#amazonfail

[briarwood]

And by now most of my flist have already heard about the news. For those who haven't, the Amazon ranking system has been changed to exclude authors of LGBTTQ-related materials from searches and sales rankings. In spite of their totaly bogus claim that this is a technical glitch evidence has emerged that this discriminatory practice has been going on since February.

Amazon's moronic response to a query from author Mark Probst claimed:

In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.

Let's be clear. By "Adult" they mean pornography. And to judge by my own Amazon recommendations, it means hardcore, exploitative and dangerous pornography. Yeah.

So Brokeback Mountain is hardcore porn, but Laurell K Hamilton's abusive-relationships-as-romance are fine for all ages? A book designed to save the lives of suicidal teenagers, or a children's book about a child raised by two lesbians are hardcore porn, but it's fine to continue promoting Watchmen, in which a woman is slaughtered for the crime of being a lesbian, and one of the heroes is a murdering misogynist rapist?

I'm so there. Not.

For what it's worth, I have cancelled all of my outstanding orders at Amazon (which, ironically, included Sarah Waters' new novel out in June) and I have told them why.

There are plenty of other places I can shop. So I will.

Comments

[fluterbev.livejournal.com]

I've been watching this unfold since last night. I'm particularly pissed off at their weaselly claim that it is a glitch! Could this be more transparent?

Yep, I'm totally joining you in your boycott.

[morgan32.livejournal.com]

It probably is a glitch, in the sense that it's the work of someone idiot PR monkey lower down than the board of directors. But I don't care. LJ lost my trust with Strikethrough; if I didn't already have a perm account I wouldn't still be here. Any company with a large userbase needs to be pro-active against homophobia, racism and the like, not quick (or in the case of LJ, excruciatingly slow) to fix harmful mistakes after the fact.

Amazon need to provide a full explanation and an unreserved apology, or they won't get my business again.

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I think the reaction they've had over the weekend has rattled their cage slightly *g*

Like you, I've cancelled all orders, plus I work for a publisher and Amazon list all our catalogue (30 or so books). Well, they did... that's getting taken off their lists from tomorrow - no way are we doing business through them if that's their attitude. ::dusts hands briskly::

[morgan32.livejournal.com]

You totally WIN.

That's is seriously good news to hear; I hope your company isn't the only one.

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I hope your company isn't the only one.

I'll bet we won't be *g* Our firm only does a few thousand quid's worth per year through Amazon so I don't suppose they'll be horrified - but it gives us a chance to argue with them... eventually they'll get the message.