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YouWriteOn.com calls for Amazon boycott

07.04.08 Graeme Neill

YouWriteOn.com, the Arts Council initiative for new writers, has called for a boycott of Amazon after the retailer's move to push publishers into using its own print on demand service.

Last week Amazon caused anger among small and independent publishers in the US when it told them that all p.o.d. titles would have to be printed at Amazon's fulfilment centres by its p.o.d. service BookSurge. It sparked fears that Amazon was trying to squeeze competitors out of the p.o.d. market.

There are no current plans to introduce BookSurge into the UK. However, YouWriteOn.com has invited all p.o.d. authors to list books on its site with a free link to any bookseller apart from Amazon. It called this "effectively...a proactive boycott of Amazon".

"It seems that Amazon are effectively attempting to monopolise the p.o.d. industry, and monopolies are never to the benefit of individuals. This will inevitably lead to less choice, less opportunities, and less royalties for p.o.d. writers," said Edward Smith, manager of YouWriteOn.Com. "It is also a red flag to the publishing industry in terms of how Amazon may use their influence on books from mainstream commercial publishing houses in the future."

Is Amazon the new Google?

amazon Print on demand Graeme Neill Home BookSurge YouWriteOn.com

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By June Austin

It is so refreshing to see that someone is at last championing POD authors. Tbis though is not just about the self published, but potentially affects anyone using POD - including then those large and small publishers who use this technology to maintain back lists, and increasingly also the universities. This is juts the start I feel of amazons plans, and if we don't stand up and let them know that their behaviour is neither ethical or acceptable then nothing will change. It is good then to see someone with some muscle getting involved in this and offering a positive solution to authors. I called for a boycot on amazon on my owb blog site http://juneaustin.blogspot.com/ over a week ago as well, but I am just one small voice.

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By Greg

We're working on ways for small indies to market and sell books without a reliance on Amazon. Already we've had comments and suggestions about linking instead to local independent bookshops or services like 'bestbookprice' rather than automatically link to the book's Amazon page. indies take note: http://ambersquare.com We've been mentioned on BookSeller too here: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/54281-book-people-for-independents.html

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By bookhitch CS

bookhitch.com is also offering publishers and authors the opportunity to list their books for free, directing readers to where they would like their books to be purchased. Over 2,000 publishers and authors have already signed up!

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By Joe

Being in the early stages of writing a non-fiction book for POD publication and a a regular book buyer, currently spending £100-£150 a month at Amazon, my reaction is simple. I stop buying from Amazon. This is a bottom line issue for Amazon. More control, bigger profits. Okay then. You live by the sale, you die by the sale. To have an impact you need the public to know and get on side. In the declining economic environment cost will trump ethics more than ever. Which means ease of buying elsewhere is paramount. Taking a moral stand is more popular when it doesn't involve any real effort. The whole underdog scenario can be popular with people, bully throwing their weight around kind of thing. Think Ben & Jerry's "What's the Doughboy Afraid Of?" campaign and go from there.

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By June Austin

What then Joe do you propose? A fair trade for authors campaign aimed at one of the national dailies? I wish you lucky. Despite reassurances that they do review POD books, none of them did anything with the copies I sent. Having visited and now joined YouWriteOn I cannot see where and how I am supposed to upload my book either! The site also appears to be aimed only at fiction writers.

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By Lexi Revellian

June, it’s going to take Youwriteon time to make changes to the site to accommodate the new listings for P.O.D. books. It’s not realistic to expect it to happen overnight. I think it’s a very positive step for Edward Smith to make, which should be welcomed. Yes, Youwriteon does deal only with fiction. It has limited resources; it is a free site. Amazon should not be able to take unfair advantage of its place in the book market without being challenged.

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By June Austin

No one expects it to happen overnight Lexi, and I am nothing else if not patient - one has to be in this game ! They did say though that they were inviting POD authors to do this, and it seems strange to mention this publicly before the facilities are actually in place. I agree 100 percent though - it s a very bold step for Edward to make and one that I wholeheartedly applaud and endorse. The more people that get behind this the better as it is only way to show these bullies that we mean business and they cannot treat the people who helped to make them so successful with such disdain. That is also why it is so good to see that it is getting such good coverage on here now as well.

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By June Austin

Having just been to the YouWriteOn site again I see that a link has been added to their website detailing the boycott and their reasons for it and inviting POD authors to send through the links to their books. For the benefit of others, it can be found here http://www.youwriteon.com/info/Publishers/amazon-boycott.aspx. Right on !

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