Amazon has removed Download & Transfer option

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by MRM66

I have recently started using Kobo since I cannot download & convert Amazon ebooks and add them to calibre anymore
But Kobo doesnt have most of the books I want which is shame.

So will still to to maybe buy from Amazon still as well, but not add them to calibre.
My kindle is a 2nd generation
So now use Kobo Clara Colour

You can add your books to calibre directly from your Kindle. Then convert for your Kobo if you want.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

You can add your books to calibre directly from your Kindle. Then convert for your Kobo if you want.

I think Kindle 2 has no wifi? No way to get Amazon books to it.

[Quoth]

Not unless you add your own mobile phone base station, possible, but a newer Kindle is cheaper.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I think Kindle 2 has no wifi? No way to get Amazon books to it.

Gah! Didn't think about that.

[MRM66]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Only a matter of time. All the current workarounds use older apps/devices/formats. But closing those off also provides motivation to figuring out the newer drm. When kfx started getting harder to avoid that's when the earliest version of that finally got figured out.

I can still use my Kindle Touch to get decryptable books for now. I don't often buy from Amazon anyway.

Where is another option though lkmiller?
Google Play don't seem to have any I want.
Kobo has a few but not many too.

[lkmiller]

Originally Posted by MRM66

Where is another option though lkmiller?
Google Play don't seem to have any I want.
Kobo has a few but not many too.

If you read indie authors who are Amazon exculsive, then nothing. I've been buying most of my books from Kobo for a long time now. Unfortunately they seem to have decided to stop price matching Amazon.

[TheSmitty]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

If you read indie authors who are Amazon exculsive, then nothing. I've been buying most of my books from Kobo for a long time now. Unfortunately they seem to have decided to stop price matching Amazon.

Yes, there are a couple of authors/series that are indie writers that are exclusive to Amazon (audiobook version included). One of the authors just released the next book in his series and he mentioned that he is sad that Kobo users cannot buy the book but that contractually he still remains exclusive to Amazon and it has played a huge part in his ability to make a living soley as an author.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by TheSmitty

…
and it has played a huge part in his ability to make a living soley as an author.

I'm still waiting for 3rd party audited confirmation that there is on average any benefit to KU exclusivity. Anecdotal reports don't cut it.

It's a separate issue that it's actually helping build a monopoly. Amazon already has over 90% of English Language ebook sales world wide. Party this is due SP not bothering with other platforms.

I'm sure the greater majority of SP authors on KU (or not) don't even make a living wage. Really the benefits of KU for an author sound like Amazon propaganda.

[TheSmitty]

Originally Posted by Quoth

I'm sure the greater majority of SP authors on KU (or not) don't even make a living wage. Really the benefits of KU for an author sound like Amazon propaganda.

No argument there. This particular author has received A LOT of press on YT (BookTube?) which is how I learned about his books. He lives in NZ and managed to do a small tour in the US and Europe, although I am not sure who paid for that. Ryan Cahill is his name, search for that and you will seem a ton of video reviews/interviews etc.

BUT, I certainly agree he is more of a exception than the rule with Amazon exclusivity. And certainly not the most successful author to rise through the ranks of Amazon exclusive authors who have since broken out, think Hugh Howey.

[DNSB]

From several authors I have had contact with, KU was a good place to be until Amazon did a algorithm reset. Quite a few authors mentioned that this had affected their income, one mentioning a 75% drop in their income after the reset. One newsletter I received had the following to say:

Long story short, for the majority of my career the vast majority of my income came through Kindle Unlimited. The way that worked wasn't all that complicated, but it took a lot of effort. Basically, Amazon "favors" new books. During the first few days after launch, if I could spend a bunch on marketing and send a bunch of sales to my books (hence why a lot of books have a few days at 99c after launch) I'd get Amazon's attention and their algorithm would start sending love my way.

In other words, they'd start recommending my books to other people. It worked brilliantly, because if I succeeded with my launch, that meant I didn't have to constantly spend a lot of money on advertising. Amazon did the work for me.

Well, there was a glitch at Amazon back in August and it impacted a lot of authors. Basically, they "reset" their algorithm data on a large number of e-books in the system. From what I've been able to tell, the glitch impacted several titles in my catalogue. It may have impacted every book I've ever launched...

I didn't even learn about this until recently. Another author shared with me the information Amazon gave him, since he was affected. It made sense... because in the months since (as people who already had my books on their KU shelves finished reading) people stopped adding my books to their shelves...

... meaning my income took a huge hit. We're talking a reduction of 50% over each of the last two months.

In some ways, this has been good for me since more than a few authors I read went wide and since Kobo Plus does not require exclusivity, many of their books are now in Kobo Plus.

[geoffwood]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

Unfortunately they seem to have decided to stop price matching Amazon.

I'm not sure where you are located, but the Price Match page is still working and says it applies to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

If you read indie authors who are Amazon exculsive, then nothing. I've been buying most of my books from Kobo for a long time now. Unfortunately they seem to have decided to stop price matching Amazon.

It seems to only be if there is a -% in red and the digital list price is crossed out. Otherwise, there is a price match and Google Play Books seems to be matching prices.

[lkmiller]

There have been a number of reports of rejected price matches for Amazon. It seems Kobo will no longer honor Amazon only sales. If you happen to buy before they have correctly lowered their price, you get it. Otherwise no. Whereas previously you would have.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by lkmiller

There have been a number of reports of rejected price matches for Amazon. It seems Kobo will no longer honor Amazon only sales. If you happen to buy before they have correctly lowered their price, you get it. Otherwise no. Whereas previously you would have.

The problem is you can't tell before you buy?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Quoth

The problem is you can't tell before you buy?

At least in the UK, one is entitled to a refund if one hasn't downloaded the book. So I don't download until the price match has been fulfilled.