Amazon Apologizes for Book Removals

If you, like I, purchased any of the books that have been available in the Kindle Store that were later removed from your Kindle by Amazon, due to them being illegally published (by persons other than those holding the digital rights), then you should be getting an email (or have, already) with a short apology from Amazon for the manner in which they were removed. In addition, even though you were given a refund at the time, Amazon is offering to give you $30.00 in either a gift certificate or check, by way of compensation. I received three such emails (they are identical, not even identifying the book purchased), but have no idea if that is $30.00 per removed book, or in total. Either way, it's free money for buying more books (what else would I spend it on?).

Some are planning on not accepting the payment, as they don't feel they are entitled to it, but most of us purchased books in good faith (I didn't get Harry Potter, for example, because it was obvious it was illegal, as a living author has made her stance pretty clear and quite vocally). Ayn Rand and George Orwell (and perhaps others) were some of the more recent (and heavily publicized) examples of these and with both there was some question about whether they were OK - the Rand estate has opposed ebooks, but has been said to have been considering it and there were other (and apparently legal) copies of the Orwell books in the store. Another reason a few won't be taking the offer - I suspect that it will negate any standing you might have in a lawsuit. It's a good move on Amazon's part, since that will probably knock out any class action status of the individual suits (which will get most of the vulturous lawyers out of the action, as the money to be made in these is from the attorney fees, not from being a wronged party). It's probably cheaper, overall, plus all those affected are getting what is no doubt considerably more than they would if a class action settlement were reached (I know that I've been a "winner" in some of these, without my knowledge, where a phone company ended up having to give me a calling card and the attorneys made off with millions -- I suspect you have, too). So, my advice is to take the money. It'll be to your benefit and to Amazon's (and if their cost is lower, they can afford to give us lower prices in the future), while slapping their fingers for their tactics (which they have already said won't be used in the future).

If you haven't checked your email (or didn't purchase one of the books in question), this is what the letter looks like. Pay careful attention - you don't hit REPLY to send in your claim, but send an email to an address noted in the body of the letter, instead.

Hello,

On July 23, 2009, Jeff Bezos, our Founder and CEO, made the following apology to our customers:

“This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our “solution” to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we’ve received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.

With deep apology to our customers,

Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
Amazon.com”

As you were one of the customers impacted by the removal of a book from your Kindle device in June of this year, we would like to offer you your choice of an Amazon.com electronic gift certificate or check for $30. Unfortunately, we cannot make this title available on your Kindle again.

Please email Kindle customer support at kindle-response@amazon.com to indicate your preference. If you prefer to receive a check, please also provide your mailing address.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
The Kindle Team

Please note: this e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.

Kindle Store now lists all editions with price comparisons

When you pull up listings in the Kindle store tonight, you'll now see information about other editions of the books, even other Kindle editions and audiobooks. The one below would have saved me from purchasing a second copy of this particular book (I won't complain too much - with one at a penny and the other at 99 cents, I wasn't out much and just kept them both).

One of the biggest complaints people have had about the Kindle listings is that they were a one-way trip to the Kindle sandbox. If a hardcover or paperback linked to a kindle edition, then once clicked on it, you could not see the other editions and clicking the author's name only showed you their Kindle editions (and this part is still true). Now, however, you can click on the paper edition link, then the author name to get a listing of their books that are in print (still an important source for many books, as even the Kindle store is only a small step towards digitizing all books currently in print (a task that will take years, just due to the copyright laws and various reversion of rights to authors or their estates since the 1920's).

With the new links to paper editions, you'll no longer feel like Amazon is hiding the comparisons. Often when a book that has been available in hardcover is released in paperback, the Kindle price takes a while to update (after all, a new edition isn't really needed, with an ebook). And for some books, that never hit the bestseller lists (and the $9.99 price break those get), there is often not as much of a discount from the "list" price as you think, since the hardcover is almost always discounted at Amazon as well.

As you can see from this second picture, the Kindle edition of Scourge of God was only discounted a bit under $3, not the $11 difference from the "digital list" price. You can also see that the paperback has now been released and the ebook price hasn't been changed (to be fair, this one was released on paperback only two days ago). The next book in the same series, The Sword of the Lady, has the $9.99 pricing (I suspect due to being a new release, not the bestseller lists, although Scourge was listed at that price for a short time, as well.

As of today, you can finally make an informed decision before one-clicking that Kindle edition, without having to work at it. At least, if you buy via the web site - the Kindle Store displayed on the Kindle itself still ignores all other editions on it's book listings. However, you can use the Basic Web to look up the paper book prices (and the Kindle versions now display there too -- you just can't purchase them in Basic Web; you can add them to your wishlist, however).

B1G1F on Kindle: Peter Lovesey

Through September 6th, buy Peter Lovesey's Skeleton Hill ($9.99) and receive a free download of Last Detective ($9.99)! Both books are part of the Inspector Peter Diamond Investigation series. You get two books for $9.99 total and if you get hooked - there are 8 more in this series alone and two more series to work thru from this author. The bad news - these are the first and tenth in the series, so if you like to read them in order, you'll start with the Last Detective and buy the eight in between before getting to Skeleton Hill.

Like all the previous Buy One, Get One Free offers, you ONLY one-click on the first book; the second one won't show on your invoice (or that you own it, when viewing the book's page in the store) but will also download to the same Kindle device and reside in your media library.

Book Description
On Lansdown Hill, near Bath, a battle between Roundheads and Cavaliers that took place over 350 years ago is annually reenacted. Two of the reenactors discover a skeleton that is female, headless, and only about twenty years old. One of them, a professor who played a Cavalier, is later found murdered. In the course of his investigation, Peter Diamond butts heads with the group of vigilantes who call themselves the Lansdown Society, discovering in the process that his boss Georgina is a member. She resolves to sideline Diamond, but matters don't pan out in accordance with her plans.

Free Audiobook - GOD'S WORD Heard! New Testament

I'm going to get this one in earlier this month, as I forgot about their monthly selection until the very last minute, last month.

ChristianAudio's free download this month is GOD'S WORD Heard! New Testament (Unabridged) narrated by Stephen Johnston (Paperback $11.19; Kindle $9.99). Long time readers of this blog may remember it as one of the free Bible selections on Kindle from this past April. After adding the audiobook to your cart, enter the coupon code SEP2009 during checkout. You do need an account, but do not need to set up a credit card to get the free download each month.

God's Word Heard is available in two different download types (in three formats). After purchasing, you can choose WMA or MP3, encoded by disc in 14 downloadable files; or M4B, encoded by book of the bible in 27 downloadable files. M4B offers iTunes & iPod users the option of bookmarking and skipping between chapters/books of the bible easily.

In the midst of our busy lives, it can often be difficult to find the time to get into the Word. Now, whether you're driving your car or working at your computer, you can listen to the New Testament and let its message speak to your heart wherever you are! Read by Emmy award-winning narrator Stephen Johnston.

To use on the Kindle, download the MP3 files and copy them to the audible\ directory on your Kindle (or the SD card for the Kindle 1). Due to the size, you may only be able to copy over a few chapters at a time (and the filename is displayed on the Home page, so make sure to name them appropriately, so you can find the chapter you wish to play).

September Orbit $1 Book - Devices and Desires

This month's Orbit One Dollar book selection is Devices and Desires, by K. J. Parker, volume one of his Engineeer Trilogy. So far this morning, Amazon is the only one that has dropped the price, but there should be a change in at least the Sony Bookstore and Diesel Books, even if Books on Board and Fictionwise don't follow suit (Fictionwise has skipped one and been a few weeks late on another, so you never know with them).

Book Description
When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law, he flees the city, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile, he seeks a terrible vengeance -- one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake. But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others...

In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice, K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies, using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion -- his devices and desires.