Amazon is testing “Kindle Unlimited,” an ebook subscription service for $9.99/month

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by John F

On the web site, I used to see the price crossed out and some text about available free for Prime members. And I also recall links on the Amazon site. Now, I don't see that any mention/link on the Amazon website other than help. Again, this is on a PC using a browser.

The lending library is still there and working. This service doesn't preclude or replace it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Well, not necessarily because a lot of audible books now have a reduced price if you ever bought it in print or Kindle or something like that. Authors are heavily encouraged to do an audible version of their kindle books (well, not quite as much as at first, but still encouraged). So it might just be another avenue.

Yes, and I've been very happily surprised at the Whisper Sync for Voice prices. I have bought a few. Really, $1.99 - $3 or so for most books. I got the Catching Fire audio ad on cause we were taking a car trip. I had the book already so the audible add on was like a cup of coffee price.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by John F

I missed the Prime symbol. I do have prime, but I don't have a kindle. I was just curious, thanks.

No problem. They changed it around--obviously not as big an "ad" for that feature. I'm assuming people can still actually click and borrow the books for zero.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I see what you are saying--but the instructions on my dashboard specifically say that prime users can still borrow and we'll still get paid like we were before as soon as a book is downloaded

...blah, blah. Now, here is a book that I know is in the exclusive program:

http://www.amazon.com/All-Paths-Shad...s=frank+tuttle

Instead of saying zero next to the kindle price, it says "prime" -- I don't HAVE prime so I can't tell if that means it would be borrowable at zero or ... what.

Where the prime freebie line used to be, it now encourages people to sign up for a free trial/lending library. If you have prime, maybe you can tell if you can borrow the book?

I have prime and I only see Prime next to the price. When I go to the author's page it doesn't say Prime, it just shows Kindle Unlimited, so it is confusing http://www.amazon.com/Frank-Tuttle/e..._athr_dp_pel_1

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The lending library is still there and working. This service doesn't preclude or replace it.

Yes, but not all books in KU are in Prime. Depending on how you look for a book, you can't tell if it's Prime or not.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

I have prime and I only see Prime next to the price. When I go to the author's page it doesn't say Prime, it just shows Kindle Unlimited, so it is confusing http://www.amazon.com/Frank-Tuttle/e..._athr_dp_pel_1

I agree it is confusing, but I think since you have prime you can borrow that as your once a month for free (I think that's why the prime is next to the price). But I could be wrong. I'm guessing at how it works and because of the terms in the author dash I'm guessing it does STILL work.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I agree it is confusing, but I think since you have prime you can borrow that as your once a month for free (I think that's why the prime is next to the price). But I could be wrong. I'm guessing at how it works and because of the terms in the author dash I'm guessing it does STILL work.

But the link I gave doesn't show prime, just KU. So it depends on how you search. You can't look at a specific author and see which books are prime.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

But the link I gave doesn't show prime, just KU. So it depends on how you search. You can't look at a specific author and see which books are prime.

Oh, I see what you are saying. Although in the case of the unlimited next to All the Paths, that is an indication in some ways. I don't think we authors can choose one and NOT the other. You have to be exclusive to offer either and once you are in exclusive, the only benefits you pick and choose are the countdown sales and whether or not to go free for 5 days.

BUT it is still very confusing. And I know that Tuttle's books are not in prime other than the one I linked to (possibly some of the short stories too. His Markhat is with a small pub and is not exclusive. All the Paths reverted to him so he has it on Amazon only right now).

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Yes, I know, but since many of the qualifying audio is likely done as a direct upload by small publishers or indies, Amazon isn't paying big commissions to a third-party publisher. In effect, there's less of a middle man than when a publisher hires an audio team or separate deal to do audio, etc. Trad published audio is very expensive and Amazon can only reduce those costs so much because they have a high amount to be paid to the publisher. With the direct audio program, I think they may have an easier time making a profit and so can include those books in these programs. Just a guess. I'm not in audio, but I know to do it via Audible, it's a lot cheaper than going the old fashioned route!

The only audiobooks I consider to be part of KU are the free titles (2,300), not the paid titles (5,000). I'm pretty certain that all 7,300 WfV audiobooks already existed and just followed their companion ebooks over to KU and that Amazon only allowed about 32% of those titles to be checked out for free.

What I'm talking about is whether Amazon will add to the free collection. My guess is that if they do, it won't be a substantial addition.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The only audiobooks I consider to be part of KU are the free titles (2,300), not the paid titles (5,000). I'm pretty certain that all 7,300 WfV audiobooks already existed and just followed their companion ebooks over to KU and that Amazon only allowed about 32% of those titles to be checked out for free.

What I'm talking about is whether Amazon will add to the free collection. My guess is that if they do, it won't be a substantial addition.

Not being part of audible, I don't know much about it--but aren't the free titles set by author/publisher? So they will only go free if the author/publisher does so for promo reasons? And I'm not sure how it works. I've logged in and looked around audible and considered the various programs but not closely enough to actually be involved.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Not being part of audible, I don't know much about it--but aren't the free titles set by author/publisher? So they will only go free if the author/publisher does so for promo reasons?

I'm not sure who sets the price, but author/publisher sounds good to me. Still, it's up to Amazon as to whether or not a free audio title is allowed into the program.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Oh, I see what you are saying. Although in the case of the unlimited next to All the Paths, that is an indication in some ways. I don't think we authors can choose one and NOT the other. You have to be exclusive to offer either and once you are in exclusive, the only benefits you pick and choose are the countdown sales and whether or not to go free for 5 days.

BUT it is still very confusing. And I know that Tuttle's books are not in prime other than the one I linked to (possibly some of the short stories too. His Markhat is with a small pub and is not exclusive. All the Paths reverted to him so he has it on Amazon only right now).

Open Road books are eligible for KU, but not prime. When I search for Octavia Butler, the books from Open Road show KU in both lists. Your example showed prime in the search list and KU in the author list. So you have to look only in the search list to see prime.

List from search for Octavia Butler - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...ripbooks%2C213

List from author list for Octavia Butler - http://www.amazon.com/Octavia-E.-But...5888071&sr=1-4

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by The Old Man

If I leave the WiFi off I understand the books will not be deleted from my PW2. Is that correct? In other words join, get ten books you want to read, cancel and turn off WiFi, read the books at your leisure (say in three months) and then rejoin and get 10 more books. Cost per book = $1.00.

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I can see lots of people doing this - sign up for a month, read freely for 3+ weeks, download 10 books, turn WiFi off, then cancel service. Several months later, repeat the process. If one has a second Kindle, then all the better. That would free up the primary Kindle to be used with WiFi.

How Amazon would react to such a scenario is anyone's guess.

Originally Posted by vxf

Unfortunately, this seems the weak point of Amazon's plan. Relying on people being honest is not a great business plan. You know some people will just sign up for the trial, mass-download, strip, cancel. I love what Amazon is doing here, so I really hope I am wrong... but...

Also, the author won't receive their royalties if you download, strip, convert and read later. This is why I earlier thought Amazon would somehow try to prevent this.

Unfortunately, this is what I would have to do if I wanted to subscribe to KU.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Also, the author won't receive their royalties if you download, strip, convert and read later. This is why I earlier thought Amazon would somehow try to prevent this.

Unfortunately, this is what I would have to do if I wanted to subscribe to KU.

Amazing. Kindle Unlimited is not even a week live, and people already feel entitled to outsmart Amazon by pirating. Or thinking of ways to pirate. Of course you may call it whatever you want, but essentially it is if you borrow 10 books, turn off wifi, unsubscribe, wait until months later to resubscribe and repeat.

You are only ruining it for everybody else - and not only you, Fbone, but everybody else as well.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Amazing. Kindle Unlimited is not even a week live, and people already feel entitled to outsmart Amazon by pirating. Or thinking of ways to pirate. Of course you may call it whatever you want, but essentially it is if you borrow 10 books, turn off wifi, unsubscribe, wait until months later to resubscribe and repeat.

Gotta agree

That's why I'd never do it; but then, I have no intention of subscribing to KU after my free trial. I only signed up to get the free Audible credit.