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Writer's Haven => Quill and Feather Pub [Public] => Topic started by: Calliope on September 25, 2018, 10:31:04 PM

Title: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Calliope on September 25, 2018, 10:31:04 PM
I have this recurring issue that whenever I publish a new book, Bookreport doesn't take notice of it for at least a few days.  Right now, it's been six days and it still doesn't acknowledge this new book.  I'm paying $19.95 a month for this service.  When I contacted the owner, he just basically said"Oh yeah, that happens. If it doesn't resolve soon contact me again." SERIOUSLY.  When the service works, it is the best, and I have published more than 50 books so there is no way I want to sit there every single day trying to compile reports myself.  Does anyone know of any good alternatives?
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Maggie Ann on September 25, 2018, 10:36:08 PM
I'd be interested as well.

The price doubled when they added reviews and rank. The reviews are behind and the rank chart is unreadable. I cancelled a while ago, but I did like the convenience of checking my daily sales by book.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: LV-246 on September 25, 2018, 10:38:53 PM
Datasprout is in beta.


The doubling in price of BookReport seemed excessive, especially for long time users. Have not renewed my subscription.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: TimothyEllis on September 25, 2018, 10:46:38 PM
I have this recurring issue that whenever I publish a new book, Bookreport doesn't take notice of it for at least a few days.  Right now, it's been six days and it still doesn't acknowledge this new book.  I'm paying $19.95 a month for this service.  When I contacted the owner, he just basically said"Oh yeah, that happens. If it doesn't resolve soon contact me again." SERIOUSLY.  When the service works, it is the best, and I have published more than 50 books so there is no way I want to sit there every single day trying to compile reports myself.  Does anyone know of any good alternatives?

Settings > Confirm all data button.

Use this also to get it to pick up the KENPC value, which it seems to never do on its own.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Calliope on September 25, 2018, 10:57:26 PM
Thank you! I will go give that a try.  But I'd also be up for a service with less glitches if we could find one.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Simon Haynes on September 25, 2018, 11:18:23 PM
Not to self-promote (it's freeware, after all) but google spacejock salesscanner

Currently PC-only. I started on a mac version but .. well, it's freeware, and I don't need a mac version.

Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Lex on September 25, 2018, 11:28:08 PM
I'm still using BookReport myself, but an author friend just recommended Readerlinks to me last week and said they prefer it over BR.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest14 on September 25, 2018, 11:38:47 PM
I have this recurring issue that whenever I publish a new book, Bookreport doesn't take notice of it for at least a few days.  Right now, it's been six days and it still doesn't acknowledge this new book.  I'm paying $19.95 a month for this service.  When I contacted the owner, he just basically said"Oh yeah, that happens. If it doesn't resolve soon contact me again." SERIOUSLY.  When the service works, it is the best, and I have published more than 50 books so there is no way I want to sit there every single day trying to compile reports myself.  Does anyone know of any good alternatives?

Settings > Confirm all data button.

Use this also to get it to pick up the KENPC value, which it seems to never do on its own.

This^^^ Because the system demands of BookReport on the KDP website bandwidth are such that to interrogate the whole system for everyone multiple times a day was causing Amazon load issues. I think they turned around to Liam and warned him to cut it down or they would cut him out. Whenever I need to update cover changes, new books etc., then I what Timothy says. It's a cool app and I think Liam was told so often by people that he deserved being paid for his hard work that he took it onboard. I don't mind the rate. Ialso don't mind that he doesn't charge when I go sub $1,000 in the month.

If you still want an alternative then go try out AKREPORT which is also very good, but their graphics are over-large or were when I used them.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Randall on September 26, 2018, 04:32:56 AM
Datasprout is in beta.


The doubling in price of BookReport seemed excessive, especially for long time users. Have not renewed my subscription.
What's Datasprout?
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest14 on September 26, 2018, 04:36:55 AM
Datasprout is in beta.


The doubling in price of BookReport seemed excessive, especially for long time users. Have not renewed my subscription.
What's Datasprout?


It's like a beansprout, but slower growing and we're not sure yet if it's a weed or a flower :D
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Randall on September 26, 2018, 04:41:22 AM
Datasprout is in beta.


The doubling in price of BookReport seemed excessive, especially for long time users. Have not renewed my subscription.
What's Datasprout?



It's like a beansprout, but slower growing and we're not sure yet if it's a weed or a flower :D

That's not what I.....wait a minute. Can we drink here at this forum!!?!?!
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest14 on September 26, 2018, 04:43:32 AM
Datasprout is in beta.


The doubling in price of BookReport seemed excessive, especially for long time users. Have not renewed my subscription.
What's Datasprout?



It's like a beansprout, but slower growing and we're not sure yet if it's a weed or a flower :D

That's not what I.....wait a minute. Can we drink here at this forum!!?!?!

 :banana-riding-llama-smiley-em :icon_lol2:
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Randall on September 26, 2018, 04:51:38 AM
I found it. Thanks for nuthin ya drunk!  :n2Str17:
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest14 on September 26, 2018, 04:54:22 AM
I found it. Thanks for nuthin ya drunk!  :n2Str17:

I didn't know where it was, but it knows where I am because it keeps sending me emails.

Let me know if you think it's any good. I was around there in the beta testing...
 Grin
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Randall on September 26, 2018, 04:56:18 AM
I found it. Thanks for nuthin ya drunk!  :n2Str17:

I didn't know where it was, but it knows where I am because it keeps sending me emails.

Let me know if you think it's any good. I was around there in the beta testing...
 Grin
:Tup4a:
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: RPatton on September 26, 2018, 06:57:26 AM
If Chris is running DataSprout, it has my full support (and I think it is, but not completely certain).


Speaking of... Someone needs to let him know that he needs to sign up here.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: RPatton on October 03, 2018, 06:28:53 AM
Just coming back to this thread. I usually have three tabs up and in the background: Datasprout, AKReports, and BookReport. Once I popped datasprout on, I stopped looking at the others. My only complaint is that it doesn't work with other storefronts. Sign up for the beta, it's definitely worth it.


For me, I love that it compares current month to previous month. At a glance I can see where my sales are compared to the month before. Only thing I'd love to add is a way to mark a book that has a promotion running. So the data would have an asterisk by it. But that's a pipe dream wish. I've pretty much stopped looking at everyone else. It doesn't have ranks or reviews, but honestly I don't think either AK reports or Book Report has a good implementation of either. It's nice to have them, when they work.


https://datasprout.co/


Thanks for pointing this out, LV.





(Seriously, I am not a shill for Chris, I swear!)
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest215 on October 03, 2018, 07:52:08 AM
I use Readerlinks at the moment. The price shift shenanigans with BookReport turned me off, as did the pricing snafus. When I turned in sub-1K months, it never failed to charge me anyway. If I emailed, I could get it reversed, but I don't need that hassle.


Readerlinks has more features than I need. I got the early-adopter intro price for a year, so it's fine for now. Don't think I'd pay the full price. Not because it isn't worth it for what's available, but because I use only the most basic features and am paying for a lot I don't need/want.


Anyone know what Datasprout's expected price point is?
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: WasAnn on October 03, 2018, 07:56:14 AM
I use Readerlinks at the moment. The price shift shenanigans with BookReport turned me off, as did the pricing snafus. When I turned in sub-1K months, it never failed to charge me anyway. If I emailed, I could get it reversed, but I don't need that hassle.


Readerlinks has more features than I need. I got the early-adopter intro price for a year, so it's fine for now. Don't think I'd pay the full price. Not because it isn't worth it for what's available, but because I use only the most basic features and am paying for a lot I don't need/want.


Anyone know what Datasprout's expected price point is?

It says on their site that it will be 10 a month for above 1000 and zero for below 1000. That's still cheaper than the new BookReport. You're not the only person I've heard not getting credited for a low month. Apparently, the annual folks don't get that credit at all, so paying ahead of time works against people who don't earn out in many months.

Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: NathanBurrows on October 03, 2018, 08:12:47 AM
DataSprout looks interesting - have applied for a beta key (am 4th in line).


Does it go 'kerching' when you make a sale though???
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: RPatton on October 03, 2018, 08:27:17 AM
DataSprout looks interesting - have applied for a beta key (am 4th in line).


Does it go 'kerching' when you make a sale though???


No. But you could probably poke at Chris until he implemented it.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Maggie Ann on October 03, 2018, 08:39:40 AM
Datasprout is only available through Chrome?
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: NathanBurrows on October 03, 2018, 08:40:31 AM
Looks like it at present - I've installed the extension but you need a beta key to activate it.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Maggie Ann on October 03, 2018, 08:54:05 AM
Looks like it at present - I've installed the extension but you need a beta key to activate it.

I signed up for the beta key, but then I saw it was Chrome only.  :shrug
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest215 on October 03, 2018, 08:59:12 AM
I use Readerlinks at the moment. The price shift shenanigans with BookReport turned me off, as did the pricing snafus. When I turned in sub-1K months, it never failed to charge me anyway. If I emailed, I could get it reversed, but I don't need that hassle.


Readerlinks has more features than I need. I got the early-adopter intro price for a year, so it's fine for now. Don't think I'd pay the full price. Not because it isn't worth it for what's available, but because I use only the most basic features and am paying for a lot I don't need/want.


Anyone know what Datasprout's expected price point is?

It says on their site that it will be 10 a month for above 1000 and zero for below 1000. That's still cheaper than the new BookReport. You're not the only person I've heard not getting credited for a low month. Apparently, the annual folks don't get that credit at all, so paying ahead of time works against people who don't earn out in many months.


I'd be down with 10 a month.  :thumb That will be half the price of Readerlinks once my introductory year deal runs out, and more in line with the level of functions I use. Thanks, Ann!
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: KevinH on October 13, 2018, 01:34:20 PM
Amazon's not going to let these services continue unchallenged.  It's just a matter of time before the Great 'Zon comes out with it's own product for doing all this: "Why use a third party when you can use our "Enhanced" KDP reporting tool?  It's only $5/month - deducted right from your royalties - and includes print, ebooks, page reads and more.  And if you prefer a free option, the "standard" report is always available..."
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: Morgan Cole on October 13, 2018, 03:49:09 PM
These tools are just adding the bare minimum of what should be acceptable stats. Amazon will improve theirs eventually, because as you can see it's not hard to do even without access to the internals.

Until then, Datasprout looks like the best of the bunch.
Title: Re: Book report - any alternatives?
Post by: guest14 on October 13, 2018, 03:59:03 PM
I'm usingBookReport and Datasprout (Beta). I think the latter has a long way to go to beat BookReport. That said, it's smooth and easy. I find it disturbing that whenever I have a glitch and have to re-login, that the pages displayed in KDP always land on my financial information page - why's that? Surely it should land on the reports page? They state the information is only held on my computer/browser, but why would it even go to my financial page unless told to?