The Mail I Get

This one came today from Amazon Customer Service and the subject was "Your Amazon Inquiry." But I didn't make an inquiry. Here's what it said:

My name is Janet; I am a senior member of our Connect team, a part of my job
consists of deciding if AmazonConnect postings adhere to our guidelines. As
such, your account was brought to my attention.

Some of your posts have been found to be spiteful. In order to facilitate
customer buying choices, we encourage authors to discuss their work and
information related to it, however posts that are spiteful will be removed.

If this continues, we will remove your posting privileges from your
AmazonConnect account in accordance with our Conditions of Use.

My Amazon blog is a mirror of this one. I was curious which posts troubled Amazon (if it's really Amazon, of course… it's probably a ruse) and sent this note:

Spiteful? Oh my. Please indicate to me which specific posts of mine you believe are "spiteful" and why so I can better understand Amazon's thinking in this regard.

I'll let you know what they say.

5 thoughts on “The Mail I Get”

  1. Having dealt with Amazon for years, I have a feeling that is indeed a real e-mail and they are refering to all your posts ragging on the self-publishing industry, both authors and publishers. Heck, haven’t you attacked the publisher that Amazon created? And don’t you point out how stupid people are to list things on Amazon like fan fic they are selling?
    Yep, I think that’s the reason why you got that e-mail.

    Reply
  2. Why is it “spiteful” to have and share opinions? (rolls eyes) I find your posts (about self-publishing and others) interesting, helpful and amusing. Spiteful never crossed my mind.
    I got an email last week (from a different source, but one that could impact me) telling me the “tone” of my emails was “rude” and “it must stop now!” I was taken aback – not only by being accused of being rude but also that someone projected a tone into my emails I didn’t intend and then took the time to take me to task over it.
    I guess people prefer a fake nicey-nice Pollyanna approach with all things. Noted in the log.
    kim

    Reply
  3. In response to Annette above:
    I’m the author who just went through a battle with Amazon to get my 85 reviews put back up after they were deleted, originally because they said authors can’t have their book title in their signature if they review someone else’s book.
    Later, Amazon apologized, said they’d deleted them “accidentally” and then reinstated my reviews as I had originally written them. I am grateful for that.
    Authors who write reviews CAN include their book title in their signature. This was confirmed by 2 senior people with Amazon. (You’ll find their emails included in my comments of the above WriteType blog.)
    Lee’s issue is entirely different.
    Good luck to you, Lee!
    Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Divine Intervention
    http://www.cherylktardif.com

    Reply
  4. Spiteful? You? Well, I guess if you’re spiteful, then so am I. I try not to be, especially when dealing with any of the growing number of poor, misguided POD and self-published authors that call me up every week. Today, however, I succeeded in NOT being spiteful.
    I’m the manager of a major book store, and today I received a call from a POD author who wanted to know why her title could not be ordered for placement within our store. After all, as she explained, she had paid Outskirts, Inc. $500 to insure that her book could be returnable by the retailer, a pretty big sticking point in deciding what titles can grace a book store’s shelves. Somehow, she thought that by making her title returnable, every bookseller in the country would be beating down her door (or Ingram’s door, anyway) to get copies of her book. I explained to her that, yes, her title is indeed returnable, but that it still requires pre-payment for anyone to order it into the store. At this news, she seemed a little distressed.
    This author was, however, smart enough to ask me the $64 question: what would it take to get her title on our shelves? I held my spiteful tongue in check and courteously informed her that getting her title published by a traditional and reputable publisher MIGHT get it on our shelves. Short of that, it’s highly unlikely, if not impossible. She was very polite, thanking me for my time and candor, before hanging up. I assume she is trying to contact Outskirts right now in what will probably be a vain attempt to get back her $500.
    I guess today I can sleep easier knowing that I kept my spite to a minimum and that Amazon will probably not shut down my account (especially since I don’t have one). Good luck to you, Lee, and keep us posted about any developments with your Amazon blog.
    -Mark Little, author of no particular book at all
    http://mythemes.tv

    Reply

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