Are you a paying subscriber to Kindle Unlimited/Scribd/Oyster?

[Atunah]

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

I use Scribd and I really like it. I've found lots of really great books on it.

I worry about how good a business model they have. They pulled most of their romance novels because they were losing money. I don't read romance novels so it didn't affect me, but of course they could end up finding out that the service as a whole doesn't make money and shut down. For now, I'm loving it. I don't know if I'll try Kindle Unlimited if they go under. They don't have any major publishers, do they?

They don't have any of the big 5, but they do have titles many from Open Road Media, some from Sourcebooks, Kensington, Rosettabooks, Endeavour Press and some romance publishers. Open Road has a nice variety of stuff, mysteries and thrillers and such I think and if I am not mistaken also does rosettabooks.
I search by publisher typing it in to the kindle store search and then checking the KU available on the left.

They do of course have all the amazon imprint titles also which has some good stuff in all kinds of genres.

Yeah, Scribd did screw romance readers over. I read other stuff also, urban fantasy, mysteries, etc. But I don't support someone like that that treats a portion of their readers this crappy. I never got an email or anything from them, nothing. Just the books I had in my lists went poof.

I think it just always depends on what one reads. There has to be enough content in those genres, or its not going to be beneficial or cost effective. For me right now it is. I supplement some bigger publishers with my library. My local library has a horrible selection for what I read and I still have a brooklyn card also. I might let that one lapse as I just got onto a larger library in my state I hadn't known about until recently. They have way more stuff than my local one and its free for me. So I'll only be paying for the KU. Works for me.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I can't see subscription services succeeding long-term without the output of the major publishing houses.

They're perhaps targeting readers of genre fiction (eg romance or "cozy mysteries"). Seems to be lots of that kind of thing on KU.

[Blossom]

Romance is what killed Scribd. Too many readers and not enough cash flow to pay for the books read.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Romance is what killed Scribd. Too many readers and not enough cash flow to pay for the books read.

That's not so much of an issue for KU, in that it's a fixed-size cash pot that's split up between the authors or publishers of the books that are borrowed and read. The only question is whether authors and publishers will be satisfied with their payments and keep their books in the programme.

[Cinisajoy]

On KU,
I don't subscribe for the pure and simple fact is that many of the books in KU will either be free or 99 cents at one point in their run.
And anyone in the US with an Amazon account can buy a book that is in KU.

Although lately I am having a hard time finding any books.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

On KU,
I don't subscribe for the pure and simple fact is that many of the books in KU will either be free or 99 cents at one point in their run.
And anyone in the US with an Amazon account can buy a book that is in KU.

Everyone who can subscribe to KU can of course also buy the books that are in the programme; the question is whether it's cost-effective to do so. If you read 20 or 30 books a month and you're not someone who re-reads books, KU would save you a lot of monry even if the books did only cost 99c each.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's not so much of an issue for KU, in that it's a fixed-size cash pot that's split up between the authors or publishers of the books that are borrowed and read. The only question is whether authors and publishers will be satisfied with their payments and keep their books in the programme.

True. I'm still lamenting all the money I gave Scribd and I read maybe 6 books from there. I kept it as I had access to a lot of books I no longer had to buy not realizing that in an instance I no longer had access to them. I wont join a service like that again.

From what I read on Facebook a lot of romance authors are pulling out due to no sales while their book is on KU. They are losing money.

[Atunah]

I don't read books on KU that are often free or usually 99 cents. Most of what I read is 3.99, 4.99 and in that area. If books have been going free and cheap for long time and it was something I wanted to read, I would already own it anyway.

I keep adding books to my KU list from a wait for loan wishlist on a weekly basis. So for me, I see more books, romance, going into KU than going out. I read other genres also though. ALthough mostly romance or stuff with a romantic plot at least.

Some great back list titles also and of course the publishers I listed.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Everyone who can subscribe to KU can of course also buy the books that are in the programme; the question is whether it's cost-effective to do so. If you read 20 or 30 books a month and you're not someone who re-reads books, KU would save you a lot of monry even if the books did only cost 99c each.

Yes I read a lot. The thing is most in KU use their free days not countdown deals so it is much cheaper to pick up the freebies than subscribe to KU.

I mentioned buying because some people were under the impression that one could only borrow not buy because they didn't see the second orange line.

But I have also heard authors say yes they will put everything free because readers will only pick up one and come back later to buy the rest.

Of course I also think for value, it varies between genres.
For mystery, not really worth it. At least not to me.
But then again my TBR is miles long.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Blossom

True. I'm still lamenting all the money I gave Scribd and I read maybe 6 books from there. I kept it as I had access to a lot of books I no longer had to buy not realizing that in an instance I no longer had access to them. I wont join a service like that again.

From what I read on Facebook a lot of romance authors are pulling out due to no sales while their book is on KU. They are losing money.

There was one that only put part of her books in. Her and Amazon both took a bath on that one. She lost roughly 75% of her income that month. Note if it had been a little author, it would not have been so rough but she was just too big for KU. I forget whether it was 5 or 6 figures.
Yes, her and Amazon had a special deal.

[sakura-panda]

I have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I was trying it out as a way to get books for my oldest, who is not a re-reader, but I found several books for myself and have kept up the subscription. (I also took part in the deal last summer for the deeply discounted two year subscription.)

I don't know that I will keep it indefinitely, so if I see one of the KU books that I am interested in go to free, I do buy it, just to have it.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

There was one that only put part of her books in. Her and Amazon both took a bath on that one. She lost roughly 75% of her income that month. Note if it had been a little author, it would not have been so rough but she was just too big for KU. I forget whether it was 5 or 6 figures.
Yes, her and Amazon had a special deal.

I remember that. I have yet on Facebook where I follow about 300 romance authors say anything good about KU. It could change but right now most are against it.

[cromag]

Nope. I do occasionally re-read books, so I like having them on my reader/computer. I read a lot of mysteries, science fiction, etc., and I read some big publisher books but a lot of Indies. And I'm a big user of my local library. I haven't needed a subscription service.

[Sirtel]

I would join KU if it was available in my country. I read lots of indies and as always there are many books (both indies and tradpub) I find not to my liking, so I could really use an option to swap them out.

[Fbone]

I read two books a month. A subscription service wouldn't benefit me.