10 things Amazon won’t tell you - Page 3

JeremyR · 06-28-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

Kindle owners spend more on books at Amazon because, unless they are willing to learn how to strip DRM and convert formats, they can only buy from Amazon.

I use Amazon for more freebies than I purchase.

Apache

Unless of course they buy books from book stores that are DRM free, like Baen or Fictionwise's backlist.

HarryT · 06-29-2012, 02:18 AM

Absolutely - it's simply untrue that you "have" to buy Kindle books at Amazon; I spend as much at Baen on ebooks as I do at Amazon.

Barbara1955 · 06-29-2012, 02:58 AM

Amusing but UnTrue! I dont think people buy just cause they get Free Shipping! & 99.9% of my ebooks have been freebies!
Nice Amusing article!

Apache · 06-29-2012, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Unless of course they buy books from book stores that are DRM free, like Baen or Fictionwise's backlist.

I forgot about Baen and Fictionwise.

And I buy from them all the time.

Apache

sebastianmichael · 07-02-2012, 07:46 AM

It's an interesting and entertaining read.

In parts it's also an exercise in stating the blatantly obvious though. And not all of the observations are necessarily bad:

“You’ll spend a bundle on e-books.” From a writer's perspective, this is good news: if the low price of e-books and the ease of purchasing them on Amazon encourages people to read and maybe give new authors a try, then there'll be quite few of us out there who rather welcome such a development...

DiapDealer · 07-02-2012, 07:54 AM

Will Amazon tell me I'm pretty?

Sil_liS · 07-02-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Will Amazon tell me I'm pretty?

No, Amazon will convince you to spend money on books to look pretty. We all know that a well-read person is more attractive.

jersysman · 07-02-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

No, Amazon will convince you to spend money on books to look pretty. We all know that a well-read person is more attractive.

Accordingly... I should be a hunk!! NOT!!!

BeccaPrice · 07-02-2012, 09:19 AM

Now let's see a "What B&N won't tell you" - apparently they collect more analytics about readers' habits than Amazon does.

ApK · 07-02-2012, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I forgot about Baen and Fictionwise.

And I buy from them all the time.

Apache

...and O'Reilly and Smashwords....
And in response to your original comment, why one Earth would someone NOT do most of their e-book shopping at Amazon? Prices and selection are better than any of the few other mass-market options most of the time.
Even if I'm able to strip DRM, I'd shop there for books for my Sony reader, too.

Oh, as for the "10 things" article, as an occasionally published article writer, I'm insulted that someone may have gotten paid to write that.

ApK

QuantumIguana · 07-02-2012, 10:01 AM

When you buy a DVD player, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on DVDs. That's because it is obvious that someone who buys a DVD player buys it to watch DVDs.

When you buy a frying pan, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on food.

When you buy a suitcase, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on hotels.

When you buy a tent, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on sleeping bags.

Yet, we're supposed to be warned when we buy a device for reading books. Is reading a book so alien an experience to some people that they can't imagine that we were already going to buy books?

Angst · 07-02-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daithi

8. “We know more about you than you think.” -- see point #9.

9. “Our recommendations leave shoppers flummoxed.” -- see point #8.

classic!

HarryT · 07-02-2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Yet, we're supposed to be warned when we buy a device for reading books. Is reading a book so alien an experience to some people that they can't imagine that we were already going to buy books?

One can, however, get a lifetime's worth of reading from entirely free public domain books.

QuantumIguana · 07-02-2012, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

One can, however, get a lifetime's worth of reading from entirely free public domain books.

It's true, if you read public domain books to any significant extent, you can save money with an e-reader. I spend more on books than I did before I had an e-reader, but that's because I read more now. Reading more isn't a bad thing.

Edward M. Grant · 07-02-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

It's off base. People don't spend money because they have a Kindle. They spend money because they buy books.

I spend less on books now I have a Kindle, because e-books (at least the ones I buy) are usually cheaper than paper books.

But yes, suggesting that buying a Kindle makes people spend more on books is silly... people who read more will buy things that make reading easier.

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06-29-2012, 02:18 AM	#32
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Absolutely - it's simply untrue that you "have" to buy Kindle books at Amazon; I spend as much at Baen on ebooks as I do at Amazon.

06-29-2012, 02:58 AM	#33
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Amusing but UnTrue! I dont think people buy just cause they get Free Shipping! & 99.9% of my ebooks have been freebies! Nice Amusing article!

07-02-2012, 07:46 AM	#35
sebastianmichael The Optimist Posts: 39 Karma: 11676 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: London Device: Kindle; iPhone	It's an interesting and entertaining read. In parts it's also an exercise in stating the blatantly obvious though. And not all of the observations are necessarily bad: “You’ll spend a bundle on e-books.” From a writer's perspective, this is good news: if the low price of e-books and the ease of purchasing them on Amazon encourages people to read and maybe give new authors a try, then there'll be quite few of us out there who rather welcome such a development...

07-02-2012, 07:54 AM	#36
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,554 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Will Amazon tell me I'm pretty?

07-02-2012, 09:19 AM	#39
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Now let's see a "What B&N won't tell you" - apparently they collect more analytics about readers' habits than Amazon does.

07-02-2012, 10:01 AM	#41
QuantumIguana Philosopher Posts: 2,034 Karma: 18736532 Join Date: Jan 2012 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch	When you buy a DVD player, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on DVDs. That's because it is obvious that someone who buys a DVD player buys it to watch DVDs. When you buy a frying pan, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on food. When you buy a suitcase, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on hotels. When you buy a tent, they don't warn you that you will spend a bundle on sleeping bags. Yet, we're supposed to be warned when we buy a device for reading books. Is reading a book so alien an experience to some people that they can't imagine that we were already going to buy books?

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