Comments on: Amazon ‘glitch’ de-ranks gay books

By: Kendall Granberry

Kendall Granberry — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:08:00 +0000

This is certainly an interesting occurrence. I first heard about this yesterday night, and was utterly outraged that such policies and actions could be upheld given the large-scale clout that GLBTs have in industry and revenue. I’m fairly sure we represent one of the largest online shopping demographics, and I’m DISGUSTED that there’s been no major news discussion or coverage over the issue of this ‘glitch’.

By: canmark

canmark — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:04:05 +0000

Amazon.com speaks! This from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166329.asp?source=mypi

Amazon.com has offered a response to the AmazonFail fiasco.

Because there’s so much attention to this, I’ll offer spokesman Drew Herdener’s comments unfiltered:

“This is an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error for a company that prides itself on offering complete selection.

It has been misreported that the issue was limited to Gay & Lesbian themed titles – in fact, it impacted 57,310 books in a number of broad categories such as Health, Mind & Body, Reproductive & Sexual Medicine, and Erotica. This problem impacted books not just in the United States but globally. It affected not just sales rank but also had the effect of removing the books from Amazon’s main product search.

Many books have now been fixed and we’re in the process of fixing the remainder as quickly as possible, and we intend to implement new measures to make this kind of accident less likely to occur in the future.”

By: Jim Buzinski

Jim Buzinski — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:18:25 +0000

Now some hacker said he did all this himself:

http://gawker.com/5210142/why-it-makes-sense-that-a-hackers-behind-amazons-big-gay-outrage

Whatever, the rankings for GLBT books are still not back.

By: Todd Pats

Todd Pats — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:37:54 +0000

Apparently, it’s just an American “glitch.” The English edition of my gay coming-of-age novel, ENTRIES FROM A HOT PINK NOTEBOOK, isn’t ranked. However, the German translation, DAS KNALLROSA TAGEBUCHE, is ranked on Amazon’s German site.

Pardon me while I go cancel my account with Amazon…

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:45:30 +0000

Why am i not surpised!!! i think a big stink should be made about because companies like amazon will always try to get away with things like that. Come on people, it is 2009. I think as gay people we should definitely get on top of this and send a clear message. I intend to delete my Amazon membership and use powells.com instead.

By: Patricia Nell Warren

Patricia Nell Warren — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:28:03 +0000

Another casualty of the Amazon “glitch” is the current edition of my novel THE FRONT RUNNER, as published by Wildcat Press. Along with all the other Wildcat editions of my gay-themed novels. As for my nonfiction collection of Outsports pieces, THE LAVENDER LOCKER ROOM, it is now listed as “unavailable.”

The only Wildcat edition of a book of mine that still comes up on a regular search is ONE IS THE SUN, which is a Western historical novel, non-gay-themed. Which definitely shows that gay books are being targeted.

Paradoxically, all the vintage editions of my books (from other publishers during the 70s and 80s) are still listed on the regular rankings. Which shows how hypocritical their new policy is.

The hornet’s nest is buzzing loud and furious as LGBT authors and publishers gather to protest.

By: canmark

canmark — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:38:40 +0000

Interesting story, and interesting how Twitter helped spread the word through the webosphere.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/amazon/archives/166259.asp
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23amazonfail

By: Kev

Kev — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:45:39 +0000

If you need a book check out Powells.com first. A couple buds work there. Good employer. 200% gay friendly, unionized and a local family business founded in Portland, OR.