Author Topic: I just got a letter from Amazon about Hachette (Read 35722 times) Tweet

abishop · « **Reply #225 on:** August 09, 2014, 09:55:47 am »

I fully understand why many people here want lower priced e-books (I do too). I don't understand why any self-published author believes they need to insert themselves into a business negotiation that they are not a party to.

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JETaylor · « **Reply #226 on:** August 09, 2014, 09:56:14 am »

Did anyone send an inquiry to KDP to find out if the email is legitimate or is all this just speculation?

I just shot off an email because there is no way I am pressing links within the email until it is confirmed that they sent it.

SA_Soule · « **Reply #227 on:** August 09, 2014, 09:59:22 am »

Quote from: Quiss on August 09, 2014, 05:26:59 am

I'm on Amazon's side on this dispute but I'm going to wait to see what KU does to my sales/revenue before leaping to Amazon's defense. I'm not sure if I'm as important to them as they claim.

What is KU?

ToriWritesWords · « **Reply #228 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:02:57 am »

I'm sorry but this is gross. It's just gross and I'm now officially boycotting Amazon. I wasn't before. Just bought a Kindle book yesterday. Today I'm pricing Nooks.

I saw a copy of the letter (a friend forwarded it to me) and it's disgusting. It opens with talk about World War 2. This isn't a war and writers--no matter how they publish--are not armies. Hachette authors have a horse in the race because Amazon's practices are actually affecting their sales. Self-publishers only have a horse in the long game and even then, wanting Amazon to put a ceiling on ebook prices doesn't seem like it's that awesome for small presses and self-pubbers either, but that's just my opinion.

Either way, this is going too far, rallying their troops. I bet far too many people are bombarding Hachette with ridiculous emails.

I'm putting my Kindle in a drawer and not buying from Amazon until this is over. Possibly not even then. I'm sending AMAZON an email telling this this too. Ugh. So gross.

Cherise · « **Reply #229 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:05:17 am »

Quote from: Sherry_Soule on August 09, 2014, 09:59:22 am

What is KU?

Kindle Unlimited, Amazon's new subscription program

AgnesWebb · « **Reply #230 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:06:15 am »

I have to give Amazon props. This whole thing is very Sun Tzu; I'm digging it.

Anne Victory · « **Reply #231 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:07:14 am »

I just got this, too, and was, in fact, coming to post a thread about it. I see I've been beaten to the punch :-)

I found it to be well-written but distasteful. It reminded me of someone urging their followers to invade a message board or whatever. Just... no.

Lisa Grace · « **Reply #232 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:10:53 am »

Why should we have an opinion on the topic? Because if Hachette is doing things to hurt Amazon's ebook sales, that will affect quite a few authors here.

Mark E. Cooper · « **Reply #233 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:11:21 am »

Quote from: Desmond X. Torres on August 09, 2014, 09:28:36 am

Uhh... just so ya know Mark (and I'm being serious) I really am curious where you land on this one. I've been reading your posts here for a while, and you're pretty level headed, dude.

I'm for Amazon and against Hachette, BUT I am also the type of person who likes to keep his head down. I understand why Amazon might decide to climb down to Hachette's level from the high ground they were maintaining before, because if I'm p*ssed off hearing from the Patterson and his 900 AND hearing about his itty bitty $100k NYT adverts, I can only imagine what Amazon is feeling.

I felt it was very low of Patterson to give out Bezos' email address that time and tell his sycophants to email him, and I'm disgusted that the loudest mouths in this seem to be winning the media war. PR propaganda is powerful. I totally see that Amazon needs to keep up with the runaway train Patterson is riding in.

By asking us and readers to email Hachette they are trying a tit4tat move. I understand it, but I don't necessarily like it. The problem is I don't know what else they can do but use the same tactics. Its all very well maintaining a moral high ground, but will that be a comfort when you lose the war? I don't think so.

Personally I don't think Amazon will lose. In the end they won't get what they want but neither will Hachette. There will be a compromise.

As for emailing Hachette. I wrote one but didn't click send yet. I wrote it when emotions were running high like one of those posts we sometimes write and later wish we hadn't. My cowardice is kicking in now and I feel I should wind my neck in and just not click send. I think Amazon have sent this to millions of readers not just writers. I have a feeling they have probably succeeded in blitzing Hachette email servers without little old me.

Edit: spelling sycophants!

A Tiger · « **Reply #234 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:13:03 am »

Quote from: josielitton on August 09, 2014, 08:57:01 am

With apologies for the tangent, can someone help me understand why any publisher lists a book for more than 9.99 on Amazon given that the royalty percentage drops to half (35% rather than 70%). Why not make $7.00 on a $9.99 book instead of $4.90 on a $14.00 book? What am I missing? Are the traditional publishers paid on a different royalty scale? Or is this all about supporting the hardcover price?

That's probably the problem being negotiated. If I'd guess, I'd say Hachette probably wants a higher royalty cut.

ToriWritesWords · « **Reply #235 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:13:08 am »

Quote from: DianaGabriel on August 09, 2014, 01:35:20 am

Yeah, but... Authors also pay Hachette for publishing their books. By the above logic, Hachette-published authors are not "Hachette authors," either. The publishers provide a service to their authors, and they take their cut. Amazon provides a different service to its author-publishers, and takes it's cut. In that sense, big pub has authors, and so does Amazon. OR neither entity has authors - they have business associates. Sure, Hachette is more selective, and sure, Amazon authors can also be Apple/kobo/BN authors, but I don't get how there's such a huge difference, practically.

Sigh.

Hachette is a PUBLISHER. They publish work they think can sell. Before publishing it, they edit it, work through revisions with the author, line edit it, copyedit it, and make a cover and a marketing plan. They also PAY THE AUTHOR an advance against royalties. The author doesn't pay them anything.

Amazon IS NOT a publisher. They are a vendor. They are the same vendor Hachette uses. The same one you use.

Amazon wants you to conflate the two for some twisted sense of loyalty but it is not actually the same. If you do not want a publisher, that's fine. You can act as your own, which you're doing if you self-publish. But unless you're with an Amazon imprint, you are not an "Amazon" author. You are a self-published author who sells books on Amazon.

hardnutt · « **Reply #236 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:18:06 am »

Quote from: Drew Smith on August 09, 2014, 01:39:13 am

I have never quite understood the flippant attitude towards Amazon. I have given it a lot of thought and finally decided that people who feel Amazon is just another service provider (who is being more than generously compensated with their 30% commission) must do a lot better on other retailers than I do.

I may not like everything Amazon does. And I don't agree with all of their policies. But I can never ignore the fact that 96% of my income is a direct result of Amazon's self-publishing platform. It's one thing to say that we're all self-published and therefore not under contract to Amazon, but the fact that I've only made $7,400 from all the other platforms combined in the last year makes that a hollow statement for me.

I may not be an "Amazon author" so to speak, but the truth is that all those other platforms could disappear and it wouldn't bother me much at all. For me, Amazon is the only one that matters. So Amazon is my business partner. They aren't my friend. Or my mommy. But they are a huge part of my life, and I wouldn't be making a living publishing without them.

So if they actually deign to ask for my support, they're likely going to get it.

This. I'm only too aware who has made my indie life as a full-time author possible. And it sure ain't Hachette or any other big, medium or small traditional publisher.

I wrote an email to the Hachette CEO, as requested and was happy to do so. I don't understand why others on these boards are getting so uppity over it.

Yes, we may be indies, but we're NOT independent as I understand the term. I don't believe in biting the hand that (literally) feeds me by enabling me to put food in the fridge and freezer. If I was to rely on the other retailers I would be certain to starve in the gutter in the best tradition of most of those in the past who pursued the creative life.

The way I see it is that I owe Amazon some loyalty (even if they're unlikely to reciprocate). They've changed my life for the better and I'm grateful. I couldn't have done it without them and I know it. I'm surprised that others here don't adopt this basic, common-sense viewpoint.

75845 · « **Reply #237 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:20:34 am »

Quote from: Mark E. Cooper on August 09, 2014, 10:11:21 am

I felt it was very low of Patterson to give out Bezos' email address that time and tell his sycophants to email him

But Patterson is always asking others to do his writing for him!

Jash · « **Reply #238 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:21:59 am »

Quote from: ToriWritesWords on August 09, 2014, 10:02:57 am

I saw a copy of the letter (a friend forwarded it to me) and it's disgusting. It opens with talk about World War 2. This isn't a war and writers--no matter how they publish--are not armies.

It doesn't open with talk of World War 2. It opens with "Just ahead of World War II..." but it's only used to establish a time. They don't actually talk about World War II (or any war) .

Joel Ansel · « **Reply #239 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:22:49 am »

Quote from: komrade komura on August 09, 2014, 05:57:57 am

One corporation fighting another corporation. Yawn.

Too busy writing to pay attention to the greedbots.

Yep
Too busy writing, working and paying bills.

BTW, I just couldn't pass up your brilliant covers. Thus proving that the right cover does promote sales:)

Anne Victory · « **Reply #240 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:23:00 am »

I just e-mailed them back and CC'd Jeff Bezos. I'm not a fan of their tactic.

ToriWritesWords · « **Reply #241 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:23:25 am »

Quote from: hardnutt on August 09, 2014, 10:18:06 am

I wrote an email to the Hachette CEO, as requested and was happy to do so. I don't understand why others on these boards are getting so uppity over it.

Yes, we may be indies, but we're NOT independent as I understand the term. I don't believe in biting the hand that (literally) feeds me by enabling me to put food in the fridge and freezer. If I was to rely on the other retailers I would be certain to starve in the gutter in the best tradition of most of those in the past who pursued the creative life.

The way I see it is that I owe Amazon some loyalty (even if they're unlikely to reciprocate). They've changed my life for the better and I'm grateful. I couldn't have done it without them and I know it. I'm surprised that others here don't adopt this basic, common-sense viewpoint.

Amazon is a business. You don't owe them loyalty in some made up war because they send a flowery email.

It's awesome that they helped you with your indie author career. But they aren't the only vendor in the world and they certainly aren't a general in some holy war you need to follow.

I'm "uppity" about this because it's gross. It's gross to send a letter called "Important Kindle Request" that asks people with no stake in a business negotiation
flood another company's inboxes with emails for their own cause. If you don't think it's gross, well, okay. I hope they never send an Important Kindle Request to flood your inbox.

Lucas · « **Reply #242 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:23:39 am »

Really, I'm on amazon with this but as I read the comments and some hostilities further, I'm starting to see all the views. I see where the authors of Hachette are coming from (as seen on YouTube), and they have a point. Amazon has a point. We all have points. This is making my head hurt. My only wish is that a big "gag order" from the heavens fall upon these two companies. It's getting immature, seriously.

Still with amazon BTW.

Jash · « **Reply #243 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:24:00 am »

Quote from: Sheila_Guthrie on August 09, 2014, 06:52:44 am

An Open Letter to Jeff Bezos and Amazon:

Got your email. Won't do anything you've asked. I have no dog in this fight. I don't expect you to ask Hachette to interfere with us when you update the TOS I sign to have you distribute my books, so why should I interfere in this? Please do not include me in any future negotiations in contract disputes with your suppliers.

Thanks.

Ta,

Indie Author

I appreciate the role Amazon has played in the ebook revolution, but it would have happened at some point anyway. I don't dislike Amazon. I'm sorry traditionally published authors are getting screwed, but they signed the contracts. They can get lawyers to negotiate those contracts. I either sign Amazon's TOS or I don't. That's it.

Bravo. I like this one. I'll go with this.

75845 · « **Reply #244 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:27:26 am »

If I had a horse in this race it would say Neigh to any requests by one favourite to hobble the other favourite.

AngelaQuarles · « **Reply #245 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:29:39 am »

I got it too, and am tempted to reply to them with this:

Quote

I�m not sure why I�m being brought into this? What Hachette does and how much they want to charge for their books has nothing to do with me and my books. They want to charge more? Fine. Let them. It�s their business and if they want to price themselves out of the market, that�s their problem. Let the marketplace decide how much they�re willing to pay for an e-book. There�s also more going into an e-book than paper, warehousing, etc. There�s professional services that need to be paid for: cover, first-class editing, plus the skill, imagination and education of the author as well.

But am worried they'd flag me somehow and my books will never see the light of day with their algorithms, LOL So I probably won't send it.

I'm happy that Amazon has allowed me to self-publish and potentially make money (haven't pressed 'publish' yet) but why should I care what someone else prices their ebook for? Hachette pricing their books higher doesn't hurt Amazon, no? There has to be more going on here than we know--Amazon is a business, they aren't in this dispute because they're trying to be champions of lower-priced ebooks.

Diane Patterson · « **Reply #246 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:36:24 am »

Quote from: Cherise Kelley on August 09, 2014, 09:43:15 am

Godwin's law...

To be fair, Amazon pulled that trigger first, with the very first line of their letter.

Okey Dokey · « **Reply #247 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:42:04 am »

Thought the letter was right on, except for this Amazon lie:

"With an e-book, there�s . . . no returns . . ."

Gerald Hartenhoff · « **Reply #248 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:49:18 am »

I sent the e-mail Amazon asked me to.

vlmain · « **Reply #249 on:** August 09, 2014, 10:55:00 am »

Quote from: Lexi Revellian on August 09, 2014, 01:18:10 am

Yes, Amazon is a big business out to make money. But it's the big business that enabled me to sell over 68,000 books, when all trad pub did for me was waste my time.

When Amazon asks me for help, I'm likely to say yes.

My sentiments, exactly.

And lets hope they continue to make big money, because if they don't, most of us are in trouble. This issue definitely can have an impact on Indies.

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Okey Dokey