Amazon Ass-hattery???

Reading John Scalzi's Whatever blog, I discover that, yesterday, Amazon has apparently done something remarkably stupid AGAIN:  All Macmillan books (which includes Tor, Scalzi's publisher) are no longer listed.  The issue, according to Scalzi, has to do with Macmillan wanting to raise ebook prices.  Amazon apparently disagrees because they want more people to buy their stupid Kindle with its stupid DRM that means you don't own the ebooks you pay for.  And, according to Slash gear, Amazon may be in a snit because Macmillan signed on as an initial iBooks member with Apple, whose new iPad is direct competition with the Kindle. 

In any case, he's correct.  Every Macmillan or Tor book I checked for only has other sellers (e.g. used market) listed.  No new from Amazon. 

Spread the word, please.  Let's raise a shit storm so that authors are not injured by a dumb move on the part of Amazon.  Because the authors, the little guys in this 'debate' over who gets to set ebook prices, are the ones who'll suffer if people like me can't order new from Amazon.  (Frankly, I like the free super saver shipping and would rather keep buying from Amazon just for that reason.)

I’ve dashed off a nastygram to Amazon.com’s customer service department and threatened to move my business elsewhere. If they get a shitstorm of such emails and boycott threats, they’ll likely stop the nonsense.

 

Comments

[Carolyn Crane]

This is terrible! How many times does Amazon have to use strongarm tactics for people to see they are really dangerous to the industry?

Oh, and just fyi, Borders and Barnes & Noble online have free shipping for orders over $25, and I can tell you, B & N books show up in like 2 days sometimes. It's fast! I think Borders may be the same.

[Robin Altman]

We had dinner with friends last night, and one of the topics of conversation was the Apple i tablet putting Amazon out of business. Maybe Amazon should be a little more flexible, considering that a new, very viable competitor is coming on the scene. Duh.

[G]

Gotta love the mentality of Amazon. They think that they're still sitting in the 1950's when monopolies were the norm.

Like my way or the highway?

Pfft~~~~~~~~~~)

[Natasha Fondren]

Well, it's not just them. iBooks isn't listing any Random House titles for the same reason.

[Natasha Fondren]

(I haven't checked firsthand, though... that's what I hear.)

[jjdebenedictis]

I can't feel angry about this, because I was never going to buy a Kindle anyway--not because an eReader wouldn't be cool, but because Amazon has consistently acted like an evil monolith of bullying intimidation in the past.

I can wait for someone else to come out with better technology and fair service. I'm patient.

[writtenwyrdd]

Excellent. I may just change who I buy from.

[writtenwyrdd]

I thought iBooks was Apple brand? And I read that Macmillan would be one of the signers on to some deal. (Maybe my memory is faulty.)