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Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

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Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#261

Post by WolfeReader »

thegrim000 wrote: post #208
al_borland wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Banning long-time customers in otherwise good-standing for a mistake they made years ago, which would already be settled financially and such a minor cost is wild. I can imagine something like this has happened to almost everyone. So much for being the world’s most customer-centric company. That mission is dead.

99.99% of the time when you read something on the internet and your reaction is "that's wild" / "wow that's crazy" / "that's unbelievable", then what you are reading is in fact likely nowhere near the actual truth / real.

One of the primary functions of DRM is to remove a paying customer's access to the works they paid for. There's nothing "wild" or "crazy" or "unbelievable" about it.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#262

Post by WolfeReader »

nsagent wrote: post #185
icqFDR wrote: post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

They screwed me in a different way. I simply didn't log into Amazon for a couple years as I've tried to minimize my use of Amazon. When I went to log in, they locked my account without any way to unlock it. Talking with support multiple times did nothing. Now all my digital purchases are gone. Edit: If anyone knows a way to get them to unlock the account, I'd appreciate it. They won't issue a password reset or anythi…

"Now all my digital purchases are gone."

If you used to be one of those good consumers who would never even think of breaking DRM, I hope you reconsider it now.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#263

Post by eli »

charcircuit wrote: post #188
eli wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need to outlaw binding arbitration

Amazon will reimburse arbitration fees if you win making it a cheaper option for consumers than small claims court.

Two problems with that argument: 1) Amazon would also have to reimburse small claims court fees if you win, and 2) arbitration is worse for the consumer in pretty much every other way.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#264

Post by WolfeReader »

prism56 wrote: post #177
icqFDR wrote: post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

I buy all my ebooks. I search DRM free, if there is DRM only I'll buy it the cheapest I can then download it from Annas Archive. I like to support authors but I need to own what I buy.

I'm more into the satisfaction of breaking DRM, but this is good too. Kudos for supporting authors!

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#265

Post by arcanemachiner »

wrxd wrote: post #46
icqFDR wrote: post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

Unfortunately bad press is likely going to be the only thing to give you your account back. You should write a blog post and let the internet and the media do its magic

Pretty much what I was going to say. I think Twitter (or whatever social media people use these days) would be a more appropriate place to put the company "on blast".

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#266

Post by arcanemachiner »

zecg wrote: post #114
Insanity wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Damn that is scary. I’ve been reading on Kindle since 2017, I have about 200 books on there. I doubt I would re-read many of them, but my partner is still going through some of them (with the family library thing). I’d be pissed if it got wiped.

I'd download epubs of everything from Anna's Archive and/or soulseek (Nicotine+ is nice) and kindly tell them to fuck off with their account.

I can't believe Soulseek is still a thing. Kinda warms my icy heart.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#267

Post by eli »

charcircuit wrote: post #254
eszed wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"If". [Edit, because one-word replies are uncivilized: one reason to be suspicious about binding arbitration is that the company against whom you'll be pleading is a repeat customer of that arbitration service. It's a non-transparent / non-public process, so it's hard to have confidence is fair, and over which we (ie, the public) have no influence if it were not.]

>is a repeat customer of that arbitration service Who is locked in by the contract. The arbitration company gets their fees no matter the outcome. >so it's hard to have confidence is fair You can appeal to a court if it's unfair.

"We examine whether firms have an informational advantage in selecting arbitrators in consumer arbitration [...] We first document that some arbitrators are systematically industry friendly while others are consumer friendly. Firms appear to utilize this information in the arbitrator selection process. Despite a randomly generated list of potential arbitrators, industry-friendly arbitrators are forty percent more likely to be selected than their consumer friendly counterparts. Better informed firms and consumers choose more favorable arbitrators. [...] Competition between arbitrators exacerbates the informational advantage of firms in equilibrium resulting in all arbitrators slanting towards being industry friendly. Evidence suggests that limiting the respondent’s and claimant’s inputs over the arbitrator selection process could significantly improve outcomes for consumers."

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers...

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#268

Post by asveikau »

icqFDR wrote: post #44

I’d advise anyone buying e-books on Amazon to think it through carefully. My account was banned recently because, years ago, I ordered two paper books that Amazon said would be split into two shipments. Both books arrived without any issues, but later Amazon refunded me for one of them, claiming that one package never arrived. This happened 4–5 years ago. Apparently, during a recent review, they decided this counted…

Fyi for anyone reading, it is very easy to break DRM on old kindle purchases. I think they rolled out new DRM for things published this year and it may be harder but still possible. I would encourage anyone here who has a kindle library to back up their purchases.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#269

Post by codersfocus »

barbazoo wrote: post #103
dust-jacket wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, this is silly. Don't do this. You absolutely keep pushing for a refund and go via you CC provider if they don't respond.

And risk being locked out of the world’s online marketplace and all of Amazon’s other businesses? Maybe a bit hyperbolic but that’s where we are headed for sure.

The world's marketplace is alibaba.com, or aliexpress.com for individual orders.

You can find 99% of the junk on amazon on aliexpress for a lower price, though without prime shipping.

Re: Amazon will allow ePub and PDF downloads for DRM-free eBooks

#270

Post by BoredPositron »

charcircuit wrote: post #188
eli wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need to outlaw binding arbitration

Amazon will reimburse arbitration fees if you win making it a cheaper option for consumers than small claims court.

It's 75 bucks in the EU without waiting for the reimbursement.
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