Why do some authors only offer their ebooks on Amazon?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Am I supposed pat them on the head and say "Good Amazon doggie, you rascally little devil, you're using loopholes to avoid paying your share of local taxes and the extra expense will fall on me (and the rest of the community), but you're a clever little imp. Good on you for taking advantage of me and my community!"

Of course not. But surely there's some middle ground between that and your current vendetta-like knee-jerk response to all things Amazon? Or perhaps you don't realize that you do it? Amazon didn't kick your dog. Just treating them like a company you don't like rather than a windmill to tilt at (or an evil dragon in need of slaying) would be a step in the right direction.

[John F]

Originally Posted by rcentros

...

Am I supposed pat them on the head and say "Good Amazon doggie, you rascally little devil, you're using loopholes to avoid paying your share of local taxes and the extra expense will fall on me (and the rest of the community), but you're a clever little imp. Good on you for taking advantage of me and my community!"

I'm don't know where you are, but I thought they weren't "loopholes" (from what I read/hear in the news); local municipalities make the decision to offer tax incentives.

And thank you for taking one for the team.

[hildea]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Of course not. But surely there's some middle ground between that and your current vendetta-like knee-jerk response to all things Amazon? Or perhaps you don't realize that you do it? Amazon didn't kick your dog. Just treating them like a company you don't like rather than a windmill to tilt at (or an evil dragon in need of slaying) would be a step in the right direction.

What has anyone done here to treat Amazon like "a windmill to tilt at (or an evil dragon in need of slaying)"? We're writing why we don't like it, and some of us are saying we prefer not to buy from them.

I'd also like to hear what's "knee-jerk" about this -- as I understand the expression, a "knee-jerk response" is when one takes shortcuts without thinking, but if one has read reports from different sources about Amazon, and thought about what one has read, and drawn a conclusion about that, I can hardly see what's "knee-jerk" about then leaning on that conclusion whenever Amazon is a topic for discussion.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by hildea

What has anyone done here to treat Amazon like "a windmill to tilt at (or an evil dragon in need of slaying)"? We're writing why we don't like it, and some of us are saying we prefer not to buy from them.

In short: I'm not talking to you. Or even to most of you. There's one or two people here who never, ever, EVER miss an opportunity to try and preach to others about the evils of Amazon/Google at every single opportunity. To the point of proselytizing (not to mention dead-horse beating). Seems like you're not one of them. Rejoice.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Of course not. But surely there's some middle ground between that and your current vendetta-like knee-jerk response to all things Amazon? Or perhaps you don't realize that you do it? Amazon didn't kick your dog. Just treating them like a company you don't like rather than a windmill to tilt at (or an evil dragon in need of slaying) would be a step in the right direction.

I'm trying to figure out what my "current vendetta-like knee-jerk response" is supposed to look like. I still buy stuff from Amazon, I'm just not willing to give them (or any corporation or even a small business) a free pass. If they're (in my opinion) unethical, I'll call them out on it. I never signed a loyalty oath when I started doing business with Amazon. At least they're not Google, whom I won't deal with at all.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by John F

I'm don't know where you are, but I thought they weren't "loopholes" (from what I read/hear in the news); local municipalities make the decision to offer tax incentives.

And thank you for taking one for the team.

"Local municipalities..." you mean the Chamber of Commerce and their lackeys, in the city government, don't you? No regular citizen got a chance to vote on this, otherwise it would never have happened.

As for "taking one for the team," isn't it nice that local citizens are forced into subsidizing huge and rich corporations? Apparently Nirvana for you. I've never understand this lap-dog, fawning loyalty to unethical corporations.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Tbf we already can see the impact mega corporations are having on the economy, and spoiler alert it’s generally not a positive one. Look at Walmart, those cheap prices are made up by their employees earning poverty wages resulting in increased government assistance. Now sure Walmart has to pay the state minimum wage same as other employers however they also schedule to avoid full time employees, while being able to schedule for full time. The mom and pop shops don’t have the same luxury.

Sorry, I'm not feeling sorry for those who work at Amazon or Walmart for minimum wage. We are all responsible for our own lives and where we choose to work. If you want to earn more than min. wage, then increase your skills and work somewhere else.

There are plenty of jobs out there that only require a high school diploma. They might start low, but if it's a full time job, you will have benefits. If you stay, you will probably get increases.

The main problem is everybody wants to come out of school and start at $50,000.00 with NO experience! Good luck with that.

The other problem is that everyone wants their job to fulfill them. It's a damn job, I'm not looking for it to make me happy, I'm just looking to earn my paychecks so that I can make MYSELF happy!

That is precisely what I have done for over 40 years, I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to 40 hrs a week and living on my own schedule!

Originally Posted by rcentros

I don't like dishonest corporations or dishonest local businesses. If they're playing "fast and loose" with the "rules" (laws) I don't deal with them and I advise other people not to.

But as I mentioned before, Amazon and other large corporations get special benefits that taxpayer's often have to pay for. That takes it to whole different level.

Am I supposed pat them on the head and say "Good Amazon doggie, you rascally little devil, you're using loopholes to avoid paying your share of local taxes and the extra expense will fall on me (and the rest of the community), but you're a clever little imp. Good on you for taking advantage of me and my community!"

I hate to break it to you, but EVERY corporation plays fast and loose with the rules, all will screw over who and what they can until they get caught. Then they proclaim their innocence, write out a big fat check, and lay low until the heat is off and go right back to it!

Your city/state govt. goes out of their way to offer big tax incentives to get those corps into their cities. Why? because they will provide JOBS, & tax revenue etc.

You can't have it both ways. This is simply life, and I doubt you can go anywhere in the world where it isn't the same.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Sorry, I'm not feeling sorry for those who work at Amazon or Walmart for minimum wage. We are all responsible for our own lives and where we choose to work. If you want to earn more than min. wage, then increase your skills and work somewhere else.

There are plenty of jobs out there that only require a high school diploma. They might start low, but if it's a full time job, you will have benefits. If you stay, you will probably get increases.

Not really.

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Sorry, I'm not feeling sorry for those who work at Amazon or Walmart for minimum wage. We are all responsible for our own lives and where we choose to work. If you want to earn more than min. wage, then increase your skills and work somewhere else.

Easier said than done if your employer doesn't pay you enough to actually live. And doesn't schedule you consistently.

There are plenty of jobs out there that only require a high school diploma. They might start low, but if it's a full time job, you will have benefits. If you stay, you will probably get increases.

You are either woefully ignorant, or uninformed of current business practices. Businesses intentionally schedule min. wage employees below the hours they'd need to be full time and thus avoid having to provide benefits. Also at the increases, minimum wage hasn't even kept up with inflation but you expect annual raises to somehow rectify that.

The main problem is everybody wants to come out of school and start at $50,000.00 with NO experience! Good luck with that.

Yes how dare people want jobs with equivalent salaries from 40 years ago. The unmitigated gall to want to not be crushed by student loan debt

I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to 40 hrs a week and living on my own schedule!

The workforce is looking forward to this too, so there's room to advance for those working under you.

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

Easier said than done if your employer doesn't pay you enough to actually live. And doesn't schedule you consistently.




You are either woefully ignorant, or uninformed of current business practices. Businesses intentionally schedule min. wage employees below the hours they'd need to be full time and thus avoid having to provide benefits. Also at the increases, minimum wage hasn't even kept up with inflation but you expect annual raises to somehow rectify that.



Yes how dare people want jobs with equivalent salaries from 40 years ago. The unmitigated gall to want to not be crushed by student loan debt



The workforce is looking forward to this too, so there's room to advance for those working under you.

Excuse me, but 40 years ago, I certainly wasn't making $50,000. a year! My brother graduated with a bachelors from Harvard and came out to a job that paid about $23,000.00 a year, which was considerably more than what I was making a year, but it certainly wasn't anywhere close to $50,000.00 a year.

When he started working he quickly had to rearrange what he had planned for himself. He had himself moving into his own place living the life etc. Then reality struck with his first paycheck.

You are only thinking in terms of retail, fast food, and service jobs. Those jobs have never paid well, and if you don't have bigger ambitions than working those kinds of jobs that's on you.

Most people have champaign dreams and beer pockets. They have no clue how to live within their means.

People want to start at the top rather than working their way up. It takes an investment of time, dedication, actual work and lots of common sense.

Life wasn't any easier 40 years ago, but people seemed to have more realistic goals.

[gmw]

I would be interested in joining this discussion about the meritocracy, please move it to P&R where it belongs and I'll join in.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Excuse me, but 40 years ago, I certainly wasn't making $50,000. a year! My brother graduated with a bachelors from Harvard and came out to a job that paid about $23,000.00 a year, which was considerably more than what I was making a year, but it certainly wasn't anywhere close to $50,000.00 a year.

Yes, because there's a little thing you may have heard of called "inflation." Assuming USD, your $23,000 from 1982 would be worth $68,572.68 in 2022.

But while inflation's been jumping the cost of everything, wages have lagged behind it.

Originally Posted by cfrizz

You are only thinking in terms of retail, fast food, and service jobs. Those jobs have never paid well, and if you don't have bigger ambitions than working those kinds of jobs that's on you.

Good. Then you can stop patronizing retail stores and fast food restaurants. After all, everyone who works there should just find a better job, right?

[MGlitch]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Excuse me, but 40 years ago, I certainly wasn't making $50,000. a year! My brother graduated with a bachelors from Harvard and came out to a job that paid about $23,000.00 a year, which was considerably more than what I was making a year, but it certainly wasn't anywhere close to $50,000.00 a year.

When he started working he quickly had to rearrange what he had planned for himself. He had himself moving into his own place living the life etc. Then reality struck with his first paycheck.

You are only thinking in terms of retail, fast food, and service jobs. Those jobs have never paid well, and if you don't have bigger ambitions than working those kinds of jobs that's on you.

Maybe your brother can explain the word “equivalent” to you.

Minimum wage was intended to be a living wage for a single income household. Not a luxurious life to be sure but not one in which they scrape to survive. Good luck surviving in a single income home anywhere today.

But let’s look beyond that, entry level jobs now are ridiculous often requiring years of experience.

You’re clearly out of touch with what those entering the workforce today are facing.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by MGlitch

But let’s look beyond that, entry level jobs now are ridiculous often requiring years of experience.

I've seen a data entry job requiring a "collage or university degree" (yes, it was misspelled) and a year of previous experience. They paid minimum wage.

I fear for Generation Z.

EDIT: This thread's gotten pretty off-topic. Sorry about dragging it further out.

[Freshmaker]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Sorry, but it does not require jumping through hoops once setup with either KindleforPC or MAC or a Kindle.

Steps to remove DRM if there is DRM (sames steps if there is no DRM).
1. Buy the eBook
2. Download the eBook with Firefox
3. Load the eBook into my Calibre library

That's it. No hoops involved. My next steps...
1. Convert to ePub using the KindleUnpack plugin.
2. Load the ePub into he Calibre editor and run epubcheck and fix any errors.
3. Once the errors are fixed, fix the formatting to my liking.

Sometimes you can find that Kindle eBooks can be not all that good. Self-published can be the worst. For example, all the chapters in one HTML file.

@JSWolf Just curious, what is the advantage of using KindleUnpack to convert to epub rather than using the built in converter in Calibre?