Amazon Sales Rank: Something is happening

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Like a some strange magic something is changing in Amazon website and search.

Yesterday if you searched "A Secret Edge by Robin Reardon" with the search Filter set to "All Departments" the only result you had was:

The Secret Handshake: Mastering the Politics of the Business Inner Circle by Kathleen Kelly Reardon Ph.D. (Paperback - Jan 15, 2002)

That was not obviously the fiction book on a teen dealing with the discovery of being gay.

Today with the same search, you also find:

Thinking Straight by Robin Reardon (Paperback - May 1, 2008)

That is still not the book I was searching but it is at least the second book published by the same author. Strange enought, both books, "A Secret Edge" and "Thinking Straight" still don't have their sales rank restored, but it's a good sign that something is happening.

I will continue to check

ETA: LLF Statement on Amazon Controversy

April 13, 2009--In response to the recent uproar over Amazon's deranking of "adult" titles and its effect on LGBT books, Board President Christopher Rice has released this statement:

"Lambda Literary Foundation applauds the diligent work of writers, bloggers and activists in calling attention to this deeply distressing turn of events. I have seen my first novel stripped of its sale ranking by this apparent computer glitch so I join other writers who are baffled to the point of anger. I take great solace in the quick mobilization of our community in response to this apparent marginalization of LGBT books; the grassroots power of the Internet has been placed on glorious display for all to see. Over the next few days, we at Lambda Literary will be monitoring the situation very closely. Amazon is one of our nation's largest general book retailers. In their commitment to creating and sustaining technological advances in the publishing industry, they have laid claim to the future of book distribution. As such, they have a pressing responsibility to create an unfettered exchange of stories and ideas. If a quick and decisive response to this problem is not forthcoming within the next few days, we at Lambda Literary look forward to leading a sustained and impassioned dialogue on this issue, which will seek to harness the energies that have been released by our community's admirable response.

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/index.html

Channel 4 coverage (where interesting and detailed):

Amazon spokesman Drew Herdener's comment:

Amazon calls mistake 'embarrassing and ham-fisted'

ETA: Apparently everything is back to normal:

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/595428.html

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

janedavitt's Wild Raspberries has also regained its ranking again, too, though it's yet to show up from the main page.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I believe they are restoring all the Gay & Lesbian category they stripped of the rank. Elisa

Fixed?

[(Anonymous)]

Looks like the 'error' has been fixed. I'm able to search from the 'All Departments' search bar and all the book titles (including my own) that were not found just a few hours ago, are turning up again.

Yeah! The attention YOU drew to this issue is to be commended. You got the buzz going and it went all over the blogs like wildfire.

Re: Fixed?

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Almost fixed ;-) There are still some titles missing, but I believe it's still question of hours and all the thing will be resolved.

Thank you for stopping by, I believe you are one of the authors I stalked in these two days (hence the "including my own" comment). Truth be told, I was more of a "spread the word" blog than anything, but I was glad to join the wagon.

Elisa

[(Anonymous)]

interesting update though doesn't really resolve the story but it's being reported that a hacker might be responsible, see following article for details:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/163024/hacker_claims_credit_for_amazons_gaythemed_book_glitch.html

but towards the end of the article an amazon spokesperson reiterates that it was still "an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error by *Amazon*"

i still think this story won't be resolved for sometime to come.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I want to periodically check to be sure that always will come back to normality. I'm pretty used to Amazon search engine and Bestseller Lists and so I can notice when it will be. For now it's not total as it was before, but way better than sunday. Elisa