Comprehensive Review of Germany’s Top eBook Shops by Stiftung Warentest
Stiftung Warentest is one of the most trusted seals of approval for consumers when it comes to comparing products. Some time ago, the foundation also tested eBook readers, although readers of ALLESebook.de are, of course, already well-informed in this regard. (;) )
However, something both we and Stiftung Warentest have admittedly neglected is the eBook shops themselves. The foundation is now addressing this by taking a closer look at the largest eBook shops operating in Germany. The results are disappointing for both operators and customers, although the evaluation criteria might seem debatable in some respects.
Terms and Conditions as a Sticking Point
The criteria assessed were “Selection (30%)”, “Shopping and Usage (50%)”, “Information and Contracts (20%)”, “App Privacy (0%)”, and “Flaws in the Terms and Conditions (0%)”. There were specific downgrades for flaws in the general terms and conditions, with penalties of a half or full grade reduction depending on the severity.
Before Stiftung Warentest begins the actual evaluation, there is a brief overview of what reading devices exist, in which areas they are particularly well-suited, and what DRM actually is. The assessment, which aligns with our own view, is shared: digital rights management unnecessarily complicates the use of eBooks and offers no protection against piracy: “Copy protection doesn’t provide effective protection against piracy. The usual DRM systems for eBooks are easily circumvented. It’s the honest customers willing to pay for eBooks who end up bearing the brunt. (…) Music downloads are now DRM-free. Since then, sales have multiplied.”
Is DRM Protection Insignificant?
Despite these clear statements, there were no significant downgrades for the (complicated) use of DRM. Only the purchase on the eBook reader was evaluated in this context. Instead, Amazon was downgraded from its originally good score of 2.5 to 3.5 because its terms and conditions have a serious issue: Amazon applies Luxembourg law. Due to the terms and conditions, Sony and Kobo were also downgraded by a full grade. Bücher.de and eBook.de showed no flaws in their terms and conditions, and both were able to secure the test win, despite the not very flattering final score of 2.7.
The two test winners: eBook.de and Bücher.de
As for the remaining individual scores, the Apple Store excelled in selection with a score of 2.1, followed by Amazon (2.2), with Sony and Thalia tying for third place with a score of 2.8. Amazon led in shopping and usage (2.2), followed by Bücher.de in second place (2.5), and in third place with a score of 2.6, Thalia and Weltbild. Overall, the results are quite mixed.
I would have preferred a stronger weighting of DRM protection and, related to that, more attention to DRM-free options, such as those from EPUBBuy or beam eBooks.
If you want to read the test for yourself, it can be purchased online on the Stiftung Warentest website for 2.50 euros.
