Recently I took on my first publishing project for another author. I published the book through Ingram's platform because it's hardcover, and Createspace--soon to become Amazon's Print platform--does not publish hardcover books.
Early on, Amazon was in the forefront of the self publishing enterprise with KDP, and their Advantage consignment program for authors is less than fortuitous for the author. Amazon purchases Big 5 publishers' books at a 55% discount. The Big 5 use LSI, so why is a small publisher prejudiced against in the preorder stage? Why doesn't Amazon purchase small publishing house books at the discounted rate?
After listing the book, Amazon showed the book for preorder. Several people apparently preordered copies at which time Amazon made the book unavailable and CANCELLED the orders. This is an example of my fourth communication with Amazon regarding this issue, and I've spoken to various departments.
***
Hello, the book I've discussed with you multiple times is still showing unavailable when it is in fact available for preorder.
You are now connected to Francis from Amazon.com
Me: It is not an Ingram listing problem; it is an Amazon stingy problem.
Francis: Hello, my name is Francis. I'm here to help you today.
Thank you for being a Prime member Gean.
Me: I doubt it as I've tried numerous times already
I'm about to pay off my card and cancel my Prime
If this issue cannot be resolved
Francis: Let me look into this for you Gean.
Me: Sure why not? The title is The Werewolf Who Ate the Moon
It was initially available for preorder, then after people started preordering it, Amazon changed the listing to unavailable and canceled all the orders
Francis: Gean can you help me with a link of the item?
Me: https://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-ali...(See full link)
Francis: Gean I checked the item on the website and it is indeed currently unavailable as of the moment. It's not available for pre-order as well.
Me: Yes, it is available for preorder and was for the first week until it started selling and Amazon took it down
Then Amazon cancelled orders (I know and have proof this happened).
Francis: Amazon can remove the option to pre-order any item if they believe the stock will not be sufficient. In this case you may just wait for the item to get its stock back before you can order it Gean.
Me: It is in preorder, which means the stock has not been released yet
Francis: You mean you already pre-ordered the item and was automatically cancelled?
Me: No, a teacher ordered the book and her order was cancelled after the listing was changed to unavailable.
She reached out to me because I
am the publisher
Francis: I see.
I'm just checking my resources. Please bear with me.
Me: Thank you
Francis: Please stay connected Gean. I've forwarded the issue to my Leads and just waiting for their feedback.
Me: Okay
Hopefully this will be resolved because it's my fourth contact with Amazon about this issue
Francis: Gean?
Me: yes
Francis: Sorry for the long wait.
Me: ok
Francis: So I reach this issue to our Leads here, unfortunately since we're part of Amazon Retail customer service support we are not trained to handle such issue. According to them the one who should reach to us is the one selling the book in our website or rather the author of the book. If you are the publisher you should also have a direct contact to Amazon, like email or something. We suggest you to communicate with the author of the book or seller and contact us via phone and ask for seller support. They will be the one to assist you further and update the item on the website.
Me: can you provide a link for seller support
Francis: One moment please.
Me: I have already spoken to Ingram LS about the issue and they told me Amazon is choosing to list the book that way
Francis: seller-handmade-transfer.amazon.com
Me: Here is a direct quote: " *Ultimately it is down to the retailer to determine whether they make a title available or not and unfortunately we cannot press them to do so.
I hope that we were able to help answer any questions you had!" Amazon is the retailer, correct?
Francis: This is their email.
Me: Well thank you for that at least, however the book is not handmade and I feel I will just get the run around from Amazon there also.
Francis: By the way if you are to contact our seller support they will ask for a sellers account that's why you need to communicate with the author as well.
Me: Perhaps it's time for publishers to boycott Amazon's prejudices.
Any feedback on this issue is greatly appreciated.
That's the rub. Amazon is trying to monopolize everything by way of Internet purchasing. It would behoove everyone not to buy from Amazon if they can avoid it. Unfortunately, I recently tried to buy a clothes dryer locally to give them the business. When the retailer started jacking up the price for insurance, delivery, installation and other sundry add-ons, I went on Amazon and found the same dryer at over $100 less, delivered and installed. In fact, delivered and installed in two days!
A boycott might be a good thing. But everybody would have to opt in, and I'm not sure that most people are willing to give up something they think is low-cost and very convenient.
Ron