Sleeping after his nap
I didn’t sleep very well for many reasons. Mostly indigestion from eating a large slice of Rigatoni ala Vodka Pizza, which I declare was worth it. Anyway, I’m not sure what to continue writing here. I was going to mention that Family of the Tri-Rune was still on a few Top 100 Lists, but it fell off while I was getting my son dressed. Still on the Hot New Release lists though.
It looks like either a 4 or 5 star review vanished from Beginning of a Hero, so I can’t say it’s all great news. Not sure which one. All I know is one is missing and the 1,2,3 star areas haven’t changed. It’s certainly an old one, so maybe somebody’s account was deleted. I think with everything going on in regards to review guidelines, it’s a little worrisome to see a review vanish.
Anyway, I’m off to start my day and hopefully get some work done. I’d go back to bed, but that always results in me either being groggy for the time I’m awake or sleeping so much that I can’t sleep at night. I’m stuck as is.
Legends of Windemere 
Is that you napping??? LOL. Sorry that your book fell off the top 100 lists and that you lost a review.. crossing everything that it gets better for you. 🙂
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That’s the toddler from years ago. Hope everything keeps going forward and no more reviews disappear.
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I do hope they get those reviews in order, its sloppy coming from a site like Amazon. You know, one just wonders How is it that only the good ones always dissapear? -_-
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I had a 2-star vanish a couple of weeks ago. I still hear stories of 5-stars vanishing because they’re reported as ‘friends & family’. I think it’s easier to believe someone reporting a glowing review than a negative review. If someone reports the negative, one can jump to the conclusion that the reporter is merely disagreeing with it.
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It reminds me of a time when in my guild in World in Warcraft we had a paladin who, whenever he would not get a piece of loot, would cry out to all the officers we are only giving stuff to “friends and family”. It was hillarious, because he was accusing people who never met in their life that they are brothers.
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That sounds like what happens here at times. I’ve seen a lot of negative reviewers declare within their review that all the 5 and 4 stars are friends and family of the author. Once it was on a book that over 100 positive reviews. I think it stems from the idea that it’s ‘impossible’ for someone to have a different opinion.
Actually, I do remember that there’s been a change to the Amazon guidelines. People that have no verification of purchase get their reviews deleted. So someone that got an ARC or won a copy in a giveaway might have lost a review.
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Again, that is ridiculous. I might have got the book somewhere else, but my review can help their sales
They just cant seem to find the middle grounds with their policies.
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I know. They try to put in guidelines to stop people from 1-starring books that they never read or bought. The result is also taking out anyone who reviews through ARC or buying at a local bookstore. Even getting it from a local library. There’s definite kinks in the system that have to be worked out. I wouldn’t know what they could do since they’re a massive company and can’t check every review that goes up. Not by a human anyway.
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When I had a few reviews deleted a couple of weeks ago, I complained, they sent me the link to their review guidelines … there’s nothing there about friends and family.
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=amb_link_47889982_2?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201077870&pop-up=1&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=066QM7XES2Q3FNVB8C92&pf_rd_t=7001&pf_rd_p=1422290442&pf_rd_i=customer-reviews-guidelines
“A family member of the product creator posts a five-star customer review to help boost sales”
I just found this. I think this is what they’re using as their reasoning.
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It’s not in what they sent me. I’d email them with a question about this but they seem to have stopped responding to me. 🙂
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It’s in an FAQ link attached to their main guidelines page. Is it a victory if they stop responding to you?
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My last question was “do you notify the reviewer when you delete their reviews?” Apparently that was too difficult to answer. A victory? Yes. For the power of a virtual monopoly.
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From what I’ve heard, they don’t notify the reviewer. I’ve seen a few people complain that their reviews vanished with no reason given. It might be that it’s Amazon programming that does it off key phrases or something like that.
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A computer that can automatically delete a review can also automatically send an email notifying the reviewer. The thing is that Amazon doesn’t want to because they don’t want to be challenged on this. If they were that would require them to develop a mote refined, more responsive system — which would cost them more money. And that’s the power of their virtual monopoly.
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And authors can’t be the ones to ask about the reviews either. It has to be the reviewer that questions it.
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Yes … nobody actually gets to know. I think HAL has finally taken over.
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Keep your chin up bro! The vodka helps….
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It does, but it’s too early. Rum is better for breakfast. 🙂
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Good point…
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There was a recent wave of temporarily vanishing reviews, so there is always hope. More often than not, they don’t reappear, but never say never. Even better, may more sales come back. 🙂
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I hope more sales come. Been a slow day for all of my books, but not all of the advertising has kicked in yet.
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Been a slow day for me, too. An hour behind, Monday blues, perhaps.
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I was always hoping that becoming an author would negate the Monday Blues. Seems the day sucks for every job path.
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Sometimes Mondays seem good. Many people enjoy their weekends, then buy books at work Monday morning. Just maybe not so many this Monday.
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I’ll cross my fingers that the rest of the week is better. I have marketing spanning into May right now, so hopefully I get a boost at some point. I have noticed that each consecutive book sells slower, which I guess is the danger of a series. One always loses a few readers with every book, even the big names.
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