Don’t buy these ebooks if…

Buondì.

I’ll be brief and commercial today as we had a brutally bad night. Something was bugging Bug, who screamed in agony for what felt like hours at a time throughout the night. We took turns, so did sleep some, in short bursts at least. But the total hours of ‘sonno’ couldn’t have been more than a half of what I need to type something witty of a Monday morning.

Hence, below you’ll find an ad for three ‘easy reader’ ebooks we published way back in 2016. Until next Sunday night (October 15th) all three are half the usual ‘easy reader’ price.

While I was modifying the prices earlier, I scanned the customer reviews. Mostly they’re very good, like this one by Anita…

A well written, interesting story and I really enjoyed reading/listening to it. I could clearly envisage Oreste in the restaurant – a great character. Also loved his daughter Chiara. The reading was fast but I am beginning to get used to this so, for me, B1/B2 is a good level as it stretches the mind. New vocabulary which is good. I tend to look at the glossary first, prior to listening. A great story and good value – it really helps to be able to download the first chapter prior to buying!

this from Helen…

Absolutely perfect. Great story with just enough difficulty for beginners to feel the stretch. A must buy for all learners starting out.

and this from Eppie:

Another excellent story with helpful exercises to complete. Level is very accurate

But not all of the reviewers were so positive. One person, for instance, found the translations distracting (actually, there aren’t any translations – she reviewed the wrong version), while another liked the book but could only give three stars because the audio didn’t work (on his device… it works for everyone else.)

You can read customer reviews by clicking through to the product information page in the ebooks store (follow the links below) and looking for the link located a little way down from the ebook title.

But anyway, I want to state, LOUDLY AND CLEARLY, that you should not buy one or more of these ebooks, or any of the others in the catalog if…

1.) You haven’t looked at the free sample chapter and decided that the length and level of the material are what you need for your learning. Too short? Not worth the price? Don’t buy it.

2.) You haven’t clicked on the audio link in the free sample chapter (at the top of each chapter) to verify that you know how to play the audio on your device. Also that you will be able to listen to the audio AND read the text at the same time. The .pdf can be printed, and on a computer it’s easy to have two browser windows open with the audio playing in one and the .pdf displayed in the other. If you don’t know how to do this on your iPad, please find out before buying a copy. Or don’t.

3.) You haven’t read the product description (click on the cover image to get to that page), and so realised that we sell EBOOKS (i.e. computer files) not lumps of paper. No, we will not be mailing you a hard copy. However long you wait, no ebook will pop through your letter box to land with a thump on your doormat.

4.) You haven’t read the ‘How do I access my ebook?’ section, which is included below if you look, on all the product information pages, and in nearly all of my marketing messages (like this one.) Our shop software automatically sends a download link, immediately your payment clears. You’ll find it in an email that might look like a ‘receipt’ or an ‘order confirmation’. Open the email and look, please. Like actually read it. The download link is in the section titled, erm, DOWNLOADS. You won’t believe how many people reply to that very email (containing the download link) asking where the download link is. In the email you just replied to, I respond. No it isn’t, yes it is, no it isn’t, yes it is, oh never mind – I’m attaching it to this email, as an ATTACHMENT. But I don’t see it! Well I can bloody see it. Ask someone who knows what an email attachment is to help! N.b. If you paid, but don’t see the emails from the shop software IMMEDIATELY, check your spam. There’s no point waiting until you are very, very irate before writing me a threatening letter saying that you’ll want your money back if you don’t get what you paid for. Emails don’t normally go missing (if you typed your email address correctly, which some people fail to.) They are THERE, somewhere. You just have to look.

5.) You haven’t grasped, because you didn’t read and/or understand the ‘How do I access my ebook?’ section, that the download link is valid for a maximum of three downloads, and will expire in seven days. So, if you open the email on your iPhone, and feel like experimenting, maybe you click the link and nothing happens, so you do it again with the same result, and again once more, still without success, then you decide to try on your computer, it isn’t going to work. You will get an error message. On an iPad it’s usually something misleading but the actual reason is that you have no download attempts remaining. Ditto with buying an ebook while you’re on a world cruise and making a note to open the email with the download link when you get home.
The limits are there, by the way, to ensure that you DO get your ebook. If there were no limit on the number of downloads and the time, you might click a hundred times on the device you don’t know how to use properly, or forget your purchase until years later, neither of which helps… The limits force people who don’t know how to use their devices to seek help. That’s a much smoother and more pleasant process when done politely, by the way.

6.) And finally, you should not buy any of these ebooks if the result is that you will feel the urge to write to me personally (for example, by replying to this emailed article) for help. By all means ask for help (i.e. if you messed up the download link, or Apple did), but please respond to any of the emails the ebooks store sends you (the ones that might be in Spam, or that you didn’t bother to read because you thought they were just receipts…). I do the marketing, and I am the boss. I didn’t sleep. So, ideally, I would like to be able to delegate dealing with customer service for ebooks to someone else, which I can’t do if people write to the wrong email address. The one for the ebooks store, which is a separate company, is on their website, in the footer. It’s easyreaders@nonparlo.com. Or simply reply to any of the automated emails sent by the shop software.

So now it’s ten a.m. and I’m off back to bed for some emergency zees, hopefully to wake up in a better mood and to the sound of no agonised screaming.

A mercoledì.

3 Half-Price eBook Easy Readers from 2016

This week we’re doing the half-price ‘eBook of the Week’ offer on three ‘easy reader’ ebooks we published way back in 2016.

You’ll find them below in level order, from easiest to hardest. Any of them will cost you just £4.99 until Sunday 15th October 2023.

Check the FREE sample chapters to verify which of them might be right for you.

Too easy? Check out our Catalog for materials at your level!

Colpo di forbici (A1)

Antonio and Martina have been married for forty years and together run their own hairdressing salon. Naturally, they know everyone’s secrets, and like to help people if they can…

pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
.mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
Comprehension questions to check your understanding
Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
Suitable for students at elementary level or above
Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Colpo di forbici (A1) just £4.99 | FREE sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

Missione Segreta (A2/B1)

Saverio is the divorced father of Luca, a nine-year old who’s obsessed with violent video games. Since Saverio and Luca’s mother divorced, he’s been anxious to protect the relationship with his son by spending as much time with Luca as possible. But frustratingly, on their one day a week together, Luca rarely looks up from the screen of his game!

.pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
.mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
8 chapters to read and listen to
Comprehension questions to check your understanding
Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
Suitable for students at any level
Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Missione Segreta (A2/B1) just £4.99 | FREE sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

Segreti e polpette (B1/2)

Meet the Agnolottis: father, mother, son and daughter, who together run “Da Ettore”, a trattoria in a small Italian town. The restaurant has been in the family for generations, and everyone pulls together to make it a success! But when the chance comes to win an important gastronomic award, the pressure starts to mount…

.pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
.mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
8 chapters to read and listen to
Comprehension questions to check your understanding
Italian/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
Suitable for students at any level
Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)

Buy Segreti e polpette (B1/2) just £4.99 | FREE sample chapter (.pdf) | Catalog

How do I access my ebook?

When your order is ‘completed’ (normally immediately after your payment), a download link will be automatically emailed to you. It’s valid for 7 days and 3 download attempts so please save a copy of the .pdf ebook in a safe place. Other versions of the ebook, where available, cannot be downloaded but will be emailed to people who request them. There’s a space to do that on the order form – where it says Additional information, Order notes (optional). If you forget, or if you have problems downloading the .pdf, don’t worry! Email us at the address on the website and we’ll help. Also, why not check out our FAQ?