EBook price fixing: Did you receive a refund? / Update: up to $3.06 per book

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by MarciaCat

I'm wondering if the "more gift certificate credits" I'm eligible for are linked to B&N's absorption of my Fictionwise purchases; I made a lot more purchase frow FW than I've ever done from B&N.

I wouldn't think so since Fictionwise stopped selling books from those publishers when they went Agency.

[MarciaCat]

Originally Posted by MarciaCat

I'm wondering if the "more gift certificate credits" I'm eligible for are linked to B&N's absorption of my Fictionwise purchases; I made a lot more purchase frow FW than I've ever done from B&N.

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I wouldn't think so since Fictionwise stopped selling books from those publishers when they went Agency.

Then I'm at a loss as to where the "more purchases" came from; I only bought two qualifying books from B&N in the specified time period. Oh well, I'm not going to complain if they're gonna give me more credits back!

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Does anyone know what happens to customers who bought books from Books on Board or any other defunct retailer?

For Google or any retailer not Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo or Sony people have to file a claim form. In all cases but Google (where they provide a claim number) the individual has to detail their purchases. I don't know how that works with BoB, but since they were still around when the settlements started perhaps the claims people have access to BoB's records or something? I think CyberRead went down without ever getting Agency books back, not sure about places like Astak's store, I think they did some Agency. I'm not sure if Borders purchases transfer to Kobo, like the books did, or not.


I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying to track down all that info for the time period. I don't think I bought many Agency books, but I did buy some when there were $0.99 - $3.99 deals.


Here's what the settlement site says about "other retailers" (Diesel, ARe/OmniLit, ebooks.com, etc. I'd assume)...

1. Do I have to submit a claim to participate in these Settlements?
Yes, a Claim Form will need to be filed to receive a check. All Claim Forms must be filed online or postmarked by December 12, 2012.

2. Do I need a Settlement ID Number when I file a Claim Form?
If you purchased eligible E-book(s) from a retailer other than Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Google or Sony than you are not required to provide a Settlement ID Number to file your Claim Form.

3. Who should I contact if I have questions about my E-book account?
You will need to contact your retailer with questions relating to your E-book account. If you have questions related to the requirements of filing a Claim Form or other general Settlement questions you may contact the Claims Administrator at info@EbookAGSettlments.com or by calling 1(866) 621-4153.

[melmac]

Got an email from Amazon a few days ago about this but have now also received one from Barnes and Noble.

Dear Melmac

We're pleased to tell you that you are eligible for gift certificate credits thanks to recent legal settlements between States Attorneys General, Class and two eBook publishers. Barnes & Noble was not a party to the settlements but as a NOOK® customer, you can take advantage of the benefits agreed to by the settling publishers.

If you already received a previous notice regarding three similar settlements, you are receiving this letter because you are eligible for more gift certificate credits now if the Court gives final approval to the additional settlements with eBook publishers, Penguin and Macmillan.

There is nothing you need to do to receive the credits. If the Court grants final approval you will receive credits automatically in the form of an electronic gift certificate sent via email. Once the settlements' claim period ends, the Attorneys General will calculate the amount of your credits.

It's a pity that the other retailers I purchased from did not also go with account credits rather than cheques

I received an email from Sony today concerning the settlements from Penguin and Macmillan.

The Court will hold a hearing on December 6, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., to consider whether to approve the Macmillan and Penguin Settlements.

I'm not expecting any money until long after December.

[AnemicOak]

Got emails from Sony & Kobo today. I think that covers all of the stores I've bought from that are still in business (also bought from Books on Board and Borders).

[ProfCrash]

Does anyone have any idea how they are going to handle the Apple penalty? The Publishers payouts are more clear cut "You bought X number of books from the five publishers. You get Y number of dollars." How will they potentially divy up the Apple money? I am hoping that is a different payout so that they can get this credit out sooner rather then later.

I would be cool with dividing the amount by the number of affected books sold and each person getting a per book allotment but that is probably too simple.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Does anyone have any idea how they are going to handle the Apple penalty? The Publishers payouts are more clear cut "You bought X number of books from the five publishers. You get Y number of dollars." How will they potentially divy up the Apple money? I am hoping that is a different payout so that they can get this credit out sooner rather then later.

I would be cool with dividing the amount by the number of affected books sold and each person getting a per book allotment but that is probably too simple.

I haven't really kept up with it, but wasn't the Apple case just settled/won in court in the past few weeks? The refunds from the other case(s) are still pending and those cases were settled at least a year ago. I wouldn't expect any payments this year from any of these cases.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I haven't really kept up with it, but wasn't the Apple case just settled/won in court in the past few weeks? The refunds from the other case(s) are still pending and those cases were settled at least a year ago. I wouldn't expect any payments this year from any of these cases.

I believe that the reason the other refunds are still pending is precisely because there was still outstanding litigation. Now the legal proceedings are over, I would expect a reasonably swift resolution.

Originally Posted by HarryT

I believe that the reason the other refunds are still pending is precisely because there was still outstanding litigation. Now the legal proceedings are over, I would expect a reasonably swift resolution.

As shown in my post #35 above, there is still a hearing scheduled for December 6 for Penguin and Macmillan settlements, so it will most likely be at least 1st quarter of 2014 before payments get distributed.

[AnemicOak]

Retailers are saying they expect credits to start in January 2014 (assuming the settlement is approved Dec. 6th of course).

[ProfCrash]

If they are coming in January then the Apple will come seperatly.

[Kumabjorn]

Anyone rise thinks there is a correlation between Amazon's new Matchbook feature and the settlement payouts?

[HarryT]

None whatsoever. Why do you think there is?

[Kumabjorn]

As people get settlement returns their account will fill up with micro payments, the same kind of amounts you can spend on Matchbook. It will be a simple click to buy those e-books with the money from the publishers. I'm not implying anything sinister, just that the timing is rather close, hence it might have been a factor deciding the timing.