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thomasfly
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 24 Oct 2004
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:28 pm Post subject: The book review burned by Amazon.com! |
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After being posted for several months on Amazon.com... and receiving more "helpful" votes than either of the 2 "Spotlight Reviews"... my review of Dr. Lynne Cheney's book Telling the Truth was deleted from their website- however, Amazon did subsequently post my complaint about this, titled "Amazon.com and the Liars of the Looney Left".
I've reposted my original review as part of an essay on the topic of truthfulness at http://j2ee-consultants.com/songs/NextenronWirelessRipoffs.htm (which used to address a different topic, obviously...)
In my essay, I also comment on Lawrence O'Donnell's boorish attempt recently to shout down John O'Neill on "Scarborough Country." |
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Navy_Navy_Navy
Admin
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 5777
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, thomasfly - we learned a great deal about amazon's politics when they suddenly and arbitrarily decided that for the first time ever, they would allow ad hominem attacks on other posters, on the book, on the author - you can read this change in policy on their site for yourself.
As far as I know, that change has not been applied to a single other book in Amazon's inventory. 
Go to booksamillion.com - free shipping on orders over $25, decent customer service, rarely anything I want out of stock.
I've shifted all of my business over to booksamillion. I will go into the local Barnes and Noble and look around, buy coffee and browse... but to purchase, I'd rather go through the AAFES link to BAMM - that way, MWR gains by a little bit from each sale. Plus, if you use the AAFES link you automatically get the Millionaire's club discount.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother |
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sleeplessinseattle
LCDR
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Posts: 430
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Navy_Navy_Navy wrote: | Thanks, thomasfly - we learned a great deal about amazon's politics when they suddenly and arbitrarily decided that for the first time ever, they would allow ad hominem attacks on other posters, on the book, on the author - you can read this change in policy on their site for yourself.
As far as I know, that change has not been applied to a single other book in Amazon's inventory.
Go to booksamillion.com - free shipping on orders over $25, decent customer service, rarely anything I want out of stock.
I've shifted all of my business over to booksamillion. I will go into the local Barnes and Noble and look around, buy coffee and browse... but to purchase, I'd rather go through the AAFES link to BAMM - that way, MWR gains by a little bit from each sale. Plus, if you use the AAFES link you automatically get the Millionaire's club discount. |
I wrote Amazon numerous times about this assanine, clearly biased and partisan decision...they refused to address my specific concerns. They couched it in "isn't this a great season?" bull puckey but they knew exactly what they were doing...I will not shop there again and will talk to all the conservatives I know as well...there are many other ways to get our books and at great prices...There will always be a certain degree to which you cannot control your dollars' impact (i.e. regarding the ownership and who benefits from various purchases - wouldn't it be great to have a liberal filter that could tell you to what degree your purchases will benefit some idiot liberal/pro-Kerry type? [I smell a marketing opportunity!) but it's nice to not support blatant idiocies like what Amazon tried to pull.
Hey, since Amazon is based in (socialist) Seattle - I had to do my bit to try to bring sweet reason to the matter!
For those interested in all the esoteric detail - here's the email trail with Amazon:
=============================
Thank you for writing back to us at Amazon.com.
I have reviewed our previous correspondence about "Unfit for
Command."
I sympathize with your frustration in this matter. However, please
understand that the information provided in our last message
correctly represents our policy at this time.
As my colleague previously mentioned, Given the extraordinary amount
of media coverage this title has received in the weeks leading up to
the presidential election, we have decided to suspend our normal
review policies for this title.
Thank you for your understanding. We hope to see you again at
Amazon.com.
Best regards,
Mandee Norheim
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com
==============================
Check your order and more: http://www.amazon.com/your-account
ref_id:=dgwtrefw1157505073
>Date: Wed Sep 01 22:15:43 GMT 2004
>Subject: Other Questions & Comments
>From: Sleepless in Seattle
>---------------
09/01/04 15:05:23
NAME: Sleepless in Seattle
ORDER NUMBER: Unfit for Command
COMMENTS: You have responded to my concerns so regarding Unfit for
Command thusly:
"Given the extraordinary amount of media coverage this title has
received in the weeks leading up to the presidential election, we
have decided to suspend our normal review policies for this title."
My simple question for you is: Will you apply this "ad hominem
attack allowed policy" to books on the other side of the fence that
are wildly popular and have gotten extraordinary media attention
[Bushworld, Bushwhacked, Lies and the Lying Liars that tell Them,
etc.]? For that matter, Bill Clinton's "My Life" got a HUGE AMOUNT
OF PRESS coverage and was released leading up to this election. Why
no similar policy for it?
It's just so absurd that you applied this to one title only and not
all political titles leading into the election. Lame, wrongheaded,
stupid not to mention bad for business!...There you go - how's that
for an ad hominem attack (since I can do it in only ONE other place
with Amazon's idiotic stance...)
Phew!
What follows is the message string so far.
Sleepless in Seattle
=============================
>Date: Tue Aug 31 23:54:02 GMT 2004
>Subject: Other Questions & Comments
>From: Sleepless in Seattle
>---------------
08/31/04 16:53:58
NAME: Sleepless in Seattle
COMMENTS: My original email:
08/30/04 23:50:35
NAME: Sleepless in Seattle
COMMENTS: I cannot believe that you are allowing ad hominem attacks
on one title only (Unfit for Command). This is just absurd and
offensive.
Until you decide to deal with this matter I'm going to take all my
online shopping elsewhere (and right into Christmas) and tell all my
friends and family to do the same...
Perhaps when you reap the rewards of "partisan politicking" right in
your backside you'll think more coherently about your "policies."
Sleepless in Seattle
=============================
Amazon's (lame) response (8/31):
Greetings from Amazon.com.
It is always important for us to hear how customers react to all
aspects of shopping at Amazon.com. Strong customer feedback like
yours helps us continue to improve the selection and service we
provide, and we appreciate the time you took to write to us.
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com.
Best regards,
Stephanie D.
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com
=============================
You have NOT answered my concerns and my incredulity at this grows
by the day. Please provide and explanation as to why you've applied
a selective policy to ONE political book, Unfit for Command, and not
all others in the season?? It really is stunning braggadocio for
you to stick this in our faces collectively as you profit from it
(short term.) Well, if short term is what you're after, instead of
fairness, then short term is what you'll get...losing customers for
life who are going to tell many others of your antics does not seem
a sound policy to me! It's not that you applied the policy but that
you applied it selectively that is so wrong.
Do you have nothing to say for yourselves? Are you not going to
change this one sided, unfair, stupid manuever one way or the
other? Please answer me because your obfuscation is really making
me upset...
Sleepless in Seattle
==============================
Amazon's response from 9/1/04:
Greetings from Amazon.com.
Thanks so much for sharing your comments regarding the book “Unfit
for Command.” Given the extraordinary amount of media coverage this
title has received in the weeks leading up to the presidential
election, we have decided to suspend our normal review policies for
this title.
Thanks very much for taking the time to write to us.
Best regards,
Nicole L.
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com |
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Navy_Navy_Navy
Admin
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 5777
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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sleepless, your correspondence with them looks almost identical to mine.
I finally decided that we were NOT going to get that ad hominem clause attached to "American Evita," "My Lies," anything by Al Franken, Michael Moore-on or anyone else who hates Bush but loves the Clintons and Kerrys.
It was a calculated effort on their part. They wanted to sell books, but they didn't mind interjecting their own political bias into the process with the ONE book that has any chance at all of impacting negatively on the Kerry campaign.
Like you, I wrote them off.
One of my clients' web sites sells hundreds of books every month through the Amazon Associates program. As soon as this election is over, I will be re-writing that site so that all links will to go to Booksamillion. My clients will be losing a few thousand a year in referrals, but it will be worth it. I only wish that I had had the time to do it a month ago, when the emails between amazon and I were flying.
Shove it, amazon!
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother |
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sround
Commander
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 328
Location: Stockbridge, GA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for sharing; makes me feel even better about
cancelling my Amazon account six weeks ago!
_________________
Mission Accomplished!! |
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thomasfly
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 24 Oct 2004
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks guys- I actually accidentally posted here, intending my post to be added to the BLOGs. I'll study your replies, and perhaps add a link to, or excerpt of them, within my BLOG. |
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neverforget
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Posts: 875
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| sround wrote: | Thanks for sharing; makes me feel even better about
cancelling my Amazon account six weeks ago!
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So do I.
_________________
US Army Security Agency
1965-1971 |
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wednesdaychild
PO3
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 276
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the alternative link for books.
hey amazon, are u listening
shove it.
_________________
"...for the good of believing in life after birth..."
Jim Steinman
Last edited by wednesdaychild on Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Orolonn
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
Posts: 30
Location: VA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like Teresa's famous line comes in handy for more folks than she would have ever thought LOL
I quit using my Amazon account quite awhile back... and I am especially glad now that I did.
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Orolonn |
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sround
Commander
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 328
Location: Stockbridge, GA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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Believe it or not, wallmart.com sells books too.
A friend of mine swears by 'em -- claims they're
much less expensive. I haven't bought anything
from them yet, but I always use www.froogle.com
to find a good deal. 
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Mission Accomplished!! |
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Scott
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 1603
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a tip for all of the serious readers, as well as serious bargain-hunters:
www.bookfinder.com
You can search for new and/or used books, and get a list of sellers and descriptions.
If you're a collector, it's great for first editions, as well.
_________________
Bye bye, Boston Straggler! |
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minnie presley
Commander
Joined: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 307
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| Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:36 am Post subject: books |
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| overstock.com is good too, |
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