Apache Error When Downloading For Transfer Via USB

[PaulBenn]

I have just tried to download a book for conversion via Calibre software but the download keeps failing with an Apache error saying the request string is too long (Error code 400 with a load of associated text). This has happened with both Chrome and Firefox browsers. Clearing the cache via CCleaner made no difference. Amazon also asked me to sign in when I clicked on the download button despite already being signed in (otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see my Kindle library!). Is this an Amazon fault that I will just have to wait for them to fix or is there a workaround?

[ContraryN]

Kindle Support claims that transfer of books via USB is no longer permitted. I am hoping the young man was mistaken... I expressed to him that, if true, such a change should have: A) been communicated to the user community (at least by a message on the webpage, or by a more informative error message), and B) the option to perform such a transfer should have been removed.

[Sirtel]

It's an Amazon bug. Seems to be pretty widespread at the moment.

[PaulBenn]

@Sirtel - It would seem this is not a bug - see ContraryN's post above yours

@ContraryN - Thank you for getting an answer from Kindle Support. If what they have said is true that is bad news. I download and convert books so that my partner, who happens to be totally blind, can read them on a BrailleSense 6 machine which has the capability of converting text files to Braille output. This she can then read. Unless a way around this can be found, it looks as though I might have to look into the complexities of getting a Kindle APK and installing that on the BrailleSense. The fun might then start when I have to try to guide her through accessing the books. We might have to get support from Sight and Sound to do this.

[PaulBenn]

It would seem that ContraryN has been misinformed. The D&T function is now back working! Phew!! Thanks anyway for following my query up with Kindle Support

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by PaulBenn

It would seem that ContraryN has been misinformed. The D&T function is now back working! Phew!! Thanks anyway for following my query up with Kindle Support

Yeah, Amazon CS knows absolutely nothing these days. Most of the time you ask them something, you'll get total garbage and outright lies in response.

[Quoth]

It was obviously a bug. You'd never get error messages like that if they were disabling it. The Download option would be gone from the menu.

CS in general anywhere are trained to follow a script. It can take days before they are told what to do about new problems, and the instructions can be, um, misleading.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Quoth

It was obviously a bug. You'd never get error messages like that if they were disabling it. The Download option would be gone from the menu.

CS in general anywhere are trained to follow a script. It can take days before they are told what to do about new problems, and the instructions can be, um, misleading.

Following a script is an extremely lousy idea. It's cheap, of course - no need to actually teach your CS something. Which is why it's done.

I remember the early days when Amazon CS didn't follow a script and could actually help with a problem. Alas, those days are long gone. Most customer service is basically worthless nowadays, and not only at Amazon. I'm sure we'll soon have so-called AIs as CS. That'll be fun.

/rant over

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Quoth

It was obviously a bug. You'd never get error messages like that if they were disabling it. The Download option would be gone from the menu.

I agree that this failure is unlikely the result of trying to disable the feature. But there are other possibilities, such as an incorrect implementation of a popup dialog indicating that the feature is going away soon.

[jhowell]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I'm sure we'll soon have so-called AIs as CS. That'll be fun.

/rant over

Amazon loves to do A/B testing, rolling out new features gradually. It seems very likely to me that this is already being tried out on a limited basis right now.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by jhowell

Amazon loves to do A/B testing, rolling out new features gradually. It seems very likely to me that this is already being tried out on a limited basis right now.

We actually have an AI as the first-line CS of our local telecommunications company. It doesn't do much else than connect you with the actual CS according to the issue you have. It doesn't attempt to solve your problem by itself - so far. I'm sure that'll change.