SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

As America and most of the world shelter at home as we do our part to minimize the potential impact of the Coronavirus, I think that one of the largest distributors of books (be it paperback or kindle) should give a significant price break to the general public. I for one have used Amazon for all of my mail order needs prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Since the outbreak, only Amazon is shipping most of the goods I need (no toilet paper so far).

What are your thoughts on this suggestion? Maybe since Amazon owns Goodreads, they will see the proposal if enough readers agree?

I don't think they should. Distributors only do that, distribute. Prices and the like are usually the responsibility of publishing companies. And they've been great. Here, in latam and spain we've had a lot of publishing companies like Roca and Anagrama put out books for free, even on platforms like kindle.

A free complementary membership of Kindle Unlimited for the period of the national lockdowns would give everyone something to read while they're being isolated - and might even attract some more customers.

Of course, they could do more, but that seems to be a reasonable, minimal response to the situation.

Well- they are offering audible free for kids until this is over. And if you track ebook prices- they have been offering significant discounts on some ebooks.

Amazon is doing something--they are offering free Audible for kids. I am not sure if it includes y/a stuff that many adults also enjoy.

I think anything they do would have to be with things they have proprietary rights to, such as their original TV, etc, but I haven't heard if they are doing anything with that.

I have a love/hate relationship with Amazon (I have told them that more than once.).

Sarah wrote: "Well- they are offering audible free for kids until this is over. And if you track ebook prices- they have been offering significant discounts on some ebooks."

We posted this at the same time :) !!

They are currently giving two months free of Kindle Unlimited.

Phillip wrote: "They are currently giving two months free of Kindle Unlimited."

Oh, yes, I did hear about that but forgot.

@Karin Great minds think alike!

And thanks Phillip. I have Prime which comes with its own little free library so I sometimes forget about unlimited.

I'd be happy if they just gave all their staff a living wage.

I hate to say this- but in my area Amazon is one of the higher paying companies. By my understanding they don’t treat their employees very nicely though which is a shame.

Ryan wrote: "I'd be happy if they just gave all their staff a living wage."

Do they pay poorly?

That’s a novel idea, Ryan.

As said Audible is doing free stuff and I’ve seen a few others offering free access too. Apparently CBS All Access is offering the lockdown time free as well. I saw ads this morning to watch Picard for free since it’s free for the duration of the lockdown.

I know they've been fighting against giving workers PTO, although at least in the US a group of workers was recently able to organize against that and get it changed.

As far as KU, it's my understanding that they frequently give new subscribers a free month or two, even before this, and the deal doesn't seem to apply to current subscribers.

They also lay people off very easily don’t give great benefits (if any) and don’t guarantee hours

Many of their workers are on “Per diem” status so they can avoid paying out benefits like PTO/sick time, Fire people easily if they can’t come in for a random shift, work people 8 and 9 days straight without a day off... the list goes on.

I work for a not for profit that helps the unemployed find new work and we’ve avoided taking them on because they treat their people so badly.

There's lots of free stuff, just look for it.

Smashwords is running a sale, not sure of the details.

And yes, I avoid shopping Amazon because of how they treat their labor force.

M.L. wrote: "There's lots of free stuff, just look for it."

Yes, years worth of reading for free. Giving away Kindle unlimited would screw the authors out of their royalties.

Cheryl wrote: "Smashwords is running a sale, not sure of the details.

And yes, I avoid shopping Amazon because of how they treat their labor force."

Thanks--I hadn't known this before!

Everyone offering defences of Amazon should know that they are currently firing employees who raise health concerns at their warehouses. Amazon may own just about everything, but they're not our friend, folks.

Bryan wrote: "Everyone offering defences of Amazon should know that they are currently firing employees who raise health concerns at their warehouses. Amazon may own just about everything, but they're not our fr..."

I agree, they have many bad qualities. The only reason I keep a membership there is because there are certain American owned and manufactured companies I like to buy from who now only sell through Amazon. Also, they own Goodreads now, and hopefully they won't let it run to garbage the way they did Shelfari, which platform I preferred for many things.

Dear Jeff Bezos, give me 1 billion dollars and I will make GR a heaven on earth and make sure all the workers get proper treatment.

...and also a few other things, like homes for most of the homeless in my city, for starters.

I'll even make it a charity so you can enjoy a tax write off.