tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post5542579204031332072..comments2023-06-20T08:38:49.480-04:00Comments on 'Tween You and Me: Is There a New Type of eBook Piracy?Sam Cheeverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-13587427392008529302012-05-08T18:45:32.936-04:002012-05-08T18:45:32.936-04:00Hey Julia! I'm so glad you stopped by. We'...Hey Julia! I'm so glad you stopped by. We're going to find a way to do something about this. If we all work together we can do it. Hang in there!Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-27661800273365337742012-05-08T16:18:51.085-04:002012-05-08T16:18:51.085-04:00I agree with you, Sam. I'm noticing this trend...I agree with you, Sam. I'm noticing this trend also. Up until recently, I've never had a single book returned. Now readers can read the book and within a certain time limit, return it and get their money back. Best of both worlds for them. Not for us.Julia Rachel Barretthttp://juliarachelbarrett.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-81979244581378847042012-05-08T06:15:28.434-04:002012-05-08T06:15:28.434-04:00I agree, Becky, it is possible to make a mistake b...I agree, Becky, it is possible to make a mistake buying a book. 2 things though, most etailers don't allow returns so it's not unheard of. And second, what we're talking about are people who "accidentally" buy a whole series...one at a time...and then return them...one at a time after a couple of hours or days. I don't think it's possible to be that stupid. #:0) Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-84942774596511410122012-05-08T06:11:51.404-04:002012-05-08T06:11:51.404-04:00Hey Kaz!
I don't think there's any questi...Hey Kaz!<br /><br />I don't think there's any question that Amazon is good for us overall, as far as outreach and sales go, but this is a problem and somehow we need to convince them to fix it. I think the only way is to come at them in numbers. I'm thinking of 2 events that proved Amazon can be swayed, when they stole back books from people's Kindles and there was an uproar, and Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-59435939083000177652012-05-08T06:08:34.882-04:002012-05-08T06:08:34.882-04:00Scath! You might have something there. Maybe the p...Scath! You might have something there. Maybe the pirates are finding us through the Select program and then "expanding" their lending practices to our books that aren't in the library. The timing would be right for me on that too. HmmmSam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-82866150442483987712012-05-07T23:23:33.505-04:002012-05-07T23:23:33.505-04:00As someone who has accidentally purchased an ebook...As someone who has accidentally purchased an ebook or two, I wouldn't want a no-returns policy. It's so ridiculously easy to bump that button when browsing on the Kindle. Of course, if Amazon can sync a book over a half dozen different devices, they should be able to tell that those ebooks were returned without ever being opened. It's not reasonable to read the whole book and then Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142090423235200822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-46756850288527270912012-05-07T21:58:14.806-04:002012-05-07T21:58:14.806-04:00I'm not selling a lot of books (not like the r...I'm not selling a lot of books (not like the rest of you guys...lol) but have also noticed several returns and have wondered about it.<br /><br />The problem is one of outreach as much as anything else. Amazon make it<br />falling-off-a-log easy to have all sorts of shiny widgets leading to them. I've pointed this out at my Sandal Press blog. If the other etailers either refuse, or are Kaz Augustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839835518368442832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-20809942134485410832012-05-07T21:28:07.461-04:002012-05-07T21:28:07.461-04:00My previous four years, I averaged a whopping 3 re...My previous four years, I averaged a whopping 3 returns yearly.<br /><br />So far this year, I've had 11 returns in roughly 2 months - after I first put a couple into the Select program.Scathhttp://feralintensity.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-46434366241686059182012-05-05T17:40:39.109-04:002012-05-05T17:40:39.109-04:00That's what I was thinking, Linda. I wonder if...That's what I was thinking, Linda. I wonder if our publishers are tracking returns. I would think they could really add up when multiplied by several hundred authors. It seems if publishers put pressure on Amazon things might get changed too. Maybe we should contact them and ask the question. It's a thought.Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-2170818271822253452012-05-05T17:27:48.916-04:002012-05-05T17:27:48.916-04:00I'm also seeing a huge jump in the number of r...I'm also seeing a huge jump in the number of returns on my indie books. Which means there has to be some returns occurring with my regular publishers, too. Since Novelrank only shows sales without counting returns, it may help explain why my sales reports from my pubs are not reflecting those NR numbers, which are low-ball anyway.Linda Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716113962079486972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-65885218159188217962012-05-05T10:35:05.783-04:002012-05-05T10:35:05.783-04:00I totally agree Savannah. If we could get a bunch ...I totally agree Savannah. If we could get a bunch of authors to team up against Amazon we might be able to get this to change. It would help if we could get a few really big names (aka big sellers)to join in. I'm going to give that some thought. Hang in there.Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-72556990244183491082012-05-05T10:33:22.068-04:002012-05-05T10:33:22.068-04:00OMG! 12 books, Marti! I'm so sorry. That's...OMG! 12 books, Marti! I'm so sorry. That's exactly what happened to me, but not quite as many. Though I'm sure the number will continue to build now that the pirates have found me. I unpublished the three books for a couple of days and I'm hoping they moved on. You might want to try that. It seems that's all we can do.Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-11810718915967603352012-05-05T09:34:16.925-04:002012-05-05T09:34:16.925-04:00I'm seeing this patter as well and sadly Amazo...I'm seeing this patter as well and sadly Amazon doesn't seem to be doing anything. I don't think you should be able to return an ebook...Until Amazon does something about this will just continue.Savannah Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03969287794654622274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-38696945800518846942012-05-04T20:04:03.890-04:002012-05-04T20:04:03.890-04:00I have a series of books and when two or three rea...I have a series of books and when two or three readers return the whole series, something is wrong. A mistaken purchase? I don't think that's possible on 12 different books. It is more of a wound to my pride than to my pocketbook, and I fear it is a trend that will get worse before it gets better. I too alerted Amazon, but it hasn't helped. I guess we are just stuck with it until Marti Talbott's Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08823266633095365363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-10132931282952762752012-05-04T14:53:15.850-04:002012-05-04T14:53:15.850-04:00Hey Kari!
You can keep track of your daily sales ...Hey Kari!<br /><br />You can keep track of your daily sales and returns on the Reports page of KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/reports <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. The more of us who keep an eye on this and report unreasonable return rates, the better our chances of getting the return policy changed.Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-61927672712571257182012-05-04T14:28:55.785-04:002012-05-04T14:28:55.785-04:00Personally Im for a NO Return Rule on ALL books! T...Personally Im for a NO Return Rule on ALL books! This is so ridiculous that Amazon is allowing this to happen right under their greedy noses! I noticed I had more returns last Quarter too.<br /><br />HOW does one check on current Sales with Amazon to check on daily Returns?<br /><br />THANKS for posting this; Im passing it on!<br /><br />hugs, Kari Thomas, www.authorkari.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-17339743054569935912012-05-04T14:07:37.877-04:002012-05-04T14:07:37.877-04:00Hey Jody,
Thanks for stopping by. I share your fr...Hey Jody,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. I share your frustration...Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-12976278482778809392012-05-04T14:06:18.205-04:002012-05-04T14:06:18.205-04:00You're so right, Lee, the return policy seems ...You're so right, Lee, the return policy seems custom made for pirates. Amazon hasn't responded yet to my note so I don't know how helpful they're going to be. We'll see.Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-82019075775488567912012-05-04T14:02:47.190-04:002012-05-04T14:02:47.190-04:00I've said this before and I'll say it agai...I've said this before and I'll say it again. Amazon don't care. Amazon don't give a crap. Amazon just take what it want. Ew, nasty! Look at that! Now it's eating a snake! Amazon just don't give f+ck. (With respectful nod to the Honeybadger!)Jody W. and Meankittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-45075130274679794652012-05-04T13:01:46.676-04:002012-05-04T13:01:46.676-04:00If there's a way to steal, some thief will fin...If there's a way to steal, some thief will find it. Amazon's return policy is ridiculous. Just makes it easier for the pirates to get a copy, then post and charge 'membership' fees or sell advertising.<br /><br />Amazon seems to be all about making profits for Amazon, and anything that keeps customers happy keeps them coming back. Authors are just feedlot animals t be exploitedLee Rowanhttp://www.lee-rowan.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-83535264220594327912012-05-04T10:20:26.141-04:002012-05-04T10:20:26.141-04:00Hey Mandy! Thank you!!! I don't feel so much l...Hey Mandy! Thank you!!! I don't feel so much like a conspiracy nut now! LOLSam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-75392510875666487132012-05-04T10:19:36.875-04:002012-05-04T10:19:36.875-04:00I totally agree Tracie! I don't believe these ...I totally agree Tracie! I don't believe these sellers should be allowing returns at all. I told <br />Amazon that, but I doubt they'll listen. They currently give people 7 days to return an ebook. 7 days!!! A pirate could easily read a 100 page novel in that time and then return it. Crazy. <br /><br />FYI, I just checked and I had another return. That's 8 in 2 days. Something is Sam Cheeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345859454984056740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4548886118693004719.post-37599452756081169402012-05-04T06:38:59.405-04:002012-05-04T06:38:59.405-04:00It is amazing what people will do we have also not...It is amazing what people will do we have also noticed cases with some authors where people have gotten copies of their free stories or short stories and have put them up for sale on Amazon. I would like to know where is the accountability from amazon and other online book sellers to ensure the product they are selling is authentic and to make sure people are NOT using these outlets for piracy. tracie2667https://www.blogger.com/profile/17581075439460064377noreply@blogger.com