Authors tell Amazon to end 14-day ebook refunds

Writers have called on Amazon to change its policy that allows customers to read a Kindle ebook and then claim a refund for it within 14 days (see screenshot).

A petition has been launched on Change.org (www.snipca.com/41542) urging Amazon to “protect authors from theft”. It reads: “Returning a book after reading 10-20% is one thing. But when the book has been read in it’s entirety it should not be allowed to be returned. End of discussion.”

Within days of going live it had been signed by more than 37,000 people.

Authors say readers returning ebooks for a refund is a growing problem, driven by instructions being shared on the video app Tiktok, which is popular with young readers. Videos about returning ebooks for a refund have been watched more than 17 million times.

One author claimed that more than 100 copies of their ebooks were returned in March, compared with fewer than 10 in January and February combined. Every time an ebook is returned the author is deprived of royalties.

The Society of Authors (SOA), the writers’ union, says Amazon should cut the period for returning ebooks to 48 hours, and that royalties should be deducted only when customers accidentally buy an ebook.

Leading writers have backed the petition. Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, said: “It’s difficult to know how writers are supposed to live; perhaps we are meant to double up as Amazon delivery drivers?”

Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus novels, said: “I am appalled. Writers have a tough enough time as it is trying to make a living. If someone can read your book without paying you anything for the privilege, you’re sunk.”