Gero - spill the beans!
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NewsBiscuit Book - now available to buy
(99 posts) (21 voices)
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Posted 2 months ago #
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Oh I remember that one Gero - Hmmmm, that was a bit bum-clenchy at the time.
Posted 2 months ago # -
It appears that I cannot write a review on Amazon because I haven't spent enough with them, having only ever bought 'our' book. Will it be a bit of a giveaway if I buy another 5 copies in order to write a review that breaks most of their rules about bias and impartiality?
Posted 2 months ago # -
MD - that does seem a bit harsh especially as I suspect many reviews on Amazon general site are from fake accounts. But I'm seriously concerned you only need five copies - who are you discriminating against this Christmas?
Posted 2 months ago # -
Currently (10 Dec) £7.66. This is Amazon attempting to find a sweet price point I think and any drop in price affects them, not the charity royalty. They dropped to £8.02 from launch price of £8.99 a few days into the book, then upped it to around £8.50 for a couple of days. Now they've taken £1.33 off their profit (their choice, one less rocket for Jeff in the long term, I guess) and probably as low as they're prepared to go. Now is the time to buy, buy, buy if you're looking at giving it for Christmas.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Hurrumph. So I was ripped off, at £8.99. Er, I mean, I'm a better person because I donated £8.99 to a good charity, unlike the miserable cheapskates who're only willing to donate £7.66. [Polishes halo vigorously]
Posted 2 months ago # -
Did you manage to spot the Titus Tribute in the book?
(Obviously its meant with complete fondness for an Elder Stateman & NB stalwart)
Posted 2 months ago # -
Did you manage to spot the Titus Tribute in the book?
Not yet - still reading it, in between fits of weeping over having paid £1.35 more than necessary. Me Titus, remember; you need to appreciate that spending the slightest bit more than I need to for anything always causes me unbearable distress.
(Obviously its meant with complete fondness for an Elder Stateman & NB stalwart)
Aww c'mon, don't dilute the message. It's not just the vigour and passion with which NB members invite me to fornicate far away, but the obvious deeply-felt sincerity of the message which means so much to me.
Posted 2 months ago # -
:D
Posted 2 months ago # -
Me Titus, remember; you need to appreciate that spending the slightest bit more than I need to for anything always causes me unbearable distress.
You'll be really pissed off by the no-deal tariffs, then.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Just checked Amazon in Italy and the offer is $5.99 for Kindle, $11.99 for paperback BUT immediately below they are offering the Ceefax on IoW at $62.23 for hard cover - last one in stock! Better open that tightwad, Titus, imaging how much that might be worth when JO'F 'cogs' his clogs??!!
Posted 2 months ago # -
If you want to watch the video of the book...
Posted 2 months ago # -
Splendid stuff, Wren. Will begin passing that link on to others, if that's peachy?
Posted 2 months ago # -
One more for your pleasure...
Posted 2 months ago # -
A sombrero-tilt for the verbal differentiation between flew and flu.
The production turn-around on these is impressive. NewsBiscuit is now two items of merit up on about 20 news outlets any one of us could name, and they've had an 11 month head-start to try and produce anything of substance this year.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Er, I mean, I'm a better person because I donated £8.99 to a good charity, unlike the miserable cheapskates who're only willing to donate £7.66. [Polishes halo vigorously]
I think I ought to temper expectations here. What you pay isn't what the charity gets - Amazon have fixed costs for printing each copy that doesn't go anywhere near the charity. They also take a cut that we have no influence over that also avoids making the charities better off. The £8.99 price is based on those two numbers added together with a small amount which is paid in royalties (eventually - but probably faster than conventional book publishing). They have chosen since the first few days, unexpectedly I must add, to discount the UK version of the paperback by varying amounts. This doesn't affect the royalty, it comes out of Amazon's profit but does benefit the purchaser.
It might seem unfair that you paid more than those who bought copies today - so did I, BTW, twice although the second copy was at one of the lower price points of £8.02. Might I suggest, though, now you've seen what tremendous value the book is, regardless of how much ends up in the charities' pockets, that you buy lots of copies for your numerous nephews and nieces that you have mentioned previously. You could even sign the inside of the book as one of the contributors! It's a premium stocking filler for less than a tenner and, for those who actually still attend a workplace, a superb idea for a secret Santa.
BTW Titus, thanks for the review - very much appreciated. To repeat Wren's comments earlier, could anyone who has bought and browsed a copy also provide a review please?
Posted 2 months ago # -
I bought the Kindle edition and there are a couple of problems with the way it's been compiled.
Clck on "Beginning" and it takes you the "Girlfriend struck off" story. And you have to click on Front Matter to access the foreword and chapters 1 to 3.Posted 2 months ago # -
Mick, thanks for the feedback. Currently there are no embedded hyperlinks - the file is a Word document with page breaks between stories uploaded to Amazon who convert it to a PDF file. I've reviewed the entire document several times pre-release using a virtual Kindle provided by Amazon and once I'd sorted out some missing page breaks it seemed to work as a linear document from front cover to back page, however at the moment I haven't bought an eBook version for myself. Can I ask what you are using to read it with? A Kindle device, phone, tablet or PC using Kindle software?
Although the majority of purchases have been for the paperback so far there are a number of eBook purchases. Is anyone else using the eBook experiencing this issue?
Posted 2 months ago # -
And just to irritate Titus a weeny bit more Amazon have dropped the paperback price to £7.61.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Throngsman
An actual e ink Kindle. I've just tried it with the Android Kindle app, and it displays as it should.
It's not really a problem, and I'll be able to download later revisions for free.Posted 2 months ago # -
Strange that Amazon's own devices don't seem to work as well as a software one - again thanks for the feedback
Posted 2 months ago # -
Is anyone else using the eBook experiencing this issue?
- ThrongsmanCan confirm that my eBook copy from Amazon works very well. If anything, the KIndle app is little unstable - I am using it on an Android Chromebook laptop thingy which has a touchscreen and a trackpad. The Kindle app doesn't like the mouse trackpad much, but it works OK with a little lag on the touchscreen. Cracking job on the NewsBiscuit book formatting - I'm not finding any issues with what you have produced, Throngsman. Thanks for all your work on this.
Posted 2 months ago # -
My copies have at last been delivered. Excellent formatting, though I think the Tickers could be separated a little more for clarity - though there'd be fewer on the page
Having just proof-read another book of similar size & structure, there's a lot more work gone into it than just some Copy/Paste. Well done again to those involved
Posted 2 months ago # -
Just checked on the paperback version to send someone a link to it. On one device I'm getting a 'Currently unavailable. We are working hard to be back in stock as soon as possible' message. On another other device it's green text 'In stock.' Anyone else able to confirm either way?
Posted 2 months ago # -
It's available, when I use Microsoft Edge as a browser. (I know a few people on different browsers get different info)
Posted 2 months ago # -
Cheers for the confirmation, Wren. Am on Chrome on both devices. Although Google has gone a bit wonky today, allegedly.
Posted 2 months ago # -
I don't understand the 'out of stock' message. The paperback is 'print on demand' from a location in England (I previously thought it was in Poland, but that was where the proofs came from). Except where someone orders a copy and then cancels the order before delivery, Amazon never hold stock. Each and every book is printed to order. It means that you'll never find a copy in the Works as remaindered stock but you might find the odd copy in a charity shop or on eBay in future.
SteveB and Sinnick - thanks for the feedback. The observation about the ticker spacing is noted
Posted 2 months ago # -
I was trying to figure out how it was possible for print on demand to go out of stock. Chuffed to hear it's actually from a location on our fair isle, as that means there won't be millions of orders stuck at borders on the way in.
Posted 2 months ago # -
If it's print on demand then it's technically true that it's out of stock isn't it? Just not very helpful.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Haha - yes, VCG: Never knowingly in stock.
Posted 2 months ago #
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