Comments on: Still Not A Glitch, But A Policy #amazonfail http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Bird of Ill Repute Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:07:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Lili http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56225 Lili Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:24:05 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56225 I disagree. There is a huge difference between "display space in a brick and mortar" and "taking away buy buttons until small presses use OUR POD system". It was only natural from a corporate point of view for Amazon to try that, since their cut is bigger and more profitable on Booksurge titles and bigger corporations will naturally try to get more profit. But it was also for consumers and small presses to resist since further narrowing distribution to one single company is not in either's interests. The resistance was quite successful. I don't know if you remember the screaming about this move of Amazon's in detail, but I do because one of my publishers is a small press who stood firm (like many others) in the face of Amazon's bullying. Amazon finally backed down a bit and implemented something much more limited after the hubbub died down. I see your contact information is from a press; I am mildly surprised to find a press who feels this way about the POD fiasco. Also, just because none of your GLBT books disappeared does not mean that GLBT books were not disproportionately affected by whatever this was, along with feminist, female sexuality, disability and sex titles. This whole furor started because GLBT books were disappearing from Amazon's search rankings, and when the other related categories got caught in the net is made people angry. I agree that at this point the lack of response from Amazon is the biggest problem. But I also do not think this whole thing was a "glitch". I disagree. There is a huge difference between “display space in a brick and mortar” and “taking away buy buttons until small presses use OUR POD system”. It was only natural from a corporate point of view for Amazon to try that, since their cut is bigger and more profitable on Booksurge titles and bigger corporations will naturally try to get more profit. But it was also for consumers and small presses to resist since further narrowing distribution to one single company is not in either’s interests. The resistance was quite successful.

I don’t know if you remember the screaming about this move of Amazon’s in detail, but I do because one of my publishers is a small press who stood firm (like many others) in the face of Amazon’s bullying. Amazon finally backed down a bit and implemented something much more limited after the hubbub died down. I see your contact information is from a press; I am mildly surprised to find a press who feels this way about the POD fiasco.

Also, just because none of your GLBT books disappeared does not mean that GLBT books were not disproportionately affected by whatever this was, along with feminist, female sexuality, disability and sex titles. This whole furor started because GLBT books were disappearing from Amazon’s search rankings, and when the other related categories got caught in the net is made people angry.

I agree that at this point the lack of response from Amazon is the biggest problem. But I also do not think this whole thing was a “glitch”.

]]> By: Elizabeth Burton http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56224 Elizabeth Burton Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:06:31 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56224 Amazon did not try to "take over a significant chunk of the POD industry." They attempted to cut their losses by printing POD books in their warehouses instead of stocking them, for which they needed a legal contract with the publishers. The simplest way to achieve that was through Booksurge. No one was denied access to Amazon. They were denied access to certain benefits Amazon offers. This is no different than Barnes & Noble reserving the best display space for books from publishers willing to pay a premium for placement. Publishers who contract with Booksurge have their titles printed in Amazon's warehouses, which means the books can ship immediately after being purchased. Those publishers don't need to ship books to Amazon (for which they pay shipping--both ways). The required discount is higher than many were giving previously. Short-discounted books were costing Amazon money. No business, however, large, is required to continue to lose money if there's a way to correct it. There was. They did. No plot, just a business decision. Do they suck at communication? Oh, yeah. I get the feeling their PR department is run by their legal department, and lawyers are always counseling people not to say anything to anybody anytime. I base this on the language used in most of their press releases. Do they occasionally do something that cuts them off at the knees? Also yeah. Don't we all? Those who prefer to believe this latest event was yet another insidious plot are welcome to do so. I can, as I did previously, only point out that none of my GLBT books "disappeared," and they are all clearly listed as such. In fact, on several titles sales were up these last few months. Amazon did not try to “take over a significant chunk of the POD industry.” They attempted to cut their losses by printing POD books in their warehouses instead of stocking them, for which they needed a legal contract with the publishers. The simplest way to achieve that was through Booksurge.

No one was denied access to Amazon. They were denied access to certain benefits Amazon offers. This is no different than Barnes & Noble reserving the best display space for books from publishers willing to pay a premium for placement.

Publishers who contract with Booksurge have their titles printed in Amazon’s warehouses, which means the books can ship immediately after being purchased. Those publishers don’t need to ship books to Amazon (for which they pay shipping–both ways). The required discount is higher than many were giving previously. Short-discounted books were costing Amazon money. No business, however, large, is required to continue to lose money if there’s a way to correct it. There was. They did. No plot, just a business decision.

Do they suck at communication? Oh, yeah. I get the feeling their PR department is run by their legal department, and lawyers are always counseling people not to say anything to anybody anytime. I base this on the language used in most of their press releases.

Do they occasionally do something that cuts them off at the knees? Also yeah. Don’t we all? Those who prefer to believe this latest event was yet another insidious plot are welcome to do so. I can, as I did previously, only point out that none of my GLBT books “disappeared,” and they are all clearly listed as such. In fact, on several titles sales were up these last few months.

]]> By: Katie http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56223 Katie Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:12:36 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56223 As I follow all of this to keep it updated and keep an archive, I keep coming back to your blog for your opinions and observations. Well done at staying ahead of the game on this. - Katie www.amazonGLBTranks.webs.com As I follow all of this to keep it updated and keep an archive, I keep coming back to your blog for your opinions and observations. Well done at staying ahead of the game on this.

- Katie
http://www.amazonGLBTranks.webs.com

]]> By: Heather (errantdreams) http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56168 Heather (errantdreams) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:03:56 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56168 Thank you for collating all this info and so many links on the topic to make it easy to follow! Thank you for collating all this info and so many links on the topic to make it easy to follow!

]]> By: Elaine http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56167 Elaine Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:53:24 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56167 Good points. I am guessing that the thunderous silence from Amazon is senior management deciding whether to walk the whole policy back or to hang tight. Good points. I am guessing that the thunderous silence from Amazon is senior management deciding whether to walk the whole policy back or to hang tight.

]]> By: dangerous_47 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/04/still-not-a-glitch-but-a-policy-amazonfail/comment-page-1/#comment-56166 dangerous_47 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:42:14 +0000 http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/?p=1380#comment-56166 Just wanted to let you know that when this thing is posted at your lj the thing has in the end this big mess of code. But keep up the good job. :D I like that your following this and keeps me informed too. XD Heh. Just wanted to let you know that when this thing is posted at your lj the thing has in the end this big mess of code.

But keep up the good job. :D I like that your following this and keeps me informed too. XD Heh.

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