Kindle Owners Using Amazon Reviews to Express Displeasure Over Lack of Kindle Editions

Paul Carr on the 64 one-star reviews at Amazon for Michael Lewis’s new best-seller, The Big Short:

There’s just one problem with that message: less than half of those one star reviews are actually reviewing the book.

Instead, most of the reviewers’ ire relates to the fact that publishers WW Norton have decided not to release a Kindle version of the book at the same time as its hardback release. Writes one (pretty representative) reviewer by the name of Ben Kaplan:

“I’d like to add my name to the list of people who are very disappointed that this book does not have a Kindle edition. No, I haven’t read the book, but I want to — on my Kindle! If all these one star reviews lead to fewer sales, I think that would be a great result and an excellent lesson for the author/publisher.”

Some publishers are treating Kindle editions like paperbacks — something to release only after the hardcover edition has run its course.

★ Tuesday, 23 March 2010