When a book distributor dealing with a reseller web, problems can multiply. And lead to a breakdown of relations. Smashwords and Indian Flipkart have passed the point of no return, and the titles disappear from one platform to another. A metadata problem, which were poorly considered by the seller. But also a reflection of a more complex situation
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Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, has cracked d a long post to explain what is wrong. If it retains the essential data related to works, which may change, were not properly updated by Flipkart. And to take more field again, it was easier when only paper books existed because their data were static.
Obviously, the problems arose when the author or independent publisher who uses the services of Smashwords, decided to market their books through Kindle Direct Publishing Select. Amazon and exclusivity requires work requires that they be removed from all other outlets. If they do not run, or the books are simply eradicated the Kindle platform. – And in case of recidivism, it is the author / editor that is banned
The KDP Select allows the author / publisher to touch more revenue via the funds set up by Amazon – which pays on loans and ebooks platform Kindle Unlimited. Except that if the ebook is removed from KDP Select, it nevertheless remains in the Amazon ebookstore.
And that’s where problems arise: Mark Coker has never concealed a certain antipathy against Amazon. As a competitor, it’s understandable. “ Many freelancers do not understand the long term implications of KDP Select ,” he says. However, the proposed title million, most from independent. But for authors / editors, the situation is simple: books sell better with this exclusive
Fuelling the resentment of authors
“ I think KDP Select is toxic to the future of independent publishing because it forces the authors to abandon competing retailers, and is becoming more dependent Amazon . Where competitors resellers lose access to this important indie catalog, they can no longer exercise competition “
But back to Flipkart. Amazon is not responsible of the problem Smashwords with just the catalyst. In fact, the pressure of the firm on the authors is, relatively speaking, identical to those used against large corporations. And the fact that perpetrators are caught between the proliferation of sales channels, and exclusivity, does not allow to develop effective integration solutions to connect a catalog to a sales platform.
“ The tactics Amazon have a chilling effect on the creation of future start-up selling ebooks, since they discourage independent authors to work with other resellers “Mark gears. “ Amazon does not just punish the perpetrator in the local market, he hits the author in the world. “And so now the 200,000 ebooks from Smashwords catalog disappeared from India. Because Amazon is a relentless war machine
Mark Coker to address in a letter to Jeff Bezos. “ The message you send to the authors is that they risk the wrath Amazon and punishment if they allow your competitors to sell their books. Maybe that’s your plan. In this case, it is brilliant. But it has a default key: he forges strong resentment in the community of authors. “(via Smashwords)
Do the authors really turn its back on Amazon? That’s what he says. But in the meantime …
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