So I don’t know how or why the Amazon Algorithms work the way they do, but once again I’ve been victimized by the dreaded review removal. Notice how Amazon never removes the 1-star drive-by poorly written barely punctuated half-sentence reviews (even tho the review guidelines state that a minimum number of words/sentences must be used in a review).
You know the reviews I mean- the reviews that read -
thes buk sukked
and nothing else.
So, for the second time a detailed, articulate, insightful five-star review has been removed from one of my book pages. It’s always the five-star reviews…
I am not guilty.
1. It’s been years since I’ve sent out copies of any book for review or requested a review from an actual reviewer or book blogger. Years. I’m not exaggerating. I don’t send out books for review and I don’t solicit reviews.
2. I never ask family/friends/dogs/birds/cats/the homeless man for whom I just bought a sandwich/my Spanish-speaking yard guys/the Fedex delivery man who loves me to write reviews. In fact I tell everyone I know NOT to write reviews. Why, I said to my dog just yesterday— “Don’t you dare write a review because you know who’ll get in trouble? Me, that’s who, me!”
3. Once upon a time I did a few giveaways on Goodreads and then proceeded to ignore the results of those giveaways. I have no idea if anyone who received a book actually read it and reviewed it. And I closed my Goodreads account 2-3 years ago.
4. It’s not as if I belong to an author organization or writers group. I don’t. Not a one. So ain’t no reviews coming from my author pals.
5. I don’t have a publisher sending out books for review. While some of my books were released by a small pub, the last time Siren-Bookstrand submitted one of my books for review was way back in 2010.
So why in the hell did Amazon remove the review?
We’ll never know because I’m not stupid enough to ask.
I feel for you. That sucks.
But… personally, I don’t think reviews mean much anymore. There has been too much dodgyness (is that a word?) The drive-by one-star is not ever removed is it? But at least people know it’s crap.
I’ll never understand Amazon.
Is it because someone complains, or just a bot? That is so weird.
I just caught up with your old posts…got back from NJ conference. I agree about the magazine cover! And I don’t like the post about the creepy guy. I hope you called the cops. Be safe!
I think I have ten reviews total. And yeah…I noticed they didn’t remove the 1* review I got because the pub gave the book a lousy cover. Reviewer said she’d never read the book… I don’t usually even look at Amazon. Too many other things to do.
I agree with you for the most part, Greta. The one place I take exception is Amazon. As a reader I read reviews. I discount the stupid reviews or what I believe to be sock puppet reviews, but I do read the intelligent reviews both good and bad. This is why a well-written review matters to discerning readers - more on Amazon than any other site.
Join the club, Amber.
Can’t call the cops, Pens, he didn’t do anything. Hope you had fun at your conference! I must hear about it! And yeah, the magazine cover is amazing! Re Amazon I think it’s a bot. But I certainly didn’t know the reviewer - she was somebody who uploaded the book through Amazon when I did a free promo. She wrote the old-school kind of review we all love to read. Pity.
I check Amazon from time to time, Anny. It’s the only place I bother with. Yeah, one star reviews never get pulled.
I haven’t left a review on Amazon in ages. Mostly because most of my reading these days is for projects I’ve worked on and I avoid anything that might appear to be a conflict of interest. I also hesitate because I put a lot of thought and energy and time I barely have into writing those reviews I do leave, but since I’m a writer, editor and book producer, and my name is all over Amazon, I fear the technical conflicts of interest. And it would really piss me off to have a legit review pulled after I put so much into it.
A few bad apples, isn’t that what they say?
You know, Jaye, Amazon keeps emailing me, asking me to review books I’ve purchased. I’m terrified to review anything - might be pulled. Even if I love a book I won’t post a review. How silly. Who better to review books than other authors?
1.Police may not do anything, but can’t you ask that a report be made in case he does do something to another lady.
2. I don’t read many reviews on Amazon either. Sometimes maybe 2 or 3. I usually know if I want a book or not be browsing through it, or if someone I respect recommends it.
I just don’t get it, Julia. How can Amazon choose to remove 5-Star reviews and leave that one? To apply that idiocy to the real source: somebody at Amazon “sukks” and needs to find another job.
Yes, I usually get books from recs too, Roberta, but once in a while I’ll read a review in say… the NYT so I’ll check it out on Amazon and then read the reader reviews.
The police won’t do anything. I do mention it to other hikers though.
It’s some computer program, Marylin - I have no idea why it flags certain reviews. But yeah, it sukks big time!