- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,922
- Reaction score
- 3,044
- Location
- MD
- Website
- gorokandwulf.blogspot.com
Here's an article about a writer who demanded that his book be "unlisted" from Amazon:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1976143,00.html
He's a big fan of the indie bookshops. And he was "horrified" to find his book listed on Amazon -- without his permission. In the article, he's quoted as saying. "What they are actually doing is getting the independents to do their market research. When a book gets a certain amount of attention, they will attempt to stock it and cut the independents out. Not with my book!"
Whatever floats your boat, but may I say?... Jeez. I love independent bookstores (at least those that bother to meet my needs instead of being too froo-froo), but I adore chains, too. I refuse to feel as if I'm committing some horrid sin by buying from a chain bookstore. In most cases, the chain store is closer, not to mention more likely to stock what I want (particularly as I buy a lot of genre fiction). That's not to say I don't buy at indies. (I love Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley, MD, for one -- but it's a long drive!) I don't agree with everything Amazon has done as a business (like some of the patent fights), but I also understand that they are trying to stay on top because that's what big businesses have to do.
The author urged people to shop at indie stores and use independent bookstore sites. Yeah, God forbid I might want to 1) shop in a store that has a large selection and a convenient location or 2) buy from a proven on-line vendor that offers discounts I like, not to mention all the reviews and so forth you can get at Amazon. OK, I guess I could use the reviews and lists and forums at Amazon to help me make up my mind, then buy it at an indie store, but wouldn't that be like getting Amazon to do the market research of the independents?
Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, this author is cutting his nose off to spite his face. Some people are going to shop for books at Amazon, period. (Because of habit, because they like the store, because they are Amazon Prime members and get free shipping, whatever.) So they're not going to be able to buy his book from Amazon now. But I guess he feels special about that.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1976143,00.html
He's a big fan of the indie bookshops. And he was "horrified" to find his book listed on Amazon -- without his permission. In the article, he's quoted as saying. "What they are actually doing is getting the independents to do their market research. When a book gets a certain amount of attention, they will attempt to stock it and cut the independents out. Not with my book!"
Whatever floats your boat, but may I say?... Jeez. I love independent bookstores (at least those that bother to meet my needs instead of being too froo-froo), but I adore chains, too. I refuse to feel as if I'm committing some horrid sin by buying from a chain bookstore. In most cases, the chain store is closer, not to mention more likely to stock what I want (particularly as I buy a lot of genre fiction). That's not to say I don't buy at indies. (I love Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley, MD, for one -- but it's a long drive!) I don't agree with everything Amazon has done as a business (like some of the patent fights), but I also understand that they are trying to stay on top because that's what big businesses have to do.
The author urged people to shop at indie stores and use independent bookstore sites. Yeah, God forbid I might want to 1) shop in a store that has a large selection and a convenient location or 2) buy from a proven on-line vendor that offers discounts I like, not to mention all the reviews and so forth you can get at Amazon. OK, I guess I could use the reviews and lists and forums at Amazon to help me make up my mind, then buy it at an indie store, but wouldn't that be like getting Amazon to do the market research of the independents?
Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, this author is cutting his nose off to spite his face. Some people are going to shop for books at Amazon, period. (Because of habit, because they like the store, because they are Amazon Prime members and get free shipping, whatever.) So they're not going to be able to buy his book from Amazon now. But I guess he feels special about that.