Limited Kindle Unlimited

[haertig]

"We may take reasonable actions necessary to prevent fraud, including placing restrictions on the number of titles that can be accessed from the program at any one time."

Game over with that one. Sorry.

It's like being in a casino. The house always has the advantage. Intentionally, by design. You will not be successful in negotiating your way out of their advantage. If you continue to try, this will be the result:

"We reserve the right to accept or refuse membership in our discretion."

If you wish to continue with KU, Prime, or any other Amazon services ... I might suggest that you stand down at this point. If you decide not to, keep us apprised about what happens - it would be interesting to hear about.

[Mistyfarm]

Yes I know it would have to be automated. It's obvious there are parameters, it seems to be a limit per time period, with a slow trickle back to credit. But they're still not telling me what it is. Happy to play by the rules, just tell me what they are.

Re; TOS I'm only trying to access KU titles (though have purchased 1/2 a dozen during the same period) and it's the "designated list of titles an unlimited number of times" provision I'm relying on to go back and "read" them later if I need.

And it's a "fraud" clause rather than a "fishy" clause. I'm still innocent aren't I? And I understand perfectly but I haven't committed any fraud and don't intend to. They have my address and details - I have to be dumber than a box of rocks to do anything "fraudulent". And they're ALL by different authors so it's definitely not a "pump" scam.

If you look at the titles I posted earlier you'll see that they are mostly between 10 - 50 pages, these were shortlisted I intended to go back to and read again if required. But it didn't take long even for a slow learner to get thru.

That's how I did all my assignments in university. Look thru the library index, make a list of likelys, flick thru the book to confirm, and go back and read the ones that are relevant.

Everyone seems fixated on "read" immediately in it's entirety. Sure fine if all you want to do is amuse yourself on novels, poems and cartoons!

But this highly secret and mysterious "reading" policy is not "research friendly".

[Mistyfarm]

"It's like being in a casino. The house always has the advantage."

Correct! But every punter KNOWS those odds - they are spelled out.

And if you break the rules the meatheads giving you the bums rush tell you what you've done, I've not broken any stated rules.

[Mistyfarm]

I’m baaaack!

Just did a quick test this afternoon. Borrowed successfully the following 10 books; with the following stats relating to my interests and relevance to my reason to borrow/read.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cooking-Bl.../dp/B00SVXNZYG
2 pages of index, 2 pages of Intro and How to…..and then 50 pages of recipes

https://www.amazon.com.au/Bulbous-Ve.../dp/B00PAA4PQK
2 pages of index, only 7 pages of garlic

https://www.amazon.com.au/Pickled-Ul.../dp/B00BL6R4T2
1 page for pickled Garlic

https://www.amazon.com.au/Garlic-Rec.../dp/B00JJZKVWY
2 pages or Intro then the rest are recipes.
Do I really need to fully read the Cocoa, Espresso and Garlic Donuts Recipe?...... please don't make me!

https://www.amazon.com.au/Garlic-One.../dp/B074TZTPX8
Total pages - 2

https://www.amazon.com.au/DIY-HERBS-.../dp/B07F777CYY
1 page Intro, 1 page on Garlic

https://www.amazon.com.au/Garlic-Che.../dp/B00QQVJ0NK
1/2 page intro and the rest are recipes

https://www.amazon.com.au/Garlic-Mir.../dp/B00NIB9OIC
This one can read fully…… in only just 30 pages

https://www.amazon.com.au/Everyday-G.../dp/B07N1FTK6X
Intro, recipes - ooh look, the honey garlic shrimp recipe looks interesting

https://www.amazon.com.au/That-Old-B.../dp/B07P6VQLG2
21 pages, actually it was interesting.

Since a Kindle Unlimited account only allows 10 stored books at any one time, you actually have to have a Reading Links list to work from. And then bring up when you need to reread or see another chapter or recipe or herb or subject from those books ……… if it’s a reference book or a teaching aid, surely that’s a no brainer that there will be multiple, small dips into it! (Unless it’s brilliant - in which case it would be a lucky find in KU!)

…… I’ve also done a few more “browses” as well without DOS so I’ll just amble along in future, now that I know Kindle Unlimited is not really Unlimited.

[Mistyfarm]

Has nobody noticed the elephant in the room? What about the “invisible” gorilla?

In this very forum thread we’ve seen feisty discussions about “privacy”, flight modeing of users’ Kindles, de-registrations, going to Linux, changing browsers etc etc.

Don’t the average sheeple close their curtains at night or shut the bathroom door before they sit down? Are they committing some “fraud” or fishy business behind those downed curtains or closed doors?

And for the apologists of profit for mega moguls and the ”house advantage”, how much did you pay for your real Unlimited access to MobileRead and the right to voice your unprofiled opinion??

And how much profit do you think MR’s moderators are making for their arguably better than Amazon’s customer service to Readers?

However I digress, back to the elephant/gorilla.

Forget about Russia/China/North Korea etc …. the biggest “hacker” is our/your very own Govts !!

Forgive me for not wanting to be profiled by pimple faced dipsticks that can’t even get it right.

[Deskisamess]

I'll take "Biting the Hand that Feeds You" for $500 Alex.

You believe anyone will want to try and help you after the insults you've spewed? Many users who tried to help you have been members of this site for many years, some 12 years and more. They've seen it all when it comes to ebooks.

After less than 50 posts, you've managed to insult everyone. Why would anyone want to help you?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Mistyfarm

Has nobody noticed the elephant in the room? What about the “invisible” gorilla?

I think the real gorilla in the room is the obvious: Kindle Unlimited wasn't designed to be used for research. Access to Kindle Unlimited isn't an inherent right.

The way you are accessing it is identical to the way scammers have accessed the system and therefore your unusual browsing has caused you to be banned and may do the same again. Amazon kicking you out of the system for behavior that seems (to the robots watching the system) suspicious isn't a surprise and I don't see you garnering a lot of sympathy with anybody.

Don’t the average sheeple close their curtains at night or shut the bathroom door before they sit down? Are they committing some “fraud” or fishy business behind those downed curtains or closed doors?

You lost me at 'sheeple'.

[DiapDealer]

You're not our first noob with a righteous e-cause. Not even the first one this month. *Yawn*

And how much profit do you think MR’s moderators are making for their arguably better than Amazon’s customer service to Readers?

Before, or after taxes?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Mistyfarm

Has nobody noticed the elephant in the room? What about the “invisible” gorilla?

[...]

However I digress, back to the elephant/gorilla.

Forget about Russia/China/North Korea etc …. the biggest “hacker” is our/your very own Govts !!

Any further political posts outside the P&R forum will be deleted without comment (along with any replies to those posts).

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think the real gorilla in the room is the obvious: Kindle Unlimited wasn't designed to be used for research. Access to Kindle Unlimited isn't an inherent right.

The way you are accessing it is identical to the way scammers have accessed the system and therefore your unusual browsing has caused you to be banned and may do the same again. Amazon kicking you out of the system for behavior that seems (to the robots watching the system) suspicious isn't a surprise and I don't see you garnering a lot of sympathy with anybody.

Kindle Unlimited may not have been designed for research, but my reading of the terms doesn't exclude anything that Mistyfarm did and without a certain level of technical knowledge, I see no reason he or she would think that what was done should appear to Amazon to be "fraud".

Mistyfarm also wasn't expecting access as an "inherent right", but paid for the service instead.

I don't have a problem with Amazon placing whatever restrictions they want as long as they reasonably specify the restrictions. I do see a problem if they don't, and not just in this case. This is the same pattern (and subsequent discussion) that we've seen before with Amazon closing accounts, limiting returns, disabling device access, and not paying earned referral commissions. In each case, Amazon's actions contradicted their published terms with the exception of vague "at Amazon's discretion" clauses.

The main argument that I see against Mistyfarm's expectations is that he or she should have known that that kind of use isn't what Amazon intended. My response is that it isn't (or shouldn't be, anyway) up to a consumer have to guess what Amazon intends or what kind of action constitutes a breach.

I'm not surprised by Amazon's actions, but that's not because they're acting reasonably; it's because Amazon writes promises in such a way that they don't feel compelled to keep them.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

Kindle Unlimited may not have been designed for research, but my reading of the terms doesn't exclude anything that Mistyfarm did and without a certain level of technical knowledge, I see no reason he or she would think that what was done should appear to Amazon to be "fraud".

Yes, no arguments from me there. That is why I didn't comment on the first few pages of this thread.

It's all the griping after it was pointed out and explained why such behavior would seem suspecious. And continuing the exact same behavior after access was again granted, while taking offense that Jeff Bezos didn't personally visit her house to sort things out that got under my skin.

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

It's all the griping after it was pointed out and explained why such behavior would seem suspecious. And continuing the exact same behavior after access was again granted, while taking offense that Jeff Bezos didn't personally visit her house to sort things out that got under my skin.

And I've no argument there.

[Mistyfarm]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

I'll take "Biting the Hand that Feeds You" for $500 Alex.

I usually only bite the hand trying to ram something down my throat.

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

You believe anyone will want to try and help you after the insults you've spewed?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think I copped a few on the chin first before deciding to push back.

Being accused of fraud, passing myself off, sympathy seeking, smokescreeing etc etc. In the context of many old cowboy movies "You're a liar and a cheat" ....... well pardner; "Them's fightin' words" !

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

Many users who tried to help you have been members of this site for many years, some 12 years and more. They've seen it all when it comes to ebooks.

Yes, the heavy hitters I would say.

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

After less than 50 posts, you've managed to insult everyone. Why would anyone want to help you?

"Everyone"? Really? Surely I must have left someone out?
Would you kindly quote where I have asked for "help"? If anything, I'm the one that's helping. Have you noticed the read count lately? What does that tell you? I think there might just be one or 2 of them that have come away thinking "Hmm, didn't know that before".

I don't think "M", "A" or "C" at Amazon Support would have any complaint about my words or dealings with them personally.

[Mistyfarm]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I think the real gorilla in the room is the obvious: Kindle Unlimited wasn't designed to be used for research.

Fair enough, that's why I used the small recipe books and gardening books as a more realistic similar example.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Access to Kindle Unlimited isn't an inherent right.

Very true - that clause IS clear.

But neither is my money an inherent right to them. They can stop taking it as soon as they want. ........... They haven't chosen to so far.

[Mistyfarm]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

It's all the griping after it was pointed out ......

I'm still griping. pdurant had the courtesy to clarify the forum rules immediately for my unintended "political" allusion. I can now see how it might have been taken that way and it won't happen again, now that I know the rules.

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

......while taking offense that Jeff Bezos didn't personally visit her house to sort things out that got under my skin.

Oh golly gosh no! I couldn't possibly have Jeff over. The lounge room is a total mess and I haven't washed my toupe yet. Happy to get a simple 1 line email.
But they haven't replied and I think I can safely let that expectation go now.