[SBJones]

I am confused, so do not take this the wrong way.

You are boycotting Amazon, but will continue to use them to gather information (research products and reviews), and accept things that are priced free, but not contribute. Kinda like going to Costco to look around, ask about products and eat the free samples but never buy anything.  Ok, but that doesn't sound like a boycott to me.  If my e-book is exclusive to Amazon, but the print versions are not, you are going to boycott me because I chose to leverage KDP Select?

You are boycotting Amazon because of DRM.  More like you are boycotting authors who choose to use it, not Amazon.  Some authors might not even be in control of the choice, but their publisher is, or some regional requirement.

I think you would be better off simply saying you will not buy from Amazon and only buy DRM free e-books.  This way you haven't pointed a finger at everyone other than Amazon.

 

[Guest]

Most Indie authors don't use DRM since it really doesn't protect their books. What it does do is limit what the buyer can do with the book.

Ah, yes, you mean LIMIT as in LIMIT where the reader can BUY your book as a result of Select? Bah!

 

[Eltanin Publishing]

Yes, readers DO know that the books we sell are DRM-free, because we put it in the book description!

Why don't you just start a campaign encouraging authors to 1) sell their books DRM-free, and 2) put this info in their book description?

 

[TheSFReader]

Yes, readers DO know that the books we sell are DRM-free, because we put it in the book description!

Why don't you just start a campaign encouraging authors to 1) sell their books DRM-free, and 2) put this info in their book description?

Because I know most "traditionally published" authors don't have any say on whether their books are DRMed or not, and most Self-Published
1) have already made their decision (one way or the other)
2) are fed up of having all the same conversation again...

I think my avatar is enough of a campaign in itself, and that anyone open/uninformed about the subject will ask (as was done here sometimes) why I choose to use it and still tell that I endorse author's rights.

 

[Eltanin Publishing]

Because I know most "traditionally published" authors don't have any say on whether their books are DRMed or not, and most Self-Published
1) have already made their decision (one way or the other)
2) are fed up of having all the same conversation again...

I think my avatar is enough of a campaign in itself, and that anyone open/uninformed about the subject will ask (as was done here sometimes) why I choose to use it and still tell that I endorse author's rights.

I just think there are lots of indies who publish DRM-free, and agree with your avatar, but it just didn't occur to them to say it in their book's description.

 

[Krista D. Ball]

Does B&N offer .mobi ?

I couldn't care less what B&N offers, since I physically am unable to purchase from their website.

Most devices support epub. Almost none support mobi. So, no, I don't buy from Amazon since I can't buy an epub and read it on my devices in the manner that I choose to read the book. I'll just go elsewhere. And, if the book isn't offered elsewhere in any other format, well, I'm sure I can find another book to replace it.

 

[JRTomlin]

I couldn't care less what B&N offers, since I physically am unable to purchase from their website.

Most devices support epub. Almost none support mobi. So, no, I don't buy from Amazon since I can't buy an epub and read it on my devices in the manner that I choose to read the book. I'll just go elsewhere. And, if the book isn't offered elsewhere in any other format, well, I'm sure I can find another book to replace it.

This makes it so funny that I have novels in Select, since I don't buy eBooks from Amazon. I also buy ePub format novels.

But I don't publish for myself, and 95% of my buyers are Amazon buyers. Amazon is the one who has made it easy for buyers to find my novels. They're the ones who somehow manage to promote some of them. That is purely a business decision and has nothing to do with personal preference.

Edit: I don't buy from B&N either since I don't particularly want to reward them for treating indies (imo) poorly and even more so because their search function sucks.

 

[Krista D. Ball]

This makes it so funny that I have novels in Select, since I don't buy eBooks from Amazon. I also buy ePub format novels.

But I don't publish for myself, and 95% of my buyers are Amazon buyers. Amazon is the one who has made it easy for buyers to find my novels. They're the ones who somehow manage to promote some of them. That is purely a business decision and has nothing to do with personal preference.

Edit: I don't buy from B&N either since I don't particularly want to reward them for treating indies (imo) poorly and even more so because their search function sucks.

I'm not referring to publishing. I'm referring to purchasing. Lisa is referring to when I said I boycott Amazon because I can't get epubs. That's not Krista The Publisher speaking. That's Krista The Reader. Krista The Reader is going to get books in the format she wants. End of story.

I'd buy from B&N if they would take my money. They won't, so Apple, Smashwords, Kobo, and Sony get it instead.

 

[JRTomlin]

I'm not referring to publishing. I'm referring to purchasing. Lisa is referring to when I said I boycott Amazon because I can't get epubs. That's not Krista The Publisher speaking. That's Krista The Reader. Krista The Reader is going to get books in the format she wants. End of story.

I'd buy from B&N if they would take my money. They won't, so Apple, Smashwords, Kobo, and Sony get it instead.

I wasn't particularly arguing with you, in fact, closer to agreeing.

I also make different decisions as a buyer than as a publisher. I was just momentarily amused. I'm easy to amuse at times.

I don't boycott B&N. I tend to think it's an ineffective strategy, but I don't like a number of things about their eBook store so let's say--I generally avoid it. I've told them why in feedback. I don't think they care. I assume they feel the way it is works for them. I buy from Sony or from certain smaller retailers that specialise in the genre I wants and occasionally from SW.

 

[TheSFReader]

You are boycotting Amazon, but will continue to use them to gather information (research products and reviews), and accept things that are priced free, but not contribute. Kinda like going to Costco to look around, ask about products and eat the free samples but never buy anything. Ok, but that doesn't sound like a boycott to me.

Yes, my own version of boycott may not be the "true" one, but I like irony, and I think it's going to hurt them far less than they're hurting competition with their last moves.
My goal is not "justice", it's "balance".

If my e-book is exclusive to Amazon, but the print versions are not, you are going to boycott me because I chose to leverage KDP Select?

No, I don't buy print books anymore, yours or anyone else's (except for gifts but now I won't buy these at Amazon either).
By choosing to sell exclusiveley your ebooks through Amazon, you've effectively excluded all those choosing epub ereaders and not wanting to jump through hoops to read your books from your potential customers.
I simply have chosen to stop jumping through these hoops...

You are boycotting Amazon because of DRM. More like you are boycotting authors who choose to use it, not Amazon. Some authors might not even be in control of the choice, but their publisher is, or some regional requirement.

I think you would be better off simply saying you will not buy from Amazon and only buy DRM free e-books. This way you haven't pointed a finger at everyone other than Amazon.

Please excuse my unclear writing (I'm no author), but I seem to have mislead you :
- The "DRM" problem is not the sole one which lead me to that decision. There are 2 other factors : the Select program, and "Price Check" .
- It's not Amazon's use of DRMs that is the heart of my problem. In fact, some publishers (traditional and self) ask Amazon to use DRMs. And Amazon does as it's asked to.

No, the problem, is that they've decided to not apply (in newer stores) the good practice of disclosing DRMs presence to potential customers.
First, let me say that French and European laws (remember the stores in question are the .FR / .IT /. ES) provide that DRMs must be disclosed before a digital product may be sold.
Secondly, by not showing which books have DRMs and which don't, it denies the publishers (slef or traditional) who choose to do without, any way to use this as a differencing criteria, hence denying part of their effort.

Were it not sufficient, they've (as far as I know, I'm in discussion with Bragelonne on this subject) embezzled the truth about DRMs to justify their DRMs to a publisher, by more or less explaining that mobi/azw ebooks sold without DRMs are less functional than DRMed ones (no text to speech for example). As we all know (and can confirm through a quick check on some desciptions), this is simply false.

So, yes, you're right, my own version of a boycott may not be the most rational, but I'm so irked about it all that it'll have to do for the next few years ...

 

[Krista D. Ball]

I don't boycott B&N.

I have to boycott them. They won't take a Canadian CC with a Canadian address

 

[TheSFReader]

I just think there are lots of indies who publish DRM-free, and agree with your avatar, but it just didn't occur to them to say it in their book's description.

Are you sure that stating the "DRM status" in the books description is allright ? AFAIK, there are some details that are not allowed there.
If it were allowed, you're right, I should "campaign" about it...

 

[JRTomlin]

I have to boycott them. They won't take a Canadian CC with a Canadian address

Which seems like a foolish decision on their part. As I said, there are B&N decisions that just make me not want to use their store. I haven't made some "I'll never darken their door again" decision.

 

[marshacanham]

I boycott Amazon because they don't offer epubs

How can you be boycotting Amazon if you have your books up for sale there? Boycotting means boycotting, not selective boycotting *shrug* unless I'm missing something here.

 

[Krista D. Ball]

How can you be boycotting Amazon if you have your books up for sale there? Boycotting means boycotting, not selective boycotting *shrug* unless I'm missing something here.

Believe it or not, Krista The Author is not the same person as Krista The Reader. Krista The Author is a business woman who has to make business decisions. Also, Krista The Author cannot control where her publishers put her material.

Krista The Reader, however, can bloody well buy books wherever she pleases.

 

[ETS PRESS]

I don't confess to understand the whole DRM thing, or why we should get so bent out of shape over it one way or the other. Seems like a lot of majoring in minors. I also don't understand this thread. It doesn't make sense. You're boycotting, but not really, just sorta kind, but only some, but not a lot...huh

 

[TheSFReader]

@ETS PRESS : Will reply tomorrow (here it's 2335)...

 

[Krista D. Ball]

Which seems like a foolish decision on their part. As I said, there are B&N decisions that just make me not want to use their store. I haven't made some "I'll never darken their door again" decision.

I know! The Canadian dollar has been on/above/just under par with the USD for a couple years now. It isn't like I'm playing with monopoly money. It only looks like I am.

 

[kurzon]

I don't confess to understand the whole DRM thing, or why we should get so bent out of shape over it one way or the other. Seems like a lot of majoring in minors. I also don't understand this thread. It doesn't make sense. You're boycotting, but not really, just sorta kind, but only some, but not a lot...huh

Is it more reasonable to not shop from a store which has done multiple minor things you don't like, or to continue to swallow multiple minor things that cause you discomfort and only get upset at something 'major'?

Death of a thousand cuts could perhaps be worse than a single, clean blow.

I find it very odd that Amazon doesn't share DRM information in three of its stores. I just don't see the reasoning for that.

 

[Eltanin Publishing]

Are you sure that stating the "DRM status" in the books description is allright ? AFAIK, there are some details that are not allowed there.
If it were allowed, you're right, I should "campaign" about it...

I've been browsing around the KDP rules and regs, and I don't see any guidelines at all on the book description. We've had a line about being DRM-free in our book descriptions for almost a year, and never had any problem.