Bullying: The New Way to do Business on the Web
Bullying: The New Way to do Business on the Web
S. Joaquin Rivera
Broken Sword Publications, LLC.
(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) – In another absurd development in the publishing world, Amazon.com has now threatened any and all Publish On Demand publishers with “punitive action” for offering customers a direct discount on their own websites. While not exactly surprising in light of recent events it is still ridiculous and not getting enough mainstream press. Tactics like this amount to nothing more than a schoolyard bully beating up kids for their milk money when the teacher is looking the other way.
Publishers are baffled (not to mention appalled) as to how Amazon could even have the gall to tell a publisher what price they could sell their own book for on their own website. Amazon has not given specifics on what “punitive action” would mean but it has a lot of people scratching their heads as to what the online retail giant is thinking in the first place.
Much to the dismay of numerous publishers and authors, Amazon is holding strong in their Gestapo-like tactics to strong-arm POD companies and small publishers to agree to their terms. Amazon is not asking but telling every single POD publisher that they have to let Amazon’s company, BookSurge, not only print their books but ship them as well. If they fail to comply they will lose the ability to sell books on Amazon.com.
Many of the larger POD companies (Lulu, iUniverse) have already given in and signed a contract with Amazon – one whose details seem shrouded in secrecy. Though Lulu has not said anything officially and seems reluctant to communicate with their customers.
What is clear is the fact that Amazon.com has managed to anger quite a few well-respected organizations, a plethora of authors and publishers, stockholders and most importantly, customers. But will this matter in the long run?
The American Society of Journalists and Authors has denounced what Amazon is doing and The Author’s Guild is in talks about the implications of antitrust and legalities of what Amazon has done thus far. The Small Publishers Association of North America issued a letter to the Amazon.com board of directors, detailing their dissatisfaction with the decision and listing in great detail why the decision is ridiculous. There is also an unofficial boycott of the site underway much thanks to the power of the blogosphere.
The bottom line is this: no one is going to want to sell their books through Amazon if this continues. The reported quality that BookSurge provides is said to be extremely poor. No one wants to buy books with pages missing or covers off center. Many authors and publishers (including BSP) have already pulled their sales links to the site, in effect, beating Amazon to the punch. Who wants to do business with a bully anyway?
© S. Joaquin Rivera, Broken Sword Publications, LLC. All Rights Reserved
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- In response to the Amazon.com blitzkrieg, Broken Sword Publications is no longer encouraging sales through their site. Broken Sword Publications does not condone the business practices of Amazon.com nor does BSP approve of the quality of books that Amazon now provides. You may buy our titles directly from BSP at a lower cost with free shipping and an autograph. Visit our site or more details. http://brokenswordpublications.com
Tags: amazon boycott, Amazon.com, BookSurge, independent publishing, Monopoly, P.O.D., publish on demand
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April 7, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I agree wtih you. We’ve decided never to shop on Amazon again. It’s not only the rotten ‘policy’; it’s also the threats and the secrecy. What were these people thinking, if they were thinking at all?
April 9, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Amen. I have also heard that BookSurge produces low-quality product. Hopefully, a mass boycott can encourage Amazon to see the error of their ways.
April 9, 2008 at 4:27 pm
just like a big nameless faceless corporation to lose sight of what really makes their company tick …. PEOPLE. pride before the fall. i hope they hit a few limbs on the way down.
April 9, 2008 at 7:10 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me! Punitive damages? Did Amazon suddenly develop a personality and sense of humour over night? Punitive? Honestly.
I’ve always enjoyed Amazons site for many reasons, but this is nonsense. I guess they are just BIG BUSINESS when it comes down to it, but really, it’s a shame. And to think I was just advertising a link to them TODAY. I’m thinking I’ll take it down and I’m going to talk with my partner about taking our movies off their site and selling them elsewhere.
Thanks.
April 13, 2008 at 12:48 am
There are petitions on the bottom of the page on this site.
http://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?p=63789
wow. that’s just plain wrong. good luck amazon recovering from this one. it’s now all over the Internets.
April 24, 2008 at 11:57 am
There will be a panel discussion about Amazon’s POD policies in Second Life on Saturday at 10 AM SLT (GMT -8) during the second annual SL Book Fair. I’m moderating it. If you have a Second Life avatar, come join us! Also I am looking fore a lawyer with relevant knowlege to join the panel disussion, so please let me know if you are one. I understand there has been a complaint filed with the AG’s office in Washington State but am curious whether there have been any FTC complaints. It seems to me that if Amazon is not only breaking the law but requiring other POD publishers to sign contracts not to compete, with secrecy clauses, there are serious federal law issues involved. Very serious business, would like some info about it from an expert.