06-27-2022, 11:07 PM | #1 | ||
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Authors are protesting Amazon's 'read and return' e-book policy
I didn't realize Amazon had such a generous return policy on ebooks. It seems ridiculous.
I have returned two ebooks that I accidentally bought by clicking the 1-click button. I'd be okay if they did away with ebook returns and turned off forced 1-click purchasing of ebooks. From the article: Authors are protesting Amazon's e-book policy that allows users to read and return Quote:
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06-27-2022, 11:09 PM | #2 |
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There's a petition linked in the article, encouraging Amazon to reconsider their return policy. Given the slant of this board, I'd recommend others sign it
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06-27-2022, 11:48 PM | #3 | |
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And Amazon UK allows 14 days, not 7 and print books can be returned. |
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06-28-2022, 12:09 AM | #4 |
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Just to be sure I understand correctly - you're saying you support the current policy because of a tiny typo left uncorrected?
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06-28-2022, 12:40 AM | #5 |
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There was just an article in today's Denver Post newspaper about large retailers who are implementing, or thinking about implementing, a "no return return policy". In other words, if you don't want something, let the retailer know that you want to return it and they will refund your money, but you don't have to return anything. They say "just keep it".
In a practical sense, that's pretty close to Amazon's eBook return policy. In other words, not a return policy at all. Just an invitation to fraud. I thought Amazon's eBook return policy was something like 15 minutes. I used it once - scrambling to return the eBook I had just accidentally purchased. Somehow, I was looking at a book, decided I didn't really want it, then clicked on "Buy It Now" (or whatever the button says) when I really meant to click the X to close the window. Talk about an embarrassing brain fart! The book returned just fine and I wasn't charged for it. But I was under the impression that the return window was very short - minutes, not days. Amazon has some really strange policies regarding eBook payment to the authors IMHO. Another one of their weird ones that I have read about on these forums, is some kind of "pay per page read" scheme. If that's truly the case, then authors never get paid a penny for my eBook purchases from Amazon. Since I keep my Kindle in Airplane Mode 100% of the time, Amazon must think that I never read any of the books that I purchase. I guess Amazon keeps all my money for themselves - screw the authors. This isn't fair to the authors, but I am under no obligation to allow my Kindle to connect to the internet. If the authors aren't paid because of that, that's an issue they should take up with Amazon, not me. |
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06-28-2022, 01:42 AM | #6 |
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Huh, I don't even read my purchases on a Kindle - I mostly read on a Kobo. I think it's been over a year since I last routinely read on a Kindle app - I find the iPad too heavy to hold for an extended period and the iPhone too small to read on (like reading on a Palm). I occasionally read sitting at the computer if it's a series I want to catch up on and the book is on the short side.
If I go for a refund on a purchase, it's always within minutes and it's because it's an accidental purchase. I don't return books because of typos or bad grammar - I might flag them as a 1- or 2-star review. I would if the file was badly munged - especially where I have a print copy to compare it with, but I don't think that's ever happened to me. |
06-28-2022, 03:34 AM | #7 | |
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It is my understanding that this is for their subscription service, not an ordinary purchase: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G201541130
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06-28-2022, 05:23 AM | #8 |
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I don't think you should be allowed to return an ebook. Seems ripe for abuse. I wonder if there are some restrictions on that? Like the book must not have been downloaded for USB transfer? It'd be easy and take about 2 minutes to download via usb and load onto a kindle with wifi off and claim a refund or download and remove DRM and load onto any reader and claim a refund. Seems a dumb policy.
I accidentally purchase a book once with the 1-click button, and just kept it. Fortunately is was a kindle deal of the day book for 1.99. No great loss. |
06-28-2022, 06:31 AM | #9 | |
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In addition, there is a 14-day right of return for Internet purchases - you can't try it (read and browse in the shop). |
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06-28-2022, 06:46 AM | #10 | ||
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06-28-2022, 07:12 AM | #11 | |
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06-28-2022, 07:26 AM | #12 |
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If an account abuses the ebook return policy, I suspect Amazon would take action. Up to and including closing the account.
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06-28-2022, 07:29 AM | #13 | |
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06-28-2022, 07:30 AM | #14 |
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The authors are also being charged additional fees when they publish via Amazon — such as the Kindle delivery fee IIRC. So the negative amount isn’t just the refund but any additional fees on top of that.
Authors are also reporting an uptick in returns. Some are linking it to TikTok creators promoting “read and return” as a money-saving “hack.” |
06-28-2022, 07:32 AM | #15 | |
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Yet I read people actually boasting how they often return ebooks. |
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