E-book Complaints Thread

[5thWiggle]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

At this point I'd just stop buying from those particular authors, on the unflattering assumption that if they're not bright enough to figure out how to update their existing book that they want me to spend money on so I don't have to buy a completely new edition to read it as it should be read, without those "value"-added errors and all, then they're not bright enough to write a book I want to pay money to read in the first place.

That is also assuming that they don't secretly believe that you should pay more money to get a different version of their book in the first place, like you were buying a 2nd edition of a paperback or whatever.

As for the Smashwords purchases, some day the authors may return the yanked-for-KDP stuff as I've noticed several trickling back from exclusivity in recent weeks. No idea if they're quietly updating the old versions or just dumping in even newer separate ones, though.

ETA: My complaint is people yanking existing stuff for KDP Select exclusivity.

New works, fine, exclusivize all you like.

But things that are already out there that people bought in series that they may be thinking of going back and getting the rest of and pulling them so that they can't? That's just dumping on your non-Amazon-using customers (and charging extra to your reluctantly-Amazon-using customers in certain regions which get the extra $2 per purchase surcharge).

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000
(there ain't enough zeros available!)

Here's a great example of this. This looked interesting, at least worthy of checking the sample. So I click on the yesterday - guess what? Pulled from Smashwords - only 15 days after posting a link.

Sorry, it could be the novel that defines the era, but I'm not going to even consider now. (I can be reeaal petty if you p*ss me off!)

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

At this point I'd just stop buying from those particular authors, on the unflattering assumption that if they're not bright enough to figure out how to update their existing book that they want me to spend money on so I don't have to buy a completely new edition to read it as it should be read, without those "value"-added errors and all, then they're not bright enough to write a book I want to pay money to read in the first place.

That is also assuming that they don't secretly believe that you should pay more money to get a different version of their book in the first place, like you were buying a 2nd edition of a paperback or whatever.


ETA: My complaint is people yanking existing stuff for KDP Select exclusivity.

New works, fine, exclusivize all you like.

I thought of emailing the authors and telling them how I feel about it. I get that authors are new to digital books and they slowly are improving the quality as they learn but to make me pay says 3.99 for plain text with so many errors and then put a real copy elsewhere later is just saying to me they don't care about the reader just them money I give them.

You can't always tell from the sample the problems the actually book has and Smashwords will not refund your money which is another reason I no longer buy from them.

The KDP Select program is probably why they were pulled. The only good thing is getting the freebies from it but I'd love to see updated copies of the books I brought if they ever decided to return.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I have another kind of OT question. What is the proper tag to get a book in kindle to open at the Title page? When I upload HTML Amazon seems to grab either "prologue" or "chapter 1" regardless of how I tag, say a 'preface' or title page. I know it can be done because I've seen books open at the title page, but I don't know what tag is being used...

Kind of tough if you're strictly uploading HTML. The "Start" point is usually defined via the OPF file.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I don't like the exclusivity because I think it's bad news all around. I never liked having to send exclusive queries to agents or editors and I don't like the practice of signing with just one retailer. Oh sure, if I were given enough incentive, I'd have to do it. But the mass signups are not likely to be good for authors or readers long term.

Meanwhile...I don't have a touch screen so I can't tap the lower corner. There's probably another way to show the title, but the point is that with a paper book, I see the cover every time I pick up the book--and I like that feature. I don't get it with the kindle and the only way I'd likely get it would be via the screen saver.

What device do you use? Pressing the menu button on the Kindle 4 NT will bring up the time and title, and battery charge icon, but not the author. (it also brings up the menu, occluding the text of the page, but pressing it again sends that away). The nook (1st gen) I had displays that showed you the author, title, battery charge icon, and time at all times.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I thought of emailing the authors and telling them how I feel about it. I get that authors are new to digital books and they slowly are improving the quality as they learn but to make me pay says 3.99 for plain text with so many errors and then put a real copy elsewhere later is just saying to me they don't care about the reader just them money I give them.

You can't always tell from the sample the problems the actually book has and Smashwords will not refund your money which is another reason I no longer buy from them.

The KDP Select program is probably why they were pulled. The only good thing is getting the freebies from it but I'd love to see updated copies of the books I brought if they ever decided to return.

The KDP program is causing such a flood, that it's nearly impossible to tell what's good and what's shite. People just put anything they want up without regard for quality.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The KDP program is causing such a flood, that it's nearly impossible to tell what's good and what's shite. People just put anything they want up without regard for quality.

I'm not sure it's the fault of KDP. Kindle and epublishing picked up steam pretty fast these last two years anyway. It was getting easier to do and with success, you're going to have a lot of people in a hurry to get their books up there. The KDP exclusive program didn't help any; it made it entirely too easy to do freebies--and this resulted in a TON of novellas and shorts as "intros." In fairness though, the trad publishers are doing their own pushing of shorts and intros (and are usually the folks charging 2.99 or more).

The system will change again. I don't see how Amazon can make much money off of the freebies even with other purchases. And I am guessing they did the exclusivity to draw in "reprints" or "backlist" authors--not necessarily indie authors. Of course, they are happy to bring in popular indie authors too--because the sheer number of "exclusive" titles and freebies are a draw to Amazon.

But I'm still not sure it is working out the way Amazon and indies hoped it would. Or maybe I'm just naive.

[JSWolf]

Well, I hope KDP tanks. It's not good overall. eBooks should not be locked up behind anyone's wall. Everyone who reads eBooks should have access. It's things like this that cause such a backlash against Amazon.

I think a lot of authors are rushing to get their books up at Amazon before a proper edit or even a proper cover. And most (from what I have read) are romance/erotic/porn).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by MickiTee

This is also a pet peeve of mine and there's a reason for it.

Its because there's 20% VAT (sales tax) on ebooks. This is EU regulation, but can be reduced or removed at discretion of individual governments. There's a petition on HM Goverment ePetition web site. Please consider signing it. The link will take you straight to the correct petition and its open until August - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/114

Currently only 3% from Amazon, because they're registered in Luxembourg.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I thought of emailing the authors and telling them how I feel about it. I get that authors are new to digital books and they slowly are improving the quality as they learn but to make me pay says 3.99 for plain text with so many errors and then put a real copy elsewhere later is just saying to me they don't care about the reader just them money I give them.

You can't always tell from the sample the problems the actually book has and Smashwords will not refund your money which is another reason I no longer buy from them.

The KDP Select program is probably why they were pulled. The only good thing is getting the freebies from it but I'd love to see updated copies of the books I brought if they ever decided to return.

It's difficult to distribute corrected copies. Amazon FINALLY has a way to do this, but it doesn't always work. It took me from January to May of this year to get Amazon to make an updated version of Sage available to people who had already bought it--and all I did to the story was add a story and illustrations.

The process isn't automated so there are about 3 steps and that involves SEVERAL emails to Amazon.

I'm not defending authors who don't bother or who don't know how to do it, but it is difficult and it's only the last year that doing an update was available at all. For those of you who WANT updates, you might get an email from Amazon telling you it is available. However, you might just have to randomly check your Manage Kindle and a particular book. So, for example, if you bought Sage 3 years ago, if you visited Manage Kindle today and looked at Sage, there would be be an option on the book to download a new version. There would be no active notice for it because it was enhancements not corrections (this is not entirely my decision. Amazon has me fill out a form with what I changed and why. Then they can 1. pull the book, 2. mass email or 3. make it downloadable to those who already purchased.)

There was a forth option, but I can't recall it off the top of my head.

For Smashwords, you have access to any new versions So long as the author didn't change the name of the book and upload something entirely different (for example if someone only had a few chapters and then finished the book and loaded it as an entirely different book.)

For Nook, there is no way to update that I know of.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

It's difficult to distribute corrected copies. Amazon FINALLY has a way to do this, but it doesn't always work. It took me from January to May of this year to get Amazon to make an updated version of Sage available to people who had already bought it--

I'm not defending authors who don't bother or who don't know how to do it, but it is difficult and it's only the last year that doing an update was available at all. For those of you who WANT updates, you might get an email from Amazon telling you it is available. However, you might just have to randomly check your Manage Kindle and a particular book.

For Smashwords, you have access to any new versions So long as the author didn't change the name of the book and upload something entirely different (for example if someone only had a few chapters and then finished the book and loaded it as an entirely different book.)

I don't have a problem with Amazon's updating their books. They have been pretty consistent in notifying me of updated books.

It's Smashwords where I have bought books from them only to have the title pulled and having to rebuy it again from Amazon to get a corrected or better formatted copy. Smashwords never lets you know about updated versions of their books you only find out if go to redownload them and it gives you a choice of which version you want.

At Amazon I can get refunded if the author pulls a ASIN changed on me. At Smashwords I am stuck with a crap copy and out money when the book is pulled. This isn't so much Smashwords' fault but the author's.

[Wald07]

I don't like finding simple English mistakes in e-books. True example below.
Like: "He wrapped his arms around her waste.."

What? What did she waste? OH! They mean her waist!

Sorry, Harlequin, but you are AWFUL for this. Whoever is editing, and let that slip, needs to move on!

[VaporPunk]

Damn, how could I have forgotten the biggest pet peeve of all. One click access to those maps at the beginning of the book. I want this fixed by midnight tonight, or else. Thank you.

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Currently only 3% from Amazon, because they're registered in Luxembourg.

I still don't get this.
If the point of sale of the digital file is the end users computer then Amazon should have to charge 20% VAT, if the point of sale is Luxembourg (for 3% VAT) then there should be no geographical restrictions on ebooks because the point of sale is the sellers registered office.
Can't have it both ways - Then again, never did understand accountants

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

I still don't get this.
If the point of sale of the digital file is the end users computer then Amazon should have to charge 20% VAT, if the point of sale is Luxembourg (for 3% VAT) then there should be no geographical restrictions on ebooks because the point of sale is the sellers registered office.
Can't have it both ways - Then again, never did understand accountants

I couldn't agree more. But that is the way it currently works.

[sun surfer]

I wish those damn kids would get off my lawn.