CyberRead Challenge & Remarks by DLKeur

This came in over the press release transom the other day. I picked it off the newswire, but wanted to investigate them a bit before posting their “challenge.”

Before I comment, though, here’s the press release:

CyberRead, an Ebook Retailer, Challenges the Competition

by Todd M. Pree

CyberRead (www.CyberRead.com), an ebook retailer, announced that they are challenging their competitors to “do the right thing”.

CyberRead offers a 40% order discount code in return for any book reviews that are submitted via the CyberRead.com site and accepted.

“Our competitors think that somehow you should feel “obligated” to write book reviews on their site, free of charge. This is, of course, after they take your money and then hide behind poorly trained support staff”, said Clint Brauer, General Manager for CyberRead.

Mr. Brauer went on to say, “We at CyberRead.com certainly are not perfect, but our view is that folks should be rewarded for reviewing books. After all, their book reviews help our shoppers buy more ebooks from us.”

In order to participate, book enthusiasts can visit www.cyberread.com/book-reviews for more information on the offer. Any of the over 105,000 ebooks on the site can be reviewed.

About CyberRead
CyberRead.com, based in Irvine, CA, features over 105,000 ebooks for purchase for your ebook reader, Blackberry, or PC. Created in 1999, this socially responsible company puts customers first and the bottom line second.

Okay. That’s nice. And it is a great idea. Unfortunately, a look at CyberRead shows me that this isn’t necessarily a place where an author could best place their books unless they want to market them at twice the price they offer them on Smashwords and Scribd. CyberRead pays authors only 40% of the retail price…which the author sets, of course, but, still, 40%? That’s a lot less than the 85% and 80% offered respectively at Smashwords and Scribd.

While I was moseying about checking out this online ebook retailer, I also checked out Double Dragon Ebooks. Hmm. That’s one to stay away from. They are acting as the publisher, not simply an ebook retailer. You submit to them EXCLUSIVELY. No thanks. Indie authors need to maintain control of their rights, period…at least in my opinion. If an author is going indie, then pseudo-publishers like Double Dragon need to be avoided.

So, bottom line in my estimation is CyberRead.com isn’t the best place to either buy or sell an ebook, especially since they’ve partnered with Mobipocket. It’s just smacks of “too much like the same old good ol’ boy network” that made authors begin self-publishing. Poor royalty returns for authors like CyberRead offers just don’t make the grade when there are other, better options available. As for Double Dragon and their exclusives, forget that altogether.

Just my two cents…and, of course, I’m open to having my opinion changed. I always listen to reason…well, unless you crush my toe while we’re dancing, of course.

I do like the idea of offering a kickback or a free download of an ebook in exchange for a review, but, then, The Deepening’s already offering free accounts for reviewers AND the authors whose books we represent also offer free Advanced Reviewer Copies as well as free downloads of books to those who indicate they will review in exchange for the read.

–DLKeur, owner The Deepening

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