Amazon algorithms running amok: rank-stripping. Is Amazon-exclusivity nearing the end of its utility?

[Quantum]

Nothing really new, but the results could be devastating for authors who depend on Amazon. That happens when one company’s market share is so huge.

When combined with the declining KU payout, one has to pause to wonder whether the heyday when an author could quickly make a living off of Amazon only is nearing its end—and slower, diversified growth would be required.

Is this an opportunity for a startup and fragmentation of the book distribution market? Will you be that startup?

What do you think?

There are numerous reports on KBoards from authors who have had an ebook "rank-stripped" within minutes of a BookBub promotion email arriving in readers inboxes.

(https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/1...

Found through the Alliance of Independent Authors, which is a great service. I signed up for their newsletter. (https://selfpublishingadvice.org/self...))

[Segilola]

From the link you shared, I found this bit interesting:

Some have tried to justify the punishments by saying that Amazon doesn't want sales spikes, but that makes no sense given that Amazon has a competing email promo service run by Goodreads. (Curiously, there are no reports of a Goodreads-promoted title being de-ranked.)

Well to be honest here are two things I have to say:
1) It really should come as no surprise. If I was the owner of Amazon, I would do same. By punishing people who use other providers, I will be encouraging people to use my other services. I think this 'punishment' is quite timely as Goodreads will be charging for giveways from January 2018. So a very well thought out plan by Amazon

2) That said, like with all giants who try to 'force' people into submission, I would like to think that Amazon would be dying a slow death as a result. Unfortunately, Amazon has it's arms in so many different pies that I think it'll be there for a long time.

For some reason, I have found myself no longer shopping on Amazon (not an intentional decision, I just haven't felt the desire to), so maybe with time, more people would find other alternatives and Amazon would lose its market share

[Graeme]

How long before the Goodreads deals are available for Authors to 'buy,' into and at what price.

[Marie Silk]

I tried to contact GR about being featured in their Twitter feed when my book was free, but did not get a straight answer on how to pay to make it happen. Instead they gave me a choice of other campaigns (no mention of Twitter) that started at $600 (if I recall correctly) and went up into the thousands.

[Marie Silk]

Just read the blog post about Bookbub ads and disappearing ranks. This is really concerning...

[Ian]

There are already alternative distribution outlets, such as Smashwords, but one way or another, Amazon is well in the lead because it offers more than its competitors seem to do. If you look at Apple, it really doesn't look as if it is trying to grab market share, but rather offer something to people who have bought Apple devices, and it offers books rather woodenly and in a way that makes progress for the Indie very difficult. So my guess is, Amazon will predominate for some time yet.

[J.J.]

The authors could always file a complaint with the Justice Department...maybe the government might agree this practice violates anti-competition/monopoly laws.

[Segilola]

J.J. wrote: "The authors could always file a complaint with the Justice Department...maybe the government might agree this practice violates anti-competition/monopoly laws."

that sounds like a costly endeavour and I can imagine Amazon's legal team finding a way to prolong the process unnecessarily

[J.J.]

Segilola wrote: "J.J. wrote: "The authors could always file a complaint with the Justice Department...maybe the government might agree this practice violates anti-competition/monopoly laws."

that sounds like a cos..."

I could be wrong, but if you file a complaint instead of suing yourself, the government takes up the cost of pursuing it. True, they might not put too much stock into it at first, but if enough people complain, it would force them to.

[Ian]

Another point about laying a complaint is that legal stoushes with the government tends to be something to be avoided, because the government has very deep legal pockets. If the company can do a deal and stops the practice, and that may be the deal that satisfies the government, you get what you want cheaply.

[[deleted user]]

'Stoushes'?

[Ian]

Stoush - 1. A fight, 2. A violent argument.

My dictionary informs me it is colloq., restricted to NZ and Aust.

[Marie Silk]

Marie Silk wrote: "Just read the blog post about Bookbub ads and disappearing ranks. This is really concerning..."

This thread was started just after I found out my book was approved for another featured deal on Bookbub. Naturally this sent me into a panic, but the feature ran yesterday and I'm happy to report that my book maintained a rank all day and had no issues with what is being described here as rank stripping. I really hope this problem is not still happening to authors. It would be truly devastating after the investment!