Jem's Thoughts - Reviewers Beware!

Reviewers Beware!

Apr. 14th, 2008 at 6:29 PM

Something unreal just came to my attention today. I write a fair amount of reviews on Amazon.com, mostly positive but sometimes they are less than glowing. If I didn't enjoy a book or movie, or thought it only average, I say so and why. I have never had a review deleted because I follow Amazon's guidelines - but then, I never wrote a review of a book by Deborah MacGillivray. Seems she makes it a practice to have bad reviews removed from her books by having her friends and fans click the "no" button on whether a review is helpful. And to report such reviews as abuse which likely leads to Amazon removing them. And launches verbal attacks on the reviewers. She has also come under scrutiny for unethical and abusive behavior to fellow authors at her publishing house. I was astonished at her appalling behavior.

Check out more of the story here:
Dear Author

And the deleted reviewer's thread:
Amazon Discussion

And take a look at the comments for the below-4 stars reviews on her books (from the author's friends):
In her Bed

Even without hearing both sides of the story, this is more than shady. What's sad is that negative reviews are sometimes the most valuable. And usually they don't keep me from buying something I was interested in. She's hurting herself and the publisher with this crap. Obviously some people enjoyed her work - let their words stand up against the negative reviews.

Mood: shocked

Comments

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mzcalypso wrote:

Apr. 15th, 2008 12:19 pm (UTC)

Well, I just visited one of those links and posted a review stating that she kept her high rating by having her wrecking crew eliminate bad reviews - and that she was losing readers because reviewers don't live in a vacuum and those tactics turn some readers off.

I doubt Amazon gives a damn, because their goal is to sell books, and it does make sense for there to be a way to eliminate really vicious reviews... but gaming the system to make compost look like gold guarantees I'll never buy her books.

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jshillingford wrote:

Apr. 15th, 2008 11:55 pm (UTC)

I won't buy from her either - and I think that Amazon may take an interest because they don't like to alienate their customer base and the Amazon community. Guess we'll see, but you're right that a lot of readers will avoid just because of this.

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sunflower1343 wrote:

Apr. 17th, 2008 07:29 pm (UTC)

I've been following this too. But imagine my surprise when I read an article about it on GalleyCat in which you're mentioned as one who had been deleted. I figured you'd want to know since they seem to have misread your post.

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jshillingford wrote:

Apr. 17th, 2008 07:48 pm (UTC)

That is weird! Thanks for letting me know - although I don't think I'll do anything since it links back to my actual post and people can see what I really said. As far as I know, I've never had a review deleted. BUT, unless Amazon notifes you (the one reviewer just happened to notice) a person might not realize it unless they track their reviews. Scary. And so sad she doesn't see how destructive her behavior is.

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(Anonymous) wrote:

May. 13th, 2008 05:17 pm (UTC)

This author is insane, I am sorry to hear she attacked you. Karma will get her one of these days but until then she will continue to sell her wishy wash trashy books...those romance writers are nastier than a pack of werewolves!

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jshillingford wrote:

May. 13th, 2008 05:49 pm (UTC)

They aren't all that way. Many are outraged byher behavior. I can tell you that I keep count of my reviews now, so I'll know if one is ever deleted.

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