able to sign it and leave a message on the title page. Call me old fashioned like that?

12-30-2010, 07:24 AM	#3
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	i like the idea of being able to choose a book for a friend or family member that i particularly think they'll like. it makes it seem more like a personal present.

12-30-2010, 07:30 AM	#4
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	I would find a big difference between a giftcard and an actual ebook. So the message that Amazon is the ONLY one doing this is big, imo...

12-30-2010, 08:35 AM	#8
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	In gifting a book you are gifting a specific title you choose. In gifting a gift card you are gifting money and, in effect telling to recipient; "Buy a book. Any book." In the former case you're basically recommending a specific book you think the recipient will enjoy. In the latter case you are farming out the selection process to the recipient. Less effort, less thought goes into it. Any way you look at it it's a big difference. Oddly, no mention that Kobo also allows gifting. The even announced it a day before Amazon went live. (Of course, the announcement was that the feature was coming, not that it was live, but still...)

12-30-2010, 09:34 AM	#9
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I received gift cards and books emailed to my Kindle account for Christmas. I prefered the books that were emailed to my Kindle account. They were books I asked for but it felt more personal to get the book then the gift card on Christmas. The nice thing about the book that is emailed to you is that you can choose to turn it into a gift card if it is not something you want. You still have the option of buying the book that you want, it takes an extra step, but it allows the giver to send something more personal.

12-30-2010, 10:31 AM	#10
CommonReader Fanatic Posts: 528 Karma: 2530000 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Sony PRS-T3, PRS-650, Vaio Tap 11, iPad Mini	I hope the author was paid well by Amazon for this ill-concealed advertisement. The recipient gets an email and can download the book to his Kindle. Wow, isn't progress great. What has happened to the wrapped gift with a handwritten, personal note?

12-30-2010, 10:44 AM	#13
Shack70 Guru Posts: 777 Karma: 1043626 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: York, Pa Device: Kindle Paperwhite 11th Generation	Not that I will ever use this service, but sending a gift card to me says "I don't know what to get you" whereas sending a book says there is some connection between us and that book. This is a nice touch to the Kindle store, but not anything that is going to make you buy a Kindle over the other ebook readers.