KU Payment - Page 2

Cinisajoy · 11-11-2015, 03:59 PM

Josieb1,
I have many author friends. Some are all in KU, some are all out, some are both. Oh I know one author who was in KU for exactly 30 days. Yes, she is big enough that Amazon approached her with a special offer.
Oh she got a ton and a half of borrows, the problem was because she is so big, it was oh cool Holly is in KU, we will all just borrow.
Amazon got a ton of free KU trials, Holly got a ton of borrows but NO sales even on her books not in KU.

Oh and at the OP, when you return the books by whichever method you choose Amazon will see how many pages you read.
When I did my free trial, I just used the return to borrow a new one on the website.

John F · 11-11-2015, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

...

Oh and at the OP, when you return the books by whichever method you choose Amazon will see how many pages you read.
When I did my free trial, I just used the return to borrow a new one on the website.

are you sure about this? I thought/guessed when you did a "transfer with USB", it was relatively dumb: no tracking, no page syncing, ... (unless you later used wifi)?

Cinisajoy · 11-11-2015, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

are you sure about this? I thought/guessed when you did a "transfer with USB", it was relatively dumb: no tracking, no page syncing, ... (unless you later used wifi)?

All I know is once I returned a book, it was no longer available on the device.

Can you use transfer via USB with ku?
If yes, Amazon must have a way to track.

crossi · 11-12-2015, 02:26 AM

I don't use KU, I just buy books I want. But my kindle hasn't had whispernet turned on in years. I browse for books on my computer and download them all to Kindle PC. my kindle itself is loaded by USB via Calibre. Since I edit titles for series number and pub date so they display in the correct order direct download from Amazon is not useful for me.

John F · 11-12-2015, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

All I know is once I returned a book, it was no longer available on the device.

Can you use transfer via USB with ku?
If yes, Amazon must have a way to track.

You say it "must", and I think "it can't" (if you use Tranfer via USB and never turn on wifi/3G/sync). Anyone know which is true?

I believe from previous posts people have been saying/implying that if you don't turn on wifi/3G/sync, Amazon will not know how much you read; they can track what you downloaded/borrowed/returned, but not how many pages you have read. Or maybe, if you use transfer via USB, they always consider the book 100% read when it is returned?

booklover6 · 11-12-2015, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Or maybe, if you use transfer via USB, they always consider the book 100% read when it is returned?

That's a good question, I wonder what the answer is. I am not currently in KU, but watching for a Cyber Monday special (I think they had one last year).

Josieb1 · 11-12-2015, 08:35 AM

I have thousands of unread books, most I actually bought rather than free friends so KU isn't anywhere close to my agenda. I still buy books regularly.

Atunah · 11-12-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

That's a good question, I wonder what the answer is. I am not currently in KU, but watching for a Cyber Monday special (I think they had one last year).

They had a Prime day special, I think it was in July. I'd have to check my account. I went all in on that and saved 40% for 2 years so the montly is $6 instead of $10. Of course I had to prepay, but I am happy.

. They had shorter prepaid with less savings also. If they have another sale on it, Over thanksgiving would be the time, wouldn't it.

Its not keeping me from buying books.

Waylander · 11-12-2015, 10:09 AM

If I turned the kindle wifi on when I finished a book, would that mean the author would get paid for me reading the whole book? Otherwise, if it meant an author getting paid, I would be happy to turn the wifi on every so often. I just hope the Kindle doesn't automatically update, as I am waiting for the JB for fw 5.6.5.

Cinisajoy · 11-12-2015, 10:14 AM

You know Waylander you worry too much.
If a book is 50 pages, the author will get a quarter.
If you are borrowing popular books, don't worry about it.
If you are helping out unknowns then yes that quarter will make a difference.

Fbone · 11-12-2015, 01:37 PM

The question is: When you connect the Kindle to your PC to transfer using USB does the Kindle transmit data to Amazon since it now has access to the internet?

I suppose a techie can determine if any outgoing packets head to Amazon.

Cinisajoy · 11-12-2015, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

The question is: When you connect the Kindle to your PC to transfer using USB does the Kindle transmit data to Amazon since it now has access to the internet?

I suppose a techie can determine if any outgoing packets head to Amazon.

That makes sense if the computer has internet on at the time.

DuckieTigger · 11-12-2015, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

That makes sense if the computer has internet on at the time.

Actually makes no sense since the Kindle connects as a storage device, it does not get internet access.

Cinisajoy · 11-12-2015, 02:44 PM

I just had a thought. Borrow a book, transfer via USB, read a few pages, return it on the Amazon page then see if you can still pull it up on your device.

If no, then re-borrow it and see where it opens.

BearMountainBooks · 11-12-2015, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waylander

If I turned the kindle wifi on when I finished a book, would that mean the author would get paid for me reading the whole book? Otherwise, if it meant an author getting paid, I would be happy to turn the wifi on every so often. I just hope the Kindle doesn't automatically update, as I am waiting for the JB for fw 5.6.5.

Thank you for caring enough about authors to wonder and ask questions! Amazon doesn't clarify how they track pages and there are probably holes in the system. I'm not claiming to know of holes, but there are almost always holes in every software system. I used to be a test engineer. There are always holes in the system. The kindle does track what page you are on (that is how it knows to open to that page when you turn the device on and off). So if you periodically let the kindle connect and update, authors should get paid.

There's always been a question about what happens if someone transfers the book and doesn't use whispersync, but I don't think there's ever been a definitive answer. It's nice to assume that Amazon is trustworthy and has a way to track these things, but I've not seen it spec'd out. And I'm not picking on Amazon. We authors have to trust that SCRIBD (another subscription service) is tracking things properly. We have to hope that all the retailers are tracking sales properly too. There's always going to be some room for doubt.

But anyway, I just think it's nice that you cared enough to ask!

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11-11-2015, 03:59 PM	#16
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Josieb1, I have many author friends. Some are all in KU, some are all out, some are both. Oh I know one author who was in KU for exactly 30 days. Yes, she is big enough that Amazon approached her with a special offer. Oh she got a ton and a half of borrows, the problem was because she is so big, it was oh cool Holly is in KU, we will all just borrow. Amazon got a ton of free KU trials, Holly got a ton of borrows but NO sales even on her books not in KU. Oh and at the OP, when you return the books by whichever method you choose Amazon will see how many pages you read. When I did my free trial, I just used the return to borrow a new one on the website.

11-12-2015, 02:26 AM	#19
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	I don't use KU, I just buy books I want. But my kindle hasn't had whispernet turned on in years. I browse for books on my computer and download them all to Kindle PC. my kindle itself is loaded by USB via Calibre. Since I edit titles for series number and pub date so they display in the correct order direct download from Amazon is not useful for me.

11-12-2015, 08:35 AM	#22
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,086 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra 2	I have thousands of unread books, most I actually bought rather than free friends so KU isn't anywhere close to my agenda. I still buy books regularly.

11-12-2015, 10:09 AM	#24
Waylander Guru Posts: 667 Karma: 2905052 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 5 16GB, Kindle Paperwhite 6, Kobo Clara,	If I turned the kindle wifi on when I finished a book, would that mean the author would get paid for me reading the whole book? Otherwise, if it meant an author getting paid, I would be happy to turn the wifi on every so often. I just hope the Kindle doesn't automatically update, as I am waiting for the JB for fw 5.6.5.

11-12-2015, 10:14 AM	#25
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	You know Waylander you worry too much. If a book is 50 pages, the author will get a quarter. If you are borrowing popular books, don't worry about it. If you are helping out unknowns then yes that quarter will make a difference.

11-12-2015, 01:37 PM	#26
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,296 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	The question is: When you connect the Kindle to your PC to transfer using USB does the Kindle transmit data to Amazon since it now has access to the internet? I suppose a techie can determine if any outgoing packets head to Amazon.

11-12-2015, 02:44 PM	#29
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I just had a thought. Borrow a book, transfer via USB, read a few pages, return it on the Amazon page then see if you can still pull it up on your device. If no, then re-borrow it and see where it opens.

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