If you aren’t familiar with Amazon then you might not realize that after a certain amount of reviews, their system picks review quotes. These are sentiments that are mirrored in multiple reviews. No idea how they pick these quotes, but I think Amazon needs to stop letting computers run their business. Here is the newest one to pop up on mine. This is to help ‘sell’ my book:
“The minor characters tended to feel like generic plot devices but did not detract from the story enough to break the flow.”- Rabid Walrus I 4 reviews made similar statements.
Thanks, Amazon! Nobody knows this quote came from a 4-star review and they might not read far enough to realize it isn’t an insult. I know it isn’t a person’s fault on this one. I know that there is so much to do that they need computers to do stuff for them. Yet, this affects sales. I don’t know why this quote was chosen and replaced a fully positive quote. Do these things cycle? Is there an Amazon programmer that I offended with my book?
This isn’t even rage. This is a face palm WTF!? moment. I know Amazon doesn’t care because I’m one grain of sand in their desert and not even a surface one. Still, I wonder if this is happening to bigger books. If it is then Amazon might want to fine-tune this system and program it to not take backhanded compliments as quotes.
Legends of Windemere 
Interesting. It also says that 4 reviewers made a similar statement, so the system must have some way of gauging content. You might try writing Amazon about it and seeing what they say.
It made me check my own review quotes, and they have changed over time.
LikeLike
Not sure why they change, but it might be due to new reviews appearing. Part of me is leery about contacting Amazon for fear that they tell me to shut up and threaten me with book removal.
I’m guessing they look for keywords and take the whole sentence. I’ve seen the phrase ‘minor characters’ show up a lot. The system has no idea what it’s doing. I’ve seen people call some of my characters generic too, which could be it. Funny how every main character has been called both generic and unique by different people.
LikeLike
I wouldn’t worry about contacting Amazon, I think the worst they would say is that they can’t change the system. And I’m pretty sure that they do change the quotes on some sort of rotating basis–I haven’t had a new review in months (in fact, I think they are all from last year) but the quotes on Catskinner are different from the last time I checked them.
LikeLike
You’re probably right. Which means I just wait for them to change them again. Hopefully, I don’t get a slew of 1-stars before then.
LikeLike
Seems like the more they try to “improve” the system, the worse they make it. Amazon should leave well enough alone.
LikeLike
It might be size. They need programs to do this type of work because humans would take too long and possibly play favorites. You’re right though. They should leave the working stuff alone and focus on actual problems. Like how to permanently put my book on their front page.
LikeLike
There you go!
LikeLike
Because Amazon doesn’t distinguish between what hurts them and what helps them
LikeLike
As far as they’re concerned, there are more indie authors where I came from.
LikeLike
You are having a full moon week, are you not? Sheesh – –
🙂
LikeLike
It happens once a month. Never pretty.
LikeLike
Take solace in the knowledge that the majority of readers will go beyond a single sentence quote before making a purchase. Personally, I think it is an unnecessary part of the system, flaws or no flaws.
LikeLike
I think they should let the author pick the quotes if they want those. The check only has to be to make sure the quotes come from reviews and they have to be changed every month. Something like that.
LikeLike
I’ve noted that the selection of quotes can change in time. I had one book several months ago where there was one quote that made me groan, but I just figured, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. A couple of months later, I happened to be on the page and noticed that the graon-worthy quote had been replaced. So maybe your face-palm quote isn’t yet etched in stone (hopefully).
Fortunately, there are shoppers like myself who just skip those lines and go straight to the actual reviews. The last thing I want to do is base my decision on one phrase that may be completely out of context.
LikeLike
It replaced a good quote and is long, which is what drew my attention. So, I have to wait it out and believe that it has nothing to do with my sales. They were slow before the quote anyway. Good to hear that people skip those.
LikeLike
I saw Rabid Walrus’ review. In its entirety it is not a bad review. I was looking at all of the reviews though, I didn’t see anywhere that just posted the one line.
LikeLike
It’s really strange. Context changes the entire thing and I can’t tell what the requirements for agreeing with them are.
LikeLike
What do the other 4 supposed “like comments” say? I didn’t see it posted that way or I would have looked.
LikeLike
I don’t know. There’s no way to figure out the other 4.
LikeLike
I keep saying Amazon is the devil…
LikeLike
I hesitate to go that far since they’re giving self-published authors a chance. I think they’re too big to be perfect.
LikeLike
“Too big to be perfect…”
Yup…I guess you are right!
LikeLike
Ouch! Not fair! What’s wrong with picking something like: Delightful read! Can’t wait for the next one! – 17 reviewers made similar statements ??? Sorry Charles! 😦
LikeLike
They’re looking for similar statements, so there’s no positive or negative.
LikeLike
Hmm, makes sense I guess.
LikeLike
It’s a computer program, so there’s nothing else to expect.
LikeLike
What ever happened to people? Guess Amazon is just too big to use humans for everything. Computers are cheaper and they complain less. Oh well.
LikeLike
Humans would take too much time to get things done. Also, people tend to forget computers can make mistakes too.
LikeLike
True, true.
LikeLike
That’s really silly. I think i would read the whole review after reading that one quote. Curiosity can be a good thing, if the review is good!
LikeLike
I would hope people would read the review, but I think these quotes are more for the rushed buyer. Look at a few common statements and decide.
LikeLike
I feel frustrated and I am not even YOU
LikeLike
Yeah. At least I have two good ones on there.
LikeLike
we should all get together and write similar reviews-het we might beat the system
LikeLike
I think Amazon has another program that looks for that and deletes them.
LikeLike
of course it does-drat
LikeLike
Sounds really unfair to me, Amazon clearly needs to do some work on their part to help legitimately promote books that deserve it. Isn’t this in both the author’s and Amazon’s best interest? I certainly would think so.
LikeLike
It is. These quotes change after some time. I used to have 3 short, clear ones. Now this long one is there.
LikeLike
This is one of the many reasons I don’t like the monopoly forced upon us by KDP Select and why I wish there was some way I could figure out to get better exposure and sales on other e-readers. When Amazon/Kindle controls everything they can do things like this with impunity.
LikeLike
I agree. Though, KDP Select isn’t as great as it once was. They altered it, so the free sales no longer count toward your real sales when you return. So, going free can push you back in the sales rankings and you might not recover. They keep that little fact hidden.
LikeLike
I think those quotes come from popular reviews that other Amazon users consider helpful. Not sure how they maintain the voting thresholds, but the general consensus, from others I’ve spoken with, is Amazon has a formula that kicks up the popular review and I’m guessing someone picks off the best quote on there. All a mystery in the land of Amazon.
LikeLike
Makes sense. Definitely a mystery.
LikeLike
My guess is that it’s randomly selected by a computer, an unfortunate consequence of removing the human touch. It will surely be replaced soon. You have many more positive reviews for it to choose from.
LikeLike
I know. That line came from a positive review too.
LikeLike
I’m curious. Have you noticed how often new comments generated?
LikeLike
I never paid attention until now. I think it’s every few weeks or a month.
LikeLike
Quotes have started to appear on mine now as well and they do seem to pick things that when taken out of context, aren’t necessarily that positive! That’s what happens when we stop using common sense and rely on technology..
LikeLike
It has to be looking for common keywords in there.
LikeLike
Who knows? Ours is not to wonder why… perhaps.
LikeLike