The mobi file sizes crept up slowly, which I disregarded for the most part. But in mid-May, I began noticing them double in size, as well as taking actual minutes to download, instead of mere seconds. Since I also publish on Smashwords, and they offer mobi files, I ran a comparison of file sizes.
Smashwords file sizes are smaller than the size of the Word document and jpeg cover because they compress the cover; I've complained to them that my huge, beautiful covers look terrible on both my ereader and those of my friends. Nevertheless, if you will compare Smashwords mobi files to Kindle's new mobi files, you will see they range from 11% to 14% the size of the new Amazon files.
Some significant notes (data in bold): If I downloaded the Amazon file to any storage besides its regular Kindle Content file, it was smaller. If I uploaded a new version, the new mobi file doubled in size. It did not matter if I made content changes or not; see the difference between Dignity and Dynasty, and compare to Nobility (no changes/no new upload):
Mobi File Sizes
Book (Word file + cover) Kindle Smashwords
|
Dignity (.480 mb + 3.04 mb
= 3.52 mb)
downloaded 5/9/13
downloaded 5/18/13 not to Kindle content file
downloaded 5/18/13 to
Kindle content file, after making a few changes / edition 2
|
4.599 mb
1.537 mb
7.714 mb
|
1.114 mb
|
|
Majesty (.485 mb + 3.25 mb =
3.735 mb)
|
7.907 mb
|
.948 mb
|
|
Fealty (.477 mb + 3.23 mb =
3.707 mb)
|
8.118 mb
|
1.078 mb
|
|
Royalty (.462 mb + 3.43 mb
= 3.892 mb)
|
8.432 mb
|
1.059 mb
|
|
Dynasty (.489 mb + 3.28 mb
= 3.769 mb)
downloaded 5/9/13
downloaded 5/18/13 after making no changes in document
downloaded 5/19/13 after uploading file/no changes
|
4.826 mb
4.826 mb
8.191 mb
|
1.090 mb
|
|
Loyalty (.645 mb + 3.19 mb
= 3.835 mb)
|
8.624 mb
|
1.398 mb
|
|
Evan’s Ladies (.325 mb +
3.14 mb = 3.465 mb)
|
7.485 mb
|
unpublished
|
|
Nobility (959 kb + 4.97 mb
= 5.929 mb)
downloaded 4/29/13
downloaded 5/18/13 after making no changes, but also not uploaded since 4/29
|
3.443 mb
3.443 mb
|
as yet
unpublished
|
There is a reason for compiling this information, naturally. I had uploaded new versions of four of my books and received the confirmation from KDP on Friday, May 17th, 1:12 a.m. that the third book, Fealty, was 'live'. I kept waiting for confirmation for the fourth book, Dignity, and noticed that not one single sale of ANY of my books registered after that.
Since the magnificent Ricki Wilson had just put up a spotlight on my most recent book, LOYALTY, I was eager to see how much my sales would increase.
9:19
pm 5/16/13
INDIE
SPOTLIGHT on LOYALTY, Book Six in Eva Caye's TO BE SINCLAIR Series @EvaCaye http://nblo.gs/LiisS
Not only have I not registered any sales for at least 48 hours, the original tweet has been retweeted 30 times, many more than the usual 2-3 retweets I get. In addition, I've updated two other marketing sites and discovered a few others, which I've been working on while wondering when Dignity would go live and KDP would start showing new sales.
I emailed KDP and received a response that their technicians were working on it. Dignity finally went live a couple of hours ago, but I have yet to see any new sales register on the six books I have been selling so far in May.
What is the issue? I believe Amazon may be getting too paranoid over ebook sales. Their restrictive measures annoy everyone, for you are unable to transfer your book to any other device. In addition, I've read about a number of other problems people have had with their ebooks, such as having them disappear completely, or the indie publisher finding out she 'owes' for some bizarre instance in which the book was updated, the previous purchasers notified, and instead of just being able to download the new version, they charge the author for those new downloads.
One of my many complaints with Amazon is that I cannot have a Kindle for PC account separate from my husband's Kindle account on our same PC. As a result, if I buy an ebook from Amazon, I must assign it to my cloud reader, because it will not download any but my husband's books to our PC unless he deletes his Kindle for PC, and all his books will disappear. Since the mobi files are doubling in size, I project it is because Amazon is adding new restrictions to what people are allowed to do with their ebooks.
I think Amazon should get a clue! I would not want 8 meg files filling up a Kindle if I could get 1 meg files from Smashwords, would you? Of course, my fondest hope is that they quit screwing around with mobi files and show me my sales! I've had more than one author friend tell me they are positive Amazon does not automatically register sales, that they are often hours or even days late. When the author notes not one book sale WHILE speaking to a friend who is JUST THEN reading aloud from her new ebook, it's pretty obvious.
11 comments:
That's very interesting stuff there; I'll have to keep an eye on it. I like publishing through Smashwords better than Amazon primarily because I want my readers to be able to really OWN the copy they buy, including updated versions. But you know all that, I'm sure.
Hi, kat! I am wondering what avenue I should take now. I have some friends who have not purchased my later books yet; perhaps I'll have them buy them and watch to see how many show up on my purchases.
I still have not registered a single sale since the late evening of 5/16, and I have read posts by others acknowledging that they, too, have suffered 'snafus' like this. Otherwise, I'm not sure I should vent anything more without data backing me, so I shall leave it at that!
I knew all this was coming with Amazon at some point. The golden goose doesn't lay eggs forever. Amazon owns the market and they know it. They're going to start screwing the indie authors and there's very little the authors will be able to do about it. Amazon is so big and has so many revenue streams they don't care.
If your KDP book files get too large, they charge a download premium for the increased file size. I write epic fantasy (books that tend to be THICK) and I get a smaller royalty because of it. I don't know what size your book files are, but one of those edits may mean Amazon also gets to keep more of your royalty! It's happened to me!
I think you're right on almost everything -- but now there are a lot of other places you can find ebooks. As I show above, Smashwords ALSO offers the MOBI format for Kindle e-readers! If Amazon screws around too much with their ebooks, I'm certain people will start looking elsewhere.
Amazon offers convenience, certainly, but even for non-book products I've been able to find better bargains; I'm almost to the point of using it as a search tool like Google, reading reviews, then going to a search engine to find the original manufacturers or sales outlets.
Anna, I'm not surprised. They think they have us over a barrel, but there are many new websites offering ebooks now. If they do not wise up, they will find authors unwilling to publish to them at all for lack of adequate service. Which is exactly why I know a number of Nook readers who avoid Amazon like the proverbial plague; they've been burned one too many times.
I avoid Amazon on general principle. I don't buy anything from there, even music. The only exception would be Doctor Who episodes if I didn't have access to BBC America, because I have an even lower opinion of iTunes and Apple than I do Amazon.
I have major issues with their business model.
I determined that the Zon does not register 'gifting' as a legitimate sale, despite the fact that the eBook gift comes out of my own pocket. I had a contest and offered eBook copies of Roman (Saints and Sinners). I have 15 marvelous reviews and it was starting to sell, then I noticed a lag but thought nothing of it. Not until I gifted those books and nothing registered. It's been more than a month. I'm patient, but... And yes, I complained but got nothing but dead air space (oh BTW: their customer service has shifted to English is not their native language sites). meantime, sales inexplicably dropped to absolute zero. Becasue of my blood pressure, in my house we don't talk about The Zon.
Hi, DragonLady! I went ahead and published my new book to Smashwords; until I am comfortable that Amazon is no longer 'glitchy' or no longer suffering 'snafus', I will wait to publish it there.
The book is Evan's Ladies, an 'add-on' book to the To Be Sinclair series, consisting of four novellas. If you're interested, the Smashwords MOBI file is only 803 kb! :D
Hi, folks! My Amazon MOBI files are now 9.5 to 11 MEGS. Delivery costs $.15.
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