The Power of Kindle Unlimited

leebase · 11-18-2022, 08:34 PM

Amazon finally hooked me. I got several months of Kindle Unlimited for free when I bought an eInk Kindle. And then when I bought another ('cuz I gave away my first)....the subscription kept going.

And then I started getting the charges. But by then my wife was regularly reading the KU books and so was I.

I read about a book a week or two. Nothing compared to many of you. I am at a point in life where the price of a book has not been an obstacle to my reading.

But now - now I am sucked into ONLY reading KU. I read the first 3 books in a series and really enjoyed them (The Jericho Quinn series by Marc Cameron). The rest of the series cost $8 each. Not even expensive. But am I reading those?

No.

I'm looking for the next thriller or sci-fi that's included in my KU subscription. Why? Because I'm now bound to "get my money's worth".

I know it's stupid. But it's true. There are books from authors I would be reading, would be paying for, and NOT minding the cost....but I'm compelled to read a KU book because I'm paying for the monthly subscription.

This isn't like Apple Music where pretty much all the music I want to listen to is part of the service. If I wasn't on KU, I doubt that I'd be reading hardly ANY of the KU books I read.

I'm not complaining - I'm just bringing the topic up for discussion. I find KU to be a good value. I'm enjoying the books I'm reading. I, of course, am not hindered from buying any other book. It's just human nature to look for value.

ownedbycats · 11-18-2022, 08:39 PM

Another fun thing: Kindle Unlimited forces the authors into exclusivity with Kindle. Several books on my wishlist have vanished from the Kobo Store when the author decided to switch to KU. It's really some anticompetitive shit.

Sirtel · 11-18-2022, 08:44 PM

Nah. KU isn't available in my country, but if it was, I would not feel compelled to use every inch of it for my money's worth. For example, I have Netflix, but often I don't watch anything there for weeks or even months.

But then I have a pretty lazy and relaxed attitude toward money. Nice if you have it, but I'm not obsessed about using every penny wisely. Money comes and money goes.

DuskyRose · 11-18-2022, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

I find KU to be a good value. I'm enjoying the books I'm reading. I, of course, am not hindered from buying any other book. It's just human nature to look for value.

I had KU for six months, when it came with a deal of some sort. I made sure to read enough to cover that six month's cost, and did that in about two months or so. Got my money's worth out of it, then canceled after the six months were up.

Not because I didn't like it, but because I was planning to hit a few very long series I'd been saving, so wouldn't be using KU for months.

I have a list of KU books for the next time I get restless and don't want to wallow in anything long. I found several I enjoyed, and just moved on quickly to better ones if I found I didn't enjoy them.

So, I'll certainly be back to KU one of these days, when I whittle my TBR pile down a bit. Some of the series I've been collecting on sales, that I do want to read, are missing books and they're KU now. That'll be a good reason to jump back in to fill in those blanks.

ownedbycats · 11-18-2022, 08:48 PM

I don't have KU, but I do pay $10 a year for Kobo VIP, which gives me double the 'loyalty points' (which I can spend on books), a 10% discount, and a free book each year.

Since getting it, I have bought books on Kobo even when they were slightly cheaper elsewhere. (Usually not more than the 10% discount, though.)

haertig · 11-18-2022, 08:57 PM

At my reading speed, it is cheaper for me to BUY the books than to RENT them from KU. So I only subscribe to KU intermittently - when they have special deals. Usually those deals are around Black Friday and Prime Day. Also, if you buy a Kindle or a Fire tablet you get a free deal for that.

I am currently not subscribed to KU, but I'll be looking around Black Friday (very soon!) to see if any deals pop up. Normal price is too high to be of value to me at my reading speed. Others, who read faster, would see a different value/cost ratio.

I just looked on the Amazon website - KU is still $9.99/month for me. I think Amazon may tailor their deals based on account, and heavy deal users (like me) might start getting left behind. Anyway, no deals for me yet...

leebase · 11-18-2022, 10:37 PM

this is not a thread about Kindles or Kindles books. It's a thread about the market power of Amazon and the effect of it's subscription service to diminish competition

ownedbycats · 11-18-2022, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

this is not a thread about Kindles or Kindles books. It's a thread about the market power of Amazon and the effect of it's subscription service to diminish competition

Yes, I kinda kind of got what you were trying to say (which is why I also mentioned the exclusivity thing).

That said, posts referring specific platforms usually get moved to that platform-specific section.

leebase · 11-18-2022, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Yes, I kinda kind of got what you were trying to say (which is why I also mentioned the exclusivity thing).

That said, posts referring specific platforms usually get moved to that platform-specific section.

Which isn't appropriate this time because although it happens to mention KU, it's not about Kindles or Kindle books, but the power of subscription

ZodWallop · 11-19-2022, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Another fun thing: Kindle Unlimited forces the authors into exclusivity with Kindle... It's really some anticompetitive shit.

Yeah. I don't like the 'have to become Amazon exclusive' clause.

Now that Kobo has a competing service, maybe Amazon could limit KU books from being on another 'streaming' service, but otherwise not care where the books are sold.

Before folks come on with their 'the authors have a choice, take it or leave it', I'm not trying to start an argument. I just don't think there's any harm in allowing small authors to go wide as far as selling the book, while allowing those books to be in their streaming KU program. As the first post shows, KU reads are different than book sales. Having the first few books in KU didn't convince leebase to buy the ones that weren't.

ZodWallop · 11-19-2022, 12:44 AM

And yeah, I'm kinda sad this was moved to the Kindle section. It feels like a more general discussion.

darryl · 11-19-2022, 02:59 AM

I am a long-term KU subscriber. I have kept subscribing for longer terms at a substantial discount when it is on sale. There are many excellent books in KU, and I believe it has been great value for money. If I like the first book of a series in KU I have no hesitation in purchasing the later books provided I consider them to be reasonably priced, which they usually are. I'm very happy with KU.

However, having said this, I am very pleased to see that Kobo is starting to get its act together, firstly with its own self-publishing platform and now with its subscription program. Unfortunately Kobo started both very late in the piece and is playing catch-up. Unfortunately it seems to me that that there are few reasons for authors to self-publish with Kobo rather than Amazon. Nor to join Kobo's subscrition program rather than KU. Of course Kobo does not impose exclusivity which will attract some. But will it be enough? On the other side of the equation it seems to me that Kobo's subscriptuin service offers little value comparted to KU. Perhaps if they were able to attract support from the larger tradpubs, even on backlist titles, this may help. But I won't be holding my breath. The last time I checked Kobo were yet to launch the service in the US.

Full marks to Kobo for trying. Some competition for Amazon would in my view be a very good thing. However, unless I am missing something I doubt this is going to do it.

John F · 11-19-2022, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Another fun thing: Kindle Unlimited forces the authors into exclusivity with Kindle. Several books on my wishlist have vanished from the Kobo Store when the author decided to switch to KU. It's really some anticompetitive shit.

Where do you report violations?

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-c...y-for-murder-3

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Murder-K.../dp/B07F2N3PRB

and also available at libraries.

John F · 11-19-2022, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leebase

this is not a thread about Kindles or Kindles books. It's a thread about the market power of Amazon and the effect of it's subscription service to diminish competition

Seems like the price fix six (to coin JSWolf's phrase) did more to diminish competition then KU?

JSWolf · 11-19-2022, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Seems like the price fix six (to coin JSWolf's phrase) did more to diminish competition then KU?

Exactly correct. Back then, there was no KU.

11-18-2022, 08:34 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,870 Karma: 26612939 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	The Power of Kindle Unlimited Amazon finally hooked me. I got several months of Kindle Unlimited for free when I bought an eInk Kindle. And then when I bought another ('cuz I gave away my first)....the subscription kept going. And then I started getting the charges. But by then my wife was regularly reading the KU books and so was I. I read about a book a week or two. Nothing compared to many of you. I am at a point in life where the price of a book has not been an obstacle to my reading. But now - now I am sucked into ONLY reading KU. I read the first 3 books in a series and really enjoyed them (The Jericho Quinn series by Marc Cameron). The rest of the series cost $8 each. Not even expensive. But am I reading those? No. I'm looking for the next thriller or sci-fi that's included in my KU subscription. Why? Because I'm now bound to "get my money's worth". I know it's stupid. But it's true. There are books from authors I would be reading, would be paying for, and NOT minding the cost....but I'm compelled to read a KU book because I'm paying for the monthly subscription. This isn't like Apple Music where pretty much all the music I want to listen to is part of the service. If I wasn't on KU, I doubt that I'd be reading hardly ANY of the KU books I read. I'm not complaining - I'm just bringing the topic up for discussion. I find KU to be a good value. I'm enjoying the books I'm reading. I, of course, am not hindered from buying any other book. It's just human nature to look for value.

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11-18-2022, 08:39 PM	#2
ownedbycats Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,004 Karma: 24003172 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD (retired), Kobo Libra H2O	Another fun thing: Kindle Unlimited forces the authors into exclusivity with Kindle. Several books on my wishlist have vanished from the Kobo Store when the author decided to switch to KU. It's really some anticompetitive shit.

11-18-2022, 08:44 PM	#3
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,619 Karma: 203790330 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	Nah. KU isn't available in my country, but if it was, I would not feel compelled to use every inch of it for my money's worth. For example, I have Netflix, but often I don't watch anything there for weeks or even months. But then I have a pretty lazy and relaxed attitude toward money. Nice if you have it, but I'm not obsessed about using every penny wisely. Money comes and money goes.

11-18-2022, 08:48 PM	#5
ownedbycats Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,004 Karma: 24003172 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura HD (retired), Kobo Libra H2O	I don't have KU, but I do pay $10 a year for Kobo VIP, which gives me double the 'loyalty points' (which I can spend on books), a 10% discount, and a free book each year. Since getting it, I have bought books on Kobo even when they were slightly cheaper elsewhere. (Usually not more than the 10% discount, though.)

11-18-2022, 08:57 PM	#6
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,432 Karma: 18168900 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Fire HD8 Gen7, Moto G7, Sansa Clip v2, Ruizu X26	At my reading speed, it is cheaper for me to BUY the books than to RENT them from KU. So I only subscribe to KU intermittently - when they have special deals. Usually those deals are around Black Friday and Prime Day. Also, if you buy a Kindle or a Fire tablet you get a free deal for that. I am currently not subscribed to KU, but I'll be looking around Black Friday (very soon!) to see if any deals pop up. Normal price is too high to be of value to me at my reading speed. Others, who read faster, would see a different value/cost ratio. I just looked on the Amazon website - KU is still $9.99/month for me. I think Amazon may tailor their deals based on account, and heavy deal users (like me) might start getting left behind. Anyway, no deals for me yet...

11-18-2022, 10:37 PM	#7
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,870 Karma: 26612939 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	this is not a thread about Kindles or Kindles books. It's a thread about the market power of Amazon and the effect of it's subscription service to diminish competition

11-19-2022, 12:44 AM	#11
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 9,143 Karma: 80109808 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Glowlight 3	And yeah, I'm kinda sad this was moved to the Kindle section. It feels like a more general discussion.

11-19-2022, 02:59 AM	#12
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,101 Karma: 59014368 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	I am a long-term KU subscriber. I have kept subscribing for longer terms at a substantial discount when it is on sale. There are many excellent books in KU, and I believe it has been great value for money. If I like the first book of a series in KU I have no hesitation in purchasing the later books provided I consider them to be reasonably priced, which they usually are. I'm very happy with KU. However, having said this, I am very pleased to see that Kobo is starting to get its act together, firstly with its own self-publishing platform and now with its subscription program. Unfortunately Kobo started both very late in the piece and is playing catch-up. Unfortunately it seems to me that that there are few reasons for authors to self-publish with Kobo rather than Amazon. Nor to join Kobo's subscrition program rather than KU. Of course Kobo does not impose exclusivity which will attract some. But will it be enough? On the other side of the equation it seems to me that Kobo's subscriptuin service offers little value comparted to KU. Perhaps if they were able to attract support from the larger tradpubs, even on backlist titles, this may help. But I won't be holding my breath. The last time I checked Kobo were yet to launch the service in the US. Full marks to Kobo for trying. Some competition for Amazon would in my view be a very good thing. However, unless I am missing something I doubt this is going to do it.

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