posted on November 19, 2005 02:36:20 PM
I have a modest request.
I have been writing reviews on Amazon for some time, mainly because I'm a compulsive writer. Recently I purchased a book that was a real stinkeroo, wrote a scathing review, saw it published on Amazon and three weeks later it was removed. I had given the book a one-star rating.
Two other reviews with one-star ratings were also removed.
Three new reviews (all showing signs of hasty writing) were inserted, all on the same day. You may have guessed it: Each bore a five-star rating.
The irony is that two of the three reviews make reference to the derogatory reviews which are now missing. Amazon doesn't cover its tracks very well.
Now, I don't know if Amazon is getting marching orders from publishers or not, but this is just wrong. And I'd feel that way even if it wasn't my carefully-crafted, cleverly-written review that had been yanked.
So I'm boycotting Amazon.
But all I want for Christmas is books. Where can I direct potential givers to find the books I want (some of which are likely out of print) without entering Amazon's gaping maw? I don't want AMZ getting another penny from my family.
Sorry for the long story and thanks for any leads.
posted on November 19, 2005 03:22:03 PM
I buy from Barnes and Noble a lot, and so do our kids--we're not crazy about Amazon's founder's political stances. My husband's favorite is Powell's.
What Amazon did with your reviews really stinks--and it makes me wonder about all those other reviews I've read there, when I was still buying from them. Thanks for telling us about that.
______________________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on November 19, 2005 05:21:30 PM
"we're not crazy about Amazon's founder's political stances"
Which are? I know Bezos has said he would eventually have enough money to fund build his own space station, and he actually has people working on the reality. Sounds cool, but other than that, I don't know about his politics.
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on November 19, 2005 06:01:28 PM
most of the booksellers that list on Amazon also list the SAME books on Abebooks and Alibris with a slightly different price - due to shipping or ending sales price?
So if you find a book on Amazon that you like Fluffy - you will more than likely find it on AbeBooks or Alibris.
Edited to add:
I like the AddALL book search also - love the quotes while they are fetching the results.
Sigh. Books are one of my biggest weaknesses - and one of the most bought on Ebay.
posted on November 19, 2005 06:21:52 PM
Replay: I'd rather not bring politics into this (thus far) civil discussion!
Glassgrl: I was about to write here that AddAll is my favorite booksite, and the one I go to when thinking about listing a book anywhere. Shows how many copies are out there and I click to display all the listings by price descending, so I can see what is the highest amount someone is asking. And I LOVE the quotes at the top of the page.
______________________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on November 19, 2005 06:54:07 PM
I wrote a movie review once on Overstock.com and I suggested all Anthonio Banderas fans to watch his movie ORIGINAL SIN,his last movie as a slim and handsome Latin lover and it was never published by Overstock,WHY??
/ lets all stop whining !! /
posted on November 19, 2005 08:17:48 PM
Powell's is great (they are local here in Portland) - Their main bookstore is literally a city block long and wide, and many levels. If you visit Portland, it is a must see for someone who likes books...
posted on November 19, 2005 08:46:57 PMhow RUDE of Amazon to delete reviews?????? wth??
The book in question has to do with voluntary and involuntary downtime from work. Some of the suggestions made by the authors are just pathetic ("buy a car and live in it" ), others are sanctioning illegal activity, like pointing out that you can arrange to have your weekly unemployment reporting done remotely while you're traveling abroad. This is a crime in California and probably most other states as well. If you're collecting unemployment, you *must* be present and available for work.
I pointed these things out in my review. I believe that the publisher or the authors exerted influence to get the review yanked, as well as two reviews from other people that were also negative.
Since each review submitted is screened before it is posted on the site, it seems clear that Amazon itself didn't have a problem with the review, at least initially.
fLufF
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[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Nov 19, 2005 08:47 PM ]
posted on November 19, 2005 10:03:09 PM
I wonder if they got rid of my reviews on music CDs I thought stunk?
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on November 19, 2005 11:17:54 PM
They must have moved the small print, I haven't bothered with a review for a while, esp mass market largely because of the twonks who either love or hate or whatever but stuff the ballot boxes with their opinions. Largely unconsidered ones at that. I wonder if people actually read the books they opine on.
They do have a caveat that states they will remove reviews. Big deal, it's their shop. Kowtow to publishers? Well maybe, after all they are a book SELLER...But if I have written a review that is a thumbs down and suggest better options, or use articulate language and make a point, never had one yanked. Maybe it's something about flies and honey? I don't know.
Some of the inane reviews I have read are laughable, pro or con a book.
