[info]chris_smith_atr

Chris Smith

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Email to Amazon
[info]chris_smith_atr
April 12th, 2009
Update: my email to amazon:

To whom it may concern.

I have been observing with interest the issue of sales rankings and searches for GLBT books over the last few days. Taken that you have now come out and explicitly stated that due to your "customer base" you will be excluding these books from your searches and rankings, I have decided to take my custom elsewhere.

If me and mine and not good enough to be equally represented on your site, then I see no need to shop through your portal.

I have sent this through my normal user account so that you can see that while my transactions may be nominal in value, they do form some part of your profit margin. I would think that during a recession, you would have been more cognisant of the fact that people are choosing very carefully where to spend their money. And I will no longer be spending it with you.

I also find it most amusing that I can easily search for and purchase hardcore pornography through your portal. Your double standards astound me.

Name redacted
( 49 comments — Leave a comment )

[info]gileonnen

2009-04-12 01:34 pm (UTC)

Wait, what? Amazon has done what with its GLBT books/other items?

If this means what I think it means, I am vastly, vastly disappointed.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]gileonnen

2009-04-12 01:38 pm (UTC)

*reads*

... okay, bugger that for a game of soldiers. I'm taking my custom elsewhere.
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[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 01:39 pm (UTC)

Oh yes. That is the least we can do.

Boyf knows someone in human rights in the UK. Guess where I'll be going on Tuesday.
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[info]megleigh

2009-04-12 01:39 pm (UTC)

I think this sucks. Completely.
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[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 01:40 pm (UTC)

As in, my leaving amazon? *worries*

Tell me your work is available elsewhere?
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[info]megleigh

2009-04-12 01:47 pm (UTC)

Oh no, I mean that Amazon's attitude sucks.

Sorry.
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[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 01:49 pm (UTC)

No worries, I am seeing paranoia around every corner now :)
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[info]lord_smeg

2009-04-12 03:33 pm (UTC)

Hi, I was directed to your post by a friend.

I would point out one grammatical flaw in your letter.

"If me and mine and not good enough to be equally represented on your site, then I see no need to shop through your portal."

I think you meant to say 'If me and mine are not good enough'.

Thank you for raising this as an issue though - if all adult material is to be removed, fine - so long as it's on a consistent basis across the board.

Better yet would've been to simply include a warning that indicates mature content not suitable for minors.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 03:37 pm (UTC)

Thanks for pointing that out, I dashed it off in a right flurry of fury.

Thing is, it is not just the mature content. What really infuriates me is the fact they're pulling the Young Adult stuff. I mean, I can get my kicks where I want, seriously over the age of 18, but what sort of message does this send out to the questioning kids? Just seems very very wrong.

Please excuse all grammatical errors ;)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]lord_smeg

2009-04-12 04:03 pm (UTC)

The flurry does show in your tone (insofar as text can), but I think it's understandable. An inability to find information on hand when questioning whether you fit into society's norms is a common frustration I've heard from a number of friends when they were growing up.

Unfortunately things like this don't get fixed unless an uncomfortable spotlight gets pointed at the party responsible the majority of the time.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]conuly

2009-04-12 11:16 pm (UTC)

Also, cognizant has a z, not an s.
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[info]conuly

2009-04-12 11:46 pm (UTC)

What, really?

Never mind, then!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 11:48 pm (UTC)

Yeah, sorry - may have been a bit abrupt, just want to take time to reply to everyone who posts and say thanks. And thank you!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]conuly

2009-04-13 12:05 am (UTC)

No, I get it! (Honestly, English spelling in this case makes more sense anyway. I *always* mistype that word!)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]medie

2009-04-12 05:48 pm (UTC)

got directed here by a friend, have just sent off a scathing email to Amazon myself.

I LOVE the part where if you put in the word 'toys' in the health & personal care section of Amazon you turn up California Exotics Devon's Private Pleasures New Soft Touch Vagina & Anus.

When Amazon goes for the hypocrisy, they REALLY go there.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 05:52 pm (UTC)

Well my mother always told me: "If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well."
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]medie

2009-04-12 07:40 pm (UTC)

true, true. No half measures and all that stuff.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]tinhuviel

2009-04-12 07:34 pm (UTC)

OH, and please note that it's hairless, which is perfect for all the pedophiles out there. Pedophiles are apparently okay by Amazon, at least if they're heterosexual.

Morons...
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]medie

2009-04-12 07:41 pm (UTC)

The stupid, it burns no? They really don't know what they've let themselves in for and I can't say I won't enjoy it, because, oh yeah, I am going to enjoy every second of it.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]toneils

2009-04-12 07:03 pm (UTC)

I sent off an angry email as well.

I encourage everyone who is boycotting Amazon to sign in to their user accounts and LET AMAZON KNOW that we've taken our business to their competitors.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 07:04 pm (UTC)

Yes. I completely concurr.

It's kind of exploded though - at no 1 ranking in twitter at the moment.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]synecdoche_and

2009-04-12 07:22 pm (UTC)

Here through [info]copperbadge. Wtf Amazon? Wtf. I just sent a fairly miffed email to them.


Is this just the .com branch, or is Amazon.uk doing the same?
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 07:27 pm (UTC)

Apparently both, but in a very haphazard way. Have a look at meta_writer for updates. :)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]allzugern

2009-04-12 09:05 pm (UTC)

I just checked the amazon.de site and they are NOT filtering. I still sent them a letter.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]straycat_cayra

2009-04-13 02:06 pm (UTC)

Amazon .com, .uk, .ca, .de and .jp are doing it.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]annlarimer

2009-04-12 09:38 pm (UTC)

Hear via Twitter. Thank you for posting. Have written a letter of my own.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 09:42 pm (UTC)

Most welcome, and thank you.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]sassy_fae

2009-04-12 10:40 pm (UTC)

Here via a series of links!
I spotted an idea that someone had for getting Amazon's attention regarding their very irritated potential customers, and wanted to pass it along, as I saw you were looking for ways of making one's voice heard: http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]velvetpage

2009-04-12 11:01 pm (UTC)

Linked to you from half a dozen sites. I'm waiting to see their reaction before sending an angry email - but I'm twittering and blogging it in the meantime. I suspect I will probably send that email tomorrow. What utter crap.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-12 11:02 pm (UTC)

By all means, go ahead. Never expected it to spiral like this. Gives me faith in people. And thank you for passing the message on.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]chilayse

2009-04-13 12:45 am (UTC)

Yes the links are spreading. Your letter is awesome. My friends and I don't even purchase any glbt books and we're still boycotting amazon at least until they fix it and apologize. Censorship like this is just wrong.
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[info]crashtestcase

2009-04-13 01:31 am (UTC)

I sent off an e-mail as well. I live in Seattle, my first job here was at the Amazon HQ 6 years ago, I use AmazonFresh and Amazon regularly. I emailed them tonight to let them know that I will no longer be using their services.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]conuly

2009-04-13 02:21 am (UTC)

http://mobile.publishersweekly.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6651080

You can stop boycotting them. It was, after all, Nothing But a Glitch, and we're all Very Silly for Getting Carried Away.

Bunch of fucking liars, but it's hysterical nonetheless. No idea how they're spinning the emails already sent out, though.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-13 07:56 am (UTC)

Apparently they are doing an ostrich on them and pretending they never existed. Thanks!
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[info]etherial

2009-04-13 03:40 pm (UTC)

There is reason to believe that it is a deliberately abusive attack on Amazon and us.
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[info]silver_kiden

2009-04-13 03:14 am (UTC)

i'm glad everything worked out, if it hadn't, i would have recommended banding together with other authors who's rankings had been removed and looking into a class action lawsuit, for discrimination leading to loss of income, or some such. also, many bookstores have their own website, such as http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.borders.com which are two of the largest in the US, though i don't know about other countries.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-13 07:57 am (UTC)

Thank you - am still quite amused that Amazon is blaming a computer glitch and ignoring the emails it sent out.
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[info]dncingmalkavian

2009-04-13 11:00 am (UTC)

Pardon my language, but this is fucking lame. It was idiotic and hypocritical to begin with, and I was just getting ready to type an angry email! Grrr!

I was seriously going to boycott them, too.

Like most of the folks above me I was directed here by a bunch of other links, so despite my being late to the party, know that you have my support on this matter as well. Amazon = TEH SUCK.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-13 11:01 am (UTC)

You've obviously not seen my original swearing based post. Your language is rather moderate comparatively. So no worries. And thanks :)


(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]dncingmalkavian

2009-04-14 01:08 pm (UTC)

Nope, I have not! I tend to cuss a lot in real life, but I tend to either not do it or pardon it when dealing with strangers. Force of habit.

And you're welcome!
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

[info]straycat_cayra

2009-04-13 02:12 pm (UTC)

Okay, after finding out Amazon germany is involved as well, I'm setting to getting this public here NOW.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]maricelt

2009-04-13 02:37 pm (UTC)

wow... I was sent here by a friend's link. And, ow. So canceled my latest order, and sent off an email. I'm just floored.
(Reply) (Thread)

[info]chris_smith_atr

2009-04-13 04:00 pm (UTC)

Its very interesting, isn't it? Just. Wow.
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)
( 49 comments — Leave a comment )
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