KDP Reporting Issue Email

[Kenneth Rosenberg]

Hmm... it sure would be a lot easier if they separated out the freebies from the paid sales on the reports, wouldn't it?... 

[Monique]

If the average offer price was $4.78, then I am confused on the 35% line.

You are not charged the delivery fee for free books, so that deduction would only be taken from the paid sales only. So your offer price is $.08 and not $.01.

[Monique]

Hmm... it sure would be a lot easier if they separated out the freebies from the paid sales on the reports, wouldn't it?... 

Happily, they do now on the monthlies. It would be nice to see in the other reports though, that's for sure.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Ahh okay so for the second line...

(8186 x .08) - .07x = $327.20

with x representing the actual books that were "sold" not free.

that still can't be right...

I'm getting that 3252.71 books were NOT free and had the $.07 subtracted as a delivery fee. I can't imagine my paid sales went from 3,252.71 right after going free to 100. Something still doesn't seem right, but I appreciate you trying to help....

[Monique]

Math makes my brain pan ache. What was the actual sales price of the paid books?

[Rachel Schurig]

I doubt Kay would have gotten this email if the issue is now 4 days old, and presumably resolved, unless...

Today seems normal to me, but I'm fairly confident they never fixed the issue from Feb 1st.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

This is for the week ending 2/04

Units Sold	Refunded	Net Sold	Rate	Avg List	Avg Offer	Avg Delivery	Royalty
238	2	236	35%	4.78	N/A	N/A	N/A	$23.80
8212	26	8186	70%	4.95	.48	0.08	0.07	$327.20

 Units Sold | Refunded | Net Sold | Royalty Rate| Avg list price | Avg file | Avg Offer | Avg delivery | Royalty
 238          |     2        | 236 | 35% | 4.78 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $23.80
8212         |     26       | 8186 | 70% | 4.95 | 0.48 | 0.08 | 0.07 | $327.20

[Terrence OBrien]

"Do y'all have an extra lines (per book) in your prior six weeks' royalties report for the week ending 2/4?"

Two additional lines. One for 70%, one for 35%. Both with one sale each.

[Phoenix Sullivan]

This is for the week ending 2/04
 Units Sold | Refunded | Net Sold | Royalty Rate| Avg list price | Avg file | Avg Offer | Avg delivery | Royalty
 238          |     2        | 236 | 35% | 4.78 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $23.80
8212         |     26       | 8186 | 70% | 4.95 | 0.48 | 0.08 | 0.07 | $327.20

The easiest way to figure sales vs paids is to figure average royalty payment per copy at each rate and divide the royalty by that amount to get the approximate number sold.

So (rounding up/down as necessary):

4.78 X .35 = 1.67  and  23.80 / 1.67 = 14
4.95 X .70 - .07 = 3.40  and  327.20 / 3.40 = 96

96+14 = 110 paid sales
238 + 8212 - 110 = 8340 freebies

+/- a copy or two

[Lexi Revellian]

Today seems normal to me, but I'm fairly confident they never fixed the issue from Feb 1st.

Rachel, that's the conclusion I came to yesterday when poring over my figures on KDP. The 1st February was Replica's fourth day after going free, and I reckon there are at least 100 unrecorded sales.

Lexi

[brianspringer13]

I had the same thing happen. Feb 1st was the third day of a three day free promotion. I had 1800 downloads on Jan. 30, almost 1200 on Jan. 31, and then . . . 19 on Feb 1st. Definitely something going on there. Usually the discrepancy shows up on the 6-week report but for this particular week it didn't. Hopefully they get it sorted out soon.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

The easiest way to figure sales vs paids is to figure average royalty payment per copy at each rate and divide the royalty by that amount to get the approximate number sold.

So (rounding up/down as necessary):

4.78 X .35 = 1.67  and  23.80 / 1.67 = 14
4.95 X .70 - .07 = 3.40  and  327.20 / 3.40 = 96

96+14 = 110 paid sales
238 + 8212 - 110 = 8340 freebies

+/- a copy or two

Thanks, Phoenix.... I think they're still working on it though. This morning I checked, I still have the two extra lines, the mysterious 1 each at 70% and 35%, AND those numbers have changed. Just by one, mind you. the top line is now 239 with 237 net sales and a royalty of $24.85.

For the record, a reporting sheet, in my humble opinion, should be organized in such a way as to multiply or add up to the numbers on the right, not take the numbers on the right and perform fancy magic to get the numbers on the left. Also, what is the $0.08 average offer?

[Jon Olson]

My sales have been dismal since the first of the month. It's been contributing to my complex.

Mine are down, too, but maybe it's just me.

[Terrence OBrien]

Has anyone who has not initiated the emails received one from Amazon?

[ToniD]

Has anyone who has not initiated the emails received one from Amazon?

No.

But I too am finding changing numbers on the four Feb4 lines--and still have an incorrect royalty rate.

[JRTomlin]

Mine are down, too, but maybe it's just me.

My sales have been horrible this month. A nosedive from last months very good sales. I've assumed it was just me.

[Jaci Byrne]

Thank you, Kay,
I was just about to post the email reply to my recent enquiry - but it's the same standard reply as yours. so let's hope it is resolved asap!

[MaryMcDonald]

I have the extra lines too. I was thinking they might be placeholders and Amazon had to put a number in there for it to work, so they put a 1. I could be totally wrong though.

[Terrence OBrien]

I suspect Amazon is using the two additional lines on the weekly report as adjustment accounts. This lets them maintain a good set of numbers in the normal two lines, while putting all the corrections into the additional lines.

But, you say the two normal lines are bad? OK. They are probably not as inclusive as they should be. But if they represent sales for an identifiable set of transactions, they can leave them alone, and concentrate their efforts on the smaller set of problem transactions.  

Why do I suspect this? First, it's a common accounting tactic. Freeze what is good, and work on what is bad. Second, my additional lines are changing, and others have reported the same.

As usual, nobody called me from Amazon. It's informed speculation and inference.

[Rhynedahll]

My sales have been horrible this month. A nosedive from last months very good sales. I've assumed it was just me.

Oddly enough, after a really good January -- for me at least -- I've started February with really good numbers.  I had expected the Christmas bounce to fade, but so far have been pleasantly surprised.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

I suspect Amazon is using the two additional lines on the weekly report as adjustment accounts. This lets them maintain a good set of numbers in the normal two lines, while putting all the corrections into the additional lines.

I'd agree but three of my 4 lines are changing. Not by much, mind you, just +1 and +2 on each...so far. Kinda wonder what will happen tomorrow. LOL. I'm going with it's a mess. And I'm going free again this weekend... wonder what kind of havoc that will wreak.

I'm still going with the Kindle Boogie broke KDP....

[TexasGirl]

I was wondering if things were still off as normally my KDP sales are about four times my paperback sales, and this month, my paperback sales are double my KDP. That is really suspicious since the dividing line is when the snafu began.

Sigh. Going to be very hard to judge effectiveness of my upcoming promotions if they don't fix.