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Came across a very interesting post on one of my favorite blogs. (Check it out
HERE.) Anyway, in a comment on Amazon, a customer admitted to what amounts to stealing. Read the comment for yourself below and then the comments that followed in the stream.
You can find the offending comment
HERE. You have to click on Show Post Anyway. Which is where I suggest you go to report this behavior as inappropriate.
Anyway, here's the comment reposted for your convenience.
I find it very unfair of authors to only release part of a story. You would not buy half a burger if you wanted the whole burger.
I can understand giving a few chapters for free (sample) so that the reader can see if she likes the story, and if so, then buy the book. What really gets me is when the blurb does not warn me that the story continues in (as yet) unreleased books, or the first part of the story is in a collection of so called full length novels. If I know the whole story is not yet available, it gives me the option of placing the book on my watch list.
Also, as I read about 10 books a week (I am retired due to ill health), I often cannot remember the parts already read by the time the next book is published.
I find it unfair that the authors take advantage of their readers in this way.
My solution to this is to buy the next book, read it, then return it for a refund. After about a year Amazon blocks the return for refund option. I then simply open another account.
I also return for refund books in which the grammer and spelling is poor.
I suggest other readers start using their buying power to show authors we are not satisfied with this treatment. Hopefully at some stage authors will realize their clients deserve better treatment.
Check out the comments that followed.
There is a HUGE difference between readers "using their buying power" and you basically taking money out of author's pockets. Authors are not taking advantage of readers, when you go to one-click a book, it will tel you just how long the book is, if its a serial, novella, etc. When you return a book over and over and get a refund, make new accounts, etc. that is the same thing as STEALING from an author. Authors who publish independently pour each and every dime that they make into their next book and by you shamefully exploting the returns/refund system of Amazon, you hinder the next book coming out. You claim to be a fan of the aforementioned author, but by you repeatedly returning books, you are hurting their livelihood. But whatever makes you sleep at night, right???? Instead of being so heinous and dishonest, why not message the author on FB and suggest re-editing or point out the grammar, spelling issues? That way they can be addressed. I know plenty of authors who would appreciate that MUCH MORE than you returning the book.
This whole post just sickens me. So you basically are admitting that you are a thief. Plain and simple, you are buying something, using it, then returning it for money. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Disgusting.
You and a bunch of other whiners have what is called self-entitlement. No one OWES you a book to YOUR liking or in your required time frame. No one MAKES you read them either. Books tell you how long they are, what part of a series they are, and if you are buying (and returning) on Amazon, all of the author's books are listed on their profile to tell you what is released. Your ignorance is not an excuse for theft, and just an FYI, every single person that has seen this post and been appalled by it has shared it and reported you for stealing, which is a crime. Try the free book section if you cannot afford to pay for your entertainment rather than resort to stealing from hard working people.
So when a season ends on your favorite TV show, and the episode ends in a cliffhanger, do you refuse to pay your cable bill as well?
Do you understand that Authors work relentless hours to publish a book, that costs us THOUSANDS of dollars, only to be ripped off and thieved by the likes of YOU!!! You my dear are a disgrace to Readers...all I can say is bless your heart!! I will be reporting you to Amazon!
Ummm, that's theft. Let's use your burger theory. Are you allowed to return a burger you finished?
Personally, I'm not a fan of serials either. So I wait until all the books are out and then buy them. And I don't return them when I'm done.
I'm sorry but your way of dealing with something you don't like is not only low class but downright criminal and disgusting.
Doing this is ILLEGAL. It's stealing.
So let's see if I got this right
You steal books.
You get caught.
You get a false identity
You steal more.
And then you brag about it.
Yeppers, someone I am glad I don't know
I feel sorry for the authors you follow Riette. You are really showing how much you like their books. I mean you must like them to complain about only having "part of the stories" they have written. Authors have been writing trilogies for decades. This is not a new concept. Do you have any idea what it takes to write a book? To make sure that it's in the best shape it can possibly be in for your readers? Nobody is perfect. Even the best editing houses make mistakes. Oh...and you said that you return books because of poor grammar and spelling errors? Well, you spelled GRAMMAR incorrectly.
BTW, you're a blatant thief. What you are doing is stealing and I hope that Amazon finds you and blocks you for the rest of your life. You should be ashamed of yourself. I wish authors could block YOU from buying and returning their books.
Reported for inappropriate and unethical buying practices, as well as creating multiple fake Amazon accounts. I would suggest you read Amazon's Guidelines about posting in discussions. You are violating several of their standards.
There are always going to be ignorant people in the world... this woman, Riette, is one of them. Feel sorry for her, she is pathetic. My books say SERIES in the title... and as has been pointed out, Amazon lists the length of the books. As a writer, I'm not a fan of serials, but authors do it because of the way prolific authors are promoted/boosted on Amazon. Readers don't know what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to make it in the book business these days. Yes, it would help me to write a serial, or novella, but instead, choose to write one full-lengnth series a year. (Yes, it takes a year to write three books that are 100K plus words each, put them through three rounds of editing, get a professional cover done, promote, and do pre-orders etc...) There is a lot involved... and people like this woman make a joke out of it. I'm thankful for real readers, with integrity... If you're smart, you can look at the stats (length, are they on Kindle Unlimited, etc) and see which authors are trying to rip off readers. It's not MOST of us. Most of us pour our blood, sweat and tears into our work. Thank you to all of you who are standing up for authors on this thread. <3 xoxoxo
You do of course realize that you publicly admitted to theft don't you? To purchase an ebook then return it after reading is stealing - no justification for this no matter how you try to spin it. I sure hope you are happy being that type of person. Once a thief, always a thief, and no amount of public condemnation will instill morals in a thief. You should be ashamed of your actions but you seem proud of them. Hopefully Amazon will block your IP address from using their site and stealing more books from them and the authors. Your actions are despicable and repugnant to me and the majority of people. Glad you feel you are entitled to live outside the law.
You're purchasing books, reading them, and then returning them? Do you also buy clothes, wear them, and then return them? That's called stealing. Although I understand your frustration regarding serial books, you do have the option to wait for the series to be completed before you buy it. That's what I do. Also, you spelled grammar incorrectly.
