Thursday, March 29, 2012

Library or Licentious Business Practice?

I am beginning to put the pieces of the puzzle together about what happened with El Aguila and Esmeralda. This is a press release from Amazon dated November 4, 2011:

With an Amazon Prime membership, Kindle owners can now choose from thousands of books to borrow for free -- including over 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers -- as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates. No other e-reader or ebookstore offers such a service. With an annual Prime membership, the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is included at no additional cost. Millions of Prime members enjoy free two-day shipping, unlimited streaming of nearly 13,000 movies and TV shows, and now thousands of books to borrow for free with a Kindle.

-30-

I am still a little fuzzy over the difference between the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library and KDP Select, and if there is actually a difference at all. According to a good friend and researcher, they are one in the same. If that's true, then according to the Esmeralda Community Page on Facebook, my book was borrowed at least 3,718 times. Who would like a community page about a book they never read?

According to Amazon, my book was never borrowed once. Esmeralda was given away approximately 200 times during the four days I put it on promotion. There is a huge discrepancy here! How did I get so many likes if nobody bought or borrowed the book? Below is a copy of my last communication with Amazon. I am waiting for a response:

Please note that my book has 4,717 likes on the following Facebook community page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Esmeralda/117151418304868


With that many likes, I am assuming that Amazon Prime Members borrowed the book at least that many times. This page was started the day I published Esmeralda with KDP. Now, I have read the contract very carefully. I enrolled my book in KDP Select, so anybody who borrowed my book means that I should get a piece of the action. Please explain how so many people would like my book if they didn't borrow it from the library. I know that out of the four promotion days that I used, there were approximately 200 free downloads of Esmeralda. That's a huge discrepancy.


I need a full accounting of how many people borrowed or downloaded my book, Esmeralda. Nobody would like the page if they hadn't read the book.


Thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to your explanation and accounting.


James M. Weil

Although I added an extra thousand, they will get my meaning once they click on the link. You all remember it oh, so well if you are old enough: "Lucy! You got some 'splaining to do!" I will be sure to post their response!

All my love!

James M. Weil

4 comments:

  1. Hello,

    I've checked your account and can confirm that the sales are recorded correctly and accurately.

    We have three types of reports available:

    1. Month-to-date Unit Sales - transactions for the current and prior month 2. Prior Six Weeks' Royalties - transactions for the past six weeks (generated on Sundays) 3. Prior Months' Royalties - transactions for the previous twelve months (generated by the 15th day of the month)

    Please visit the link below for more information on how to use your reports:

    http://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=200641110

    I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Amazon KDP.

    ============================================
    If you need to provide us with more information about this issue, please Reply to this e-mail.

    Otherwise, did we answer your question? Do you have another question? Use the appropriate link below. You may need to copy and paste the full link into your browser:

    Yes, you answered it:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/survey?p=A3W0FP2MOE98CI&k=hy

    No, you did not answer it:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/survey?p=A3W0FP2MOE98CI&k=hn

    I have another question:
    https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/contact-us
    ============================================


    Regards,

    Sipho M.
    Kindle Direct Publishing
    http://kdp.amazon.com
    =============================
    Connect with KDP and other Authors and Publishers:
    Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KindleDirectPublishing
    Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/AmazonKDP

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello James,

    We're sorry we haven't been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction. We will not be able to offer any additional insight or action on these matters.

    Regards,

    Gary W
    Kindle Direct Publishing
    http://kdp.amazon.com
    =============================
    Connect with KDP and other Authors and Publishers:
    Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KindleDirectPublishing
    Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/AmazonKDP

    ---- Original message: ----

    You did not answer my question. How is it that I have a community page for Esmeralda that I never created that has 3,722 likes, yet you claim nobody has borrowed or downloaded my book?

    Please answer the question.

    Sincerely,

    James M. Weil

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello,

    I completely understand your concern.

    As it turns out, we are unable to comment on why your Kindle ebook has been borrowed fewer times than it has sold.

    However, do keep in mind that borrowing depends on various factors such as: only customers who own a Kindle device can borrow from the Kindle Owner's Lending library; However, any customer who uses a Kindle application can buy your book from the website.

    Further, prime members can borrow only one Kindle ebook from the Lending Library per month; However, they can buy your book at any time from the Kindle Store. This will also affect their choice of books that they borrow from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

    Thanks for using Amazon KDP.

    ============================================
    If you need to provide us with more information about this issue, please Reply to this e-mail.

    Otherwise, did we answer your question? Do you have another question? Use the appropriate link below. You may need to copy and paste the full link into your browser:

    Yes, you answered it:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/survey?p=A10EKXMHSBPF1G&k=hy

    No, you did not answer it:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/survey?p=A10EKXMHSBPF1G&k=hn

    I have another question:
    https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/contact-us
    ============================================


    Regards,

    Aishwarya
    Kindle Direct Publishing
    http://kdp.amazon.com
    =============================
    Connect with KDP and other Authors and Publishers:
    Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KindleDirectPublishing
    Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/AmazonKDP

    ---- Original message: ----

    I believe that your lending library needs to be audited. You cannot be trusted to self-regulate.

    ReplyDelete
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