Authors unhappy with Kindle Unlimited

[hildea]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/horrifying?s=t
Definition 1 might be to strong, but #2 is spot on. Is that second definition obscure or out of touch with how the word is commonly used?

Anyway, if my choice of words is too distracting and prevents people from commenting on the substance of what I wrote, feel free to replace all negative adjectives in my posts with "doubleplusungood".

[Rizla]

Considering books are not the Zon's main business, is the Zon attempting to use books as loss leaders AND getting authors to pay for it?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by hildea

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/horrifying?s=t
Definition 1 might be to strong, but #2 is spot on. Is that second definition obscure or out of touch with how the word is commonly used?

No. That definition's not out of touch with how the word is commonly used. But if you're "shocked and dismayed" by what you've read about working conditions at Amazon, it just means you're probably out of touch with manual labor environments in general. Amazon warehouse working conditions are no more "horrifying" than most warehouse/factory environments in America are. Amazon just gets held to some fictitious higher standard because ... well let's face it ... mostly because it's chic to hate on the perennial powerhouse team that succeeds too much, too often, for too long.

I've worked in environments (not ages ago either) that would make an Amazon warehouse seem like vacation with a payraise; and didn't hate those jobs.

Some people still labor. It's not horrifying; it just is.

[Rizla]

Also, which authors are signing up for KU? Does it include top-selling brand-name pros, or are they all self-pubs? And out of those, I wonder who is getting paid what. I suppose nobody knows.

[Rizla]

Personally I;m not sure about this 10% thing. Readers can check the preview. If the book drops off after that, don't buy that author again. It does seem to me that it benefits Amazon while content producers can only lose.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

"Unethical" isn't the word that you need to be concerned about. "Horrifying," by any stretch of the imagination, is a gross misrepresentation of the "working conditions" for Amazon employees--even IF you take everything said by disgruntled employees and pot-stirrers at face value.

That's you're opinion. If you had to work real hard for a pittance, I doubt you'd be so okay with it. But it's off-topic. We were discussing KU and its impact on author revenues.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Also, which authors are signing up for KU? Does it include top-selling brand-name pros, or are they all self-pubs? And out of those, I wonder who is getting paid what. I suppose nobody knows.

There were quite a few top-selling names in the program (many of them published with Amazon's various branches). Many of them are leaving the program because they feel it has cut into their income--instead of sales where they were able to make more money, they get a cut.

The very top borrows for the month do get bonuses. But there are only 5 or so bonuses and a lot more authors who feel their income as taken a hit.

The thing is that all these programs--free books, borrows and the like tend to eat into "buying habits" so even if authors exit the program they may find that purchasing is actually down. It remains to be seen how the whole thing works out. The first few months haven't gone particularly well for authors, but as someone said, 1.35 per read could look good a year or two from now if buying habits stay down.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Rizla

That's you're opinion. If you had to work real hard for a pittance, I doubt you'd be so okay with it. But it's off-topic. We were discussing KU and its impact on author revenues.

That's rich. I DO work "real hard" for a pittance ... right now. A position in an Amazon warehouse would be a pay-raise for me. Was I unclear about that? That's why I think my opinion on manual labor conditions is a bit more relevant than those who've spent the bulk of their careers in non-labor positions. But you're right ... even though I didn't bring it up, it IS off-topic. Let's carry on.

So what is your reasoning behind how Amazon benefits from the 10% system? It is my understanding that the same pot of money gets distributed among a fluctuating number of authors who met the criteria. I understand that it may not benefit all authors (who should then drop out of the program), but I fail to see how the various ways described to "game" the 10% system would result in Amazon getting a bigger take. "Not work that great for the author" ... sure. I'm just not seeing how that translates into more for Amazon.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by Rizla

Also, which authors are signing up for KU? Does it include top-selling brand-name pros, or are they all self-pubs? And out of those, I wonder who is getting paid what. I suppose nobody knows.

Only self publishers would have the choice. If anyone else publishes their books the writer would have no say either way, just like they would have no say in anything else the publisher might want to do.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

There were quite a few top-selling names in the program (many of them published with Amazon's various branches). Many of them are leaving the program because they feel it has cut into their income--instead of sales where they were able to make more money, they get a cut.

The very top borrows for the month do get bonuses. But there are only 5 or so bonuses and a lot more authors who feel their income as taken a hit.

The thing is that all these programs--free books, borrows and the like tend to eat into "buying habits" so even if authors exit the program they may find that purchasing is actually down. It remains to be seen how the whole thing works out. The first few months haven't gone particularly well for authors, but as someone said, 1.35 per read could look good a year or two from now if buying habits stay down.

Interesting. Presumably authors who believe they can make more by taking a more conventional sales route will leave KU. This may mean that KU will ultimately contain less quality writing.

I'd like to see figures of what authors are actually making from KU.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Only self publishers would have the choice. If anyone else publishes their books the writer would have no say either way, just like they would have no say in anything else the publisher might want to do.

So in effect KU is only open to self-pub authors who only sell via Amazon?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Rizla

So in effect KU is only open to self-pub authors who only sell via Amazon?

Is J.K. Rowling a big enough name for you? Her books are available on KU.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Rizla

So in effect KU is only open to self-pub authors who only sell via Amazon?

No, actually Amazon would probably like ALL publishers in the program but most have opted for SCRIBD if they opted for a subscription model at all. I think one or two might be in Oyster.

There are a few small publishers in the program as well.

BUT for self-published authors they MUST be exclusive to Amazon in order to "qualify" to be in the program. That's the kicker for me. I don't want to be exclusive so no deal. I'm in SCRIBD and on other retailer sites and I'm not willing to give that up.

I doubt Amazon would try to negotiate exclusivity with a major publisher, but major publishers are not interested in driving yet more traffic to Amazon. They are feeling the pinch of Amazon's control already and would like to diversify as much as possible--thus they are on SCRIBD, a competitor and are starting to sell books from their own sites.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is J.K. Rowling a big enough name for you? Her books are available on KU.

I'm surprised to Mrs Rowling on KU. Obviously her publisher must think it's in their financial interest. How much does she and her publisher receive per borrow? It will be interesting to see if her work remains on KU.

[Rizla]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

BUT for self-published authors they MUST be exclusive to Amazon in order to "qualify" to be in the program. That's the kicker for me. I don't want to be exclusive so no deal. I'm in SCRIBD and on other retailer sites and I'm not willing to give that up.

I doubt Amazon would try to negotiate exclusivity with a major publisher, but major publishers are not interested in driving yet more traffic to Amazon. They are feeling the pinch of Amazon's control already and would like to diversify as much as possible--thus they are on SCRIBD, a competitor and are starting to sell books from their own sites.

Hasn't Amazon always offered very significant incentives to self-pubs to be exclusive to Amazon, regardless of KU? Isn't it really in your financial interest to go exclusive with Amazon? How much of your sales are with Amazon and with other retailers? Oops, lots of questions. Obviously I don't expect you to reveal your personal sales data, so the questions are somewhat rhetorical. But I am interested why you don't go Zon-exclusive.

Do you choose not to go exclusive because you make more money that way, or is there another reason?