Bitchin' Blog Posts
Bullying & Nonsense
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | September 24, 2009 | Thursday at 9:04 pm | 74 CommentsI have heard from three authors today that they’ve had their wrists slapped by their publishers. Why?
For not having Barnes and Noble sales links on their sites for their books. Authors were informed that if updates to their sites were not made immediately Barnes and Noble would not be ordering their books.
Holy hopping shite, who in the name of better things to do has the job of surfing all the author websites looking for ordering links?
And why is a bookseller mandating authors maintain point of sale links - often at their own expense since many web management firms charge
per update (which is something that already irks me but that’s beside the point)? Referrals are earned commodities, not mandated by threats.
Anyone else get the “send your readers to B&N or else” threat today? Surely there other ways to encourage book sales than bullying & nonsense, right? Right?
ETA:
This is part of an email that was sent to authors today:
One of our major accounts is now checking author websites, and is REFUSING to put in an order if their site is not listed as a place to go to buy….
The particular account is B&N, but we anticipate that in the future more sellers will have this requirement….
Please do this ASAP…. I’m not exaggerating when I say they WILL NOT ORDER the book unless their site is listed.
Question: would it have been too much to… ask? Instead of, you know, threatening?
Filed:
Suze said on 09.24.09 at 09:25 PM • [link]
What if you don’t have a website? If Linda Howard has one, I’ve never found it. Is it written into your contract that you must have a website, and it must have POS? And if publishers are specifying that any money in an advance MUST be spent on marketing, and therefore you should have a website, then the whole advance model is really going to have to change. This sounds invasive and like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Dumbness.
liz m said on 09.24.09 at 09:58 PM • [link]
SRSLY? I wish I were surprised, but I know a fair number of people who work for / have worked for B&N so I can’t say I’m shocked. I’m the sort of person who would say “Tell them that’s fine then” and promptly add a note for my readers to buy my work other places.
ghn said on 09.24.09 at 10:13 PM • [link]
What next? Will they refuse to order the books if the authors have links to - or even mention - other publishers?
What are they _thinking_? Are they thinking at all?
Perhaps the authors will start to put links on their websites, mention message from B&N and recommend the link to any other bookseller? ;-)
RStewie said on 09.24.09 at 10:16 PM • [link]
I wouldn’t shoot myself in the foot over it, but I would add more than B&N’s POS. WalMart, Books on Board, Amazon, BAM, FictionWise, etc would all be thrown up there.
B&N would, however, be on the bottom of the list.
Carol said on 09.24.09 at 10:28 PM • [link]
This is, indeed, a ridiculous request made by B&N.
Also, on the minor point of web mgt firms charging per update - it depends on what kind of contract you set up. Believe me, if there’s no compensation for changes (even small changes) then a designer will get so bogged down with minor update requests for which they’ll make no money - that they won’t have time for new clients.
SheaLuna said on 09.24.09 at 10:42 PM • [link]
That is over-the-top nuts. Can we say Big Fat-Ass Bully Book Nazis?
I won’t be buying from B & N again. Not that I do now, living in the UK, but I won’t be shopping there if I ever move back. I don’t like being told where to shop and I don’t like my fave authors being bullied.
It’s just… rude. Sorry, that’s all I got.
Castiron said on 09.24.09 at 10:44 PM • [link]
I haven’t heard anything about this at the publisher I work for.
The only place I can think of that this might have come from is Amazon’s changing their rules so that if you’re using Amazon content (covers, etc.) to promote books, you can only have Amazon links on the primary page; this could be a B&N response.
But it sounds very odd, and I’d like to know which publishers are saying this.
Darlene Marshall said on 09.24.09 at 11:06 PM • [link]
When I was a working journalist I had a sign over my desk: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” Do we know for a fact that authors are being told they have to do this? Is it a particular publisher, and if so, can we find out who it is?
I wouldn’t want to slam B&N without having the full story.
Jacquilynne said on 09.24.09 at 11:11 PM • [link]
I agree with Rstewie—if I was an author with a site and I got that message, I’d make sure I had a link to every place it was possible to buy my book on my site. And B&N would be at the bottom of the list, right underneath links to the geocities-based websites of unfortunately closed local stores with names like Ye Olde Book Shoppe in places like Podunk Hills, Missouri.
job said on 09.24.09 at 11:13 PM • [link]
@Darlene
Sorta what I was thinking. Who would be doing this and under what contract provision?
Gram said on 09.25.09 at 12:02 AM • [link]
It sounds as if it is the publisher that is being “cranky”. What is an author to do if their publisher demands such a thing??? If we find that it is B&N demanding such a thing, we know what to do!! But how do you boycott a publisher and not adversely affect your fav author???
Anonymous said on 09.25.09 at 12:59 AM • [link]
Do we know for a fact that authors are being told they have to do this?
Yes. I can confirm this is true. My editor emailed me yesterday and said I needed to link to B&N immediately or else suffer their buyers’ retribution.
I complied.
Darlene Marshall said on 09.25.09 at 01:23 AM • [link]
@Anonymous—Thank you for confirming this. I don’t blame you for complying, but it’s not a good situation for you or other authors. You have my sympathy.
Anonymous said on 09.25.09 at 01:39 AM • [link]
I was also directed to add links, but not just Barnes and Noble. There were many listed. However my editor did not make it sound like we were being threatened. I thought it was just a new policy.
Shiloh Walker said on 09.25.09 at 01:52 AM • [link]
I haven’t ever received anything remotely along the lines of ‘link to this site or they won’t carry your books’.
I do have BN listed, along with Borders, Bamm, Powells and Amazon.
A while back, I did receive an email with a politely worded request, and it was clearly a request, that I consider adding Borders to my site, but it was already on there.
Before I cried foul about anything, I want to know exactly what the publishers were told, and what the authors were told.
awaskyc said on 09.25.09 at 01:56 AM • [link]
I recently took a class in book marketing in which we were told to make sure authors have links, not just to B&N, but to all the major online booksellers: amazon, powells, indiebound… I think there is a good reason for this, though. If authors are linking just to amazon, which many do, B&N has every right to say why should we stock your book if you’re sending your fans somewhere else? Marketing is done on the part of the publisher, not the bookseller, so I think B&N has every right to say that if online marketing efforts aren’t directing people to B&N as at least one of the options, they won’t carry the book. Harsh, but there you are. Remember, this is the company that charges the publisher for every book cover that’s wrong on B&N’s site.
Jane said on 09.25.09 at 03:39 AM • [link]
I understand that it is strongly suggested that all accounts are represented on an author’s site. Most authors have only Amazon and all accounts want equal treatment
Tango said on 09.25.09 at 03:43 AM • [link]
I’d heard someone making a similar complaint about Amazon recently.
Now, if the issue is as awaskyc says: why should we sell your book if you’re sending people to buy it elsewhere with your site? - that’s understandable.
I don’t care for the environment I find in a Borders or a Barnes & Nobles. Waldenbooks I like, even though I know they’re owned by one of the other two. However, Waldenbooks are scarce nowadays, so I don’t make it in to them often.
I honestly find that I’m reading less variety because what I can’t find is a bookseller who employees people that can understand what I like and help me find more of it. When all my friends stopped working at the local Waldenbooks in college, I stopped shopping there.
Nowadays my reading list looks like Jim Butcher and Robert Jordan with a hint of Anne and Todd McAfferey. And I can get those from Amazon for less hassle and headache, without the pretentious atmosphere and overpriced coffeeshop of a bookstore.
Diana said on 09.25.09 at 04:33 AM • [link]
But the demand goes both ways, right? If the author has a link on his or her site, then he or she can expect to see his or her books on the shelves of any B&N in America?
Riiiiiiight.
CaroleM said on 09.25.09 at 04:36 AM • [link]
Hmm. If B&N stops ordering books based on what is stuck on a random website, wonder what they’ll sell in place of said books. And if the sales from a button/link on said random website is so incredibly profit-producing and important, how come they have all those fancy bookstores taking up real estate. I have approx 10,000 (literally) books in my home and I can safely say I’ve never purchased a single one from an authors website. Plenty online, but never from an authors website link.
Word for Day -nothing67 -as in if B&N stops ordering books to sell, they’ll be stuck with nothing to sell but 67 pieces of overpriced stale coffhouse snacks.
Heather said on 09.25.09 at 04:40 AM • [link]
Wow. Just… wow. I’m extremely amused by this because my local B&Ns; never get new releases out until a week, sometimes two or three, after they were released. Because it’s the closest to both my work and my job, I used to go there all the time to pick up books the first week they come out but after having to constantly ask at the info desk where the book is because the new release displays are filled with books that came out a month ago and the actual new releases are still in the stock room. B&N isn’t doing their part to get these books sold when they first come out but they expect the authors to jump and immediately post a link to their store on their site?
MamaNice said on 09.25.09 at 04:44 AM • [link]
So if J.K. Rowling decides what the hell, and releases a Harry Potter 8…ya think B&N won’t sell it if she doesn’t link to them?
Mmmm….prob. not.
Methinks B&N will put the asshat away for the big fish.
I think, regardless of links, readers buy their books from a: where it is cheapest, or b: where they are most comfortable. That’s never been B&N for me, and a link on an author’s site won’t change that.
I suppose if B&N offered special in-store or website marketing in exchange for a prominent link on an author’s site - that would be fair, but I have no clue what I’m talking about.
quichepup said on 09.25.09 at 05:53 AM • [link]
B&N’s attitude is pretty harsh but bookstores are hurting. I work for a different chain bookstore and we’re being pushed to sell, sell, sell because people aren’t buying like they used to do. When most people buy online they go to Amazon first. While I do not agree with B&N’s demands I admit I understand why.
A. Nony Mouse said on 09.25.09 at 06:18 AM • [link]
I work for BN and I’m a bit floored by the demand, but I understand the reasoning. Booksellers, like anyone else, are hurting for sales. Books take up valuable real estate in the shelves. If authors aren’t equal opportunity about their links, why should bookstores take the risk of ordering the books in the first place? Not to say that consumers don’t know places like BN carry the latest titles; it’s more of an “If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”.
I disagree with the methodology used, but I understand why it might be necessary. Besides, as a prospective author, I would have as many bookstore links posted possible. From a sales standpoint, it makes sense.
Amanda Downum said on 09.25.09 at 06:22 AM • [link]
I had a B&N link up already as an alternative to Amazon. Now I’m tempted to accidentally break it.
Janet W said on 09.25.09 at 06:24 AM • [link]
OK, this is completely non-scientific but a) I can never get into the B&N site quickly and I can always get to the Borders site b) Amazon is hands down most user friendly for buying books ... they’re even making it easier to wrap used books into the “free shipping $25 thing and c) lastly, I’m not wild about the face/tone of B&Ns; online romance hostess. So, they’re the last place I’d go.
Plus, in RL, when I need a book yesterday, Borders is day in/day out the place that is most reliable. I forget where I read this, maybe SarahW? But someone suggested that we select out/applaud, individual book stores. I would ordinarily say great idea but so many of them are just not romance friendly. Even and including, the Outlander books ... that’s just wrong :)
Lisa L. Spangenberg said on 09.25.09 at 06:33 AM • [link]
I wonder is this is in response to, or related to, Amazons odd behavior regarding sites using Amazon data (ISBNs, cover images, etc.) without prominently featuring Amazon links?
See:
http://www.librarything.com/blog/2009/09/amazon-policy-change-and-how-were.php
library addict said on 09.25.09 at 06:47 AM • [link]
Bad B&N!
That said, why don’t more authors have multiple links up on their websites. There are many Harlequin/Silhouette authors who only have links to Amazon on their webpage. I realize that eHarlquin.com doesn’t carry the print version of their books forever, but why not at least list the site as an option and have a link to the e version if one is available?
Casse said on 09.25.09 at 07:41 AM • [link]
That is craziness! I can say this, I would say screw them and NOT put the link up.
Mary Winter said on 09.25.09 at 07:43 AM • [link]
I’ll admit, it would be nice to know which publisher(s) were being targeted (i.e. is this like the Amazon.com/Createspace/removing buy buttons fiasco that primarily hit smaller presses, or something else?) and some more information.
That said, given that the above mentioned issue has resulted in a lawsuit, wouldn’t this possibly be illegal in some fashion, since they are telling an author/publisher how to run their private business in order to do business with them?
Oh wait, Voldemart does it already to its suppliers.
I think we need some facts.
Spamword - press53, yeah I’d be pressing the issue more than 53 times if this were happening to me or my press.
Jessica Scott said on 09.25.09 at 01:04 PM • [link]
I’m going to err on the side of BN in this one. While I agree they could have phrased it more nicely, at the end of the day, this is business. Why would they spend money purchasing an author’s books if said author is driving sales traffic somewhere else?
It’s smart business for the writer to have as many options out there for her fans to purchase the books. Some folks might refuse to shop at Amazon, for instance but if the link is there for the alternative, its easier for the fan to find/purchase.
And unfortunately, business is quid pro quo. I would be a little upset at the demand but it’s business. It’s not nice. It’s not supposed to be.
BN, like every other business out there is feeling the crunch of the numbers. If author a is driving traffic to their website and author b is not, a smart business move is to purchase more books from author a.
They don’t have to be nice about it. It probably would not hurt but we’re talking about money. People’s feelings are no where in the equation.
Larissa said on 09.25.09 at 02:23 PM • [link]
Yep. I’ve had it suggested to me that I add links to several booksellers, and was given lists that include Borders, B&N, BAM, and indies. This was several months ago, btw.
Trish said on 09.25.09 at 02:25 PM • [link]
I, too, am going to have to come down on the B&N side of this debate, too. While I’m not feeling the love for the strong arm tactics, my day job is at B&N. When people shop with us, I keep my job. Consequently, this has made me more sensitive to noticing how frequently author/reviewer websites have a link, image link, or book summary that sends readers to amazon, but not B&N. If you can have a list of all your favorite authors, writing resources, or time wasters on your site, how hard is it to create a list of booksellers who carry your books, including B&N?
Anonymous said on 09.25.09 at 02:40 PM • [link]
Have you tried your public library?
Karla said on 09.25.09 at 02:57 PM • [link]
I wonder if their understandable (but ham-handed) policy is going to provoke enough outrage that a “bad apple” excuse is going to be forthcoming. Yet the policy will still stand.
Courtney Milan said on 09.25.09 at 03:19 PM • [link]
Whether this is strong-arm tactics or just savvy negotiating on the part of B&N, I can’t say. But I will say this: I think it’s in an author’s interest to support *all* bookstores that carry their books, and to make sure that as many bookstores as possible survive this particular downtick in publishing. Bookstores are good. More bookstores are better.
Which is why I wrote a script to link to a bunch of bookstores automatically. For those authors who (a) run your own website, (b) want to have links to all kinds of online retailers, and (c) can run PHP, I commend to you, with every ounce of arrogance in me, the PHP script I wrote to automatically generate links to a number of sources on my website.
Insert an ISBN. It will automatically generate links to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-a-Million, Borders, Chapters, Indiebound, the Book Depository, Powell’s and Vroman’s.
(The last two are great indie bookstores that I have, at some point in my life, lived near, and loved for great romance selections.)
I’m running a slightly souped up version on my website (which randomly changes the order of the links so that nobody is given any particular preference). You can see it in operation
here.
If you want to see the latest version of my PHP script, it is available here (and this should automatically update as I make changes). At some point in the next week or so, I’m going to try to tackle an ebook linking system (much, much harder—the format confusion means there are a bazillion ISBNs), and add a link to eHarlequin that doesn’t go active until the actual release date because it won’t appear on their site before then.
I don’t claim to be anything other than a complete hack when it comes to coding. Nonetheless, this little snippet is released under the GPL. Feel free to modify & use as desired.
Over Christmas break, in my copious spare time (cough, cough) I’m hoping to see if I can convert this into a usable Wordpress plugin, which I think will further widespread adoption.
Chloe Harris (noelle) said on 09.25.09 at 04:45 PM • [link]
Thank you Courtney Milan!
I’m going to pass this along to my writing partner that does our website. Seems like it would be a lot easier to just plug in ISBNs that having to look up the link for your book’s page at every site.
Thanks Again.
Julie said on 09.25.09 at 04:56 PM • [link]
Yea, I’m going to need you to list me on your website somewhere as a reader, or I’m not going to read your blog anymore.
I’m serious, I WILL NOT your blog if I’m not listed!!
>.<
Did they think this wouldn’t get out? Oooh B&N, you’ve just made your case for me never stepping foot in your stores again. :P
Lisa said on 09.25.09 at 05:16 PM • [link]
Full disclosure: BN part-timer
The corporate drive for every penny is making itself felt everywhere - but I do wonder how emphatic the demand for links was to publishers/agents and if it has gotten pushed to greater prominence on their end.
As a part-timer at BN (the discount feeds both my romance and my grad school needs) and someone who has shopped at the store for years and years, I can say there are plenty of us booksellers who care about matching the right people with the right books - unfortunately, getting the right bookseller at the right time can be hard. BUT, some stores are snotty snotty snotty and romance devotees who work there may hide their secret - but some of us let our freak flag fly and make sure our co-workers know that if someone is asking for the recs on vampire menage romances or D/s time traveling werewolf sagas to send them to us! If you encounter a bookseller who cannot help you, ask if there is someone on duty who reads [fill in blank] or whose department it is - people do this all the time for kids’ books, but seldom for genre fiction. It may be that the unhelpful bookseller just needs to be pushed to say, “hey, there is someone here who can help.” Or, they could be bitchy (not in a good way) and need a kick in the pants.
Randi said on 09.25.09 at 05:20 PM • [link]
Pooh. B&N cannot possibly carry every single title of every single author. For them to even suggest such a thing is ridiculous. Hell, I shop at B&N and Borders all the time, but you know how often they DON’T have the book(s) I’m looking for? OFTEN. And I’m not looking for unusual authors. Let’s take Lois Mcmasters Bujold. Popular author, right? Has a prolific back list, right? Neither Borders or B&N fricken carry most of her books. I might find a Vorkosigan book here and there, and they DO always have Sharing Knife-but forget if you want an entire series.
That’s right B&N: 8 times out of 10, you are not carrying what I am looking for. Ergo, don’t go around slapping authors when you can’t follow through on your end.
ugh. This totally pisses me off.
Sophia said on 09.25.09 at 05:23 PM • [link]
Why do authors expect B&N to support them if they’re not willing to support B&N? Mediabistro says B&N isn’t asking for exclusivity on this, so what’s the big deal about adding a link to store that’s going to generate most of an author’s money in stores and online?
Diana said on 09.25.09 at 05:29 PM • [link]
What about if you don’t have any links to bookstores at all? Or if you also want to encourage purchasing through local independent stores?
Laura Kinsale said on 09.25.09 at 05:38 PM • [link]
Courtney you are a SWEETHEART! I’ll be taking advantage of it too, as I’m in process of a (eternal it seems) re-design. Yes I know right now it’s pathetic (Dreamweaver tables, ssssh.) At least it’s up there with the new book.
To add my bit, I haven’t gotten any sort of contact on this subject, personally, and it really surprises me to hear this. The idea of any major bookseller surfing author sites to make sure they have bookstore links just seems…unusual. I’d guess it’s a fairly empty threat but not a nice tactic for sure.
I’ve always liked to list all online stores that I can maintain links to. However keeping those links alive is a PITA, especially for older books, so Courtney’s contribution is truly brilliant.
I literally just put the BN link to pre-order LESSONS IN FRENCH on my site a day or so ago, because they just added the book to their online store. So, there, anyone can institute an immediate boycott of either one! Cast your vote for Amazon (evil in one way) or BN (evil in another way) by pre-ordering LIF from your favorite. :)
Karen Olson said on 09.25.09 at 05:41 PM • [link]
I was advised about a year and a half ago to put a B&N link on my book pages on my website. The person who advised me was not working with my publisher, but with another one. My publisher has not said anything to me. But I put the links on the site anyway. No biggie. I also added Borders. I’d already had Amazon and Booksense links.
Joe Gonnella said on 09.25.09 at 06:44 PM • [link]
Barnes & Noble does not have a policy to boycott books because authors don’t link to us.
Everything is bought in anticipation of in store or online customer orders.
We do encourage authors and publishers to link to our website as part of a comprehensive marketing approach to drive sales in all channels.
I would be happy to address any specific concerns that are out there!
Joe Gonnella,
VP Trade Merchandising
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kassia Krozser said on 09.25.09 at 06:48 PM • [link]
I agree that linking to as many booksellers as possible is smart for authors and I recommend it. What bothers me about the situation (and I’ve seen the letter in question) is there is an implicit threat to authors: link or your book will not be ordered by a major retailer. This is not appropriate, on the part of the retailer nor the publisher (and there may be very good reasons for the author’s choice in links).
Randi said on 09.25.09 at 08:01 PM • [link]
Mr. Gonnella,
B&N may not have a policy of boycotting authors, but, as so many have mentioned, there’s an implied threat in the letter that went out.
While I appreciate your visit here to talk with us, I have to admit that your comments are very general and do not specifically address the letter or the implied threat. Rather than making us feel better, your comments only make us go, “Hmmmm…”.
Perhaps you could address the real concern here? I think that would go a long way towards smoothing any anti-B&N feelings people have.
Joe Gonnella said on 09.25.09 at 08:17 PM • [link]
If someone will e-mail me the name of the publisher who sent the letter I will be happy to clarify our policy directly with them.
Joe Gonnella
VP, Trade Merchandising
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Stacia K said on 09.25.09 at 09:09 PM • [link]
I link to just about every book outlet there is. Yes, one of my publishers asked me to link to the big bookstores and their own site, but it was a request, not a demand, and I would have done it anyway. I figure the more options available to readers on my site, the better. Why would I want a reader who hates Amazon to have no other easily-clickable choices, or to make him or her spend extra time going to their favorite site and hunting for my name?
awaskyc said on 09.25.09 at 10:48 PM • [link]
Internet hyperbole aside, the situations are not analogous at all. B&N is doing business with authors, through their publishers. In choosing to stock a book, they are laying down money up front to obtain copies and, even with the returns policy, they are incurring an opportunity cost in not having the space in their warehouse/on their shelves for other books. In book publishing, like in many other industries, the content creator is responsible for the marketing, which the bookstore expects to benefit from. But if that marketing is sending readers to their competitor—well, why would they take the financial risk and stock the book?
Movie trailers don’t tell you to watch their movie at AMC. I suspect if one did, Regal Cinemas would decide not to show that movie. But many, many authors link only to amazon. Especially in online retail, where there is so little to distinguish competitors, that’s showing a crucial lack of support, and an endorsement of a competitor, on the part of the author. And why would you take a risk for someone who’s undermining you? Even if sales from the author’s website are only a small percentage of overall sales of the book, the website is a marketing tool, and only linking to one retailer is slapping all the other retailers in the face. Major faux pas. I think it’s a little naive to expect to be stocked at B&N in spite of something like that. I am not at all surprised that B&N is making representation on author sites a condition of stocking that author’s book.
Diana asked about what if there are no links to bookstores. My answer to that is, B&N probably wouldn’t get their dander up about it, but why would you do that? An author website is pretty ineffective at selling books if it doesn’t make it possible for readers to buy books. As for wanting to support only indies…oh, I think that would be a bad step for an author. You can support indies by doing events there, signing stock, telling your friends about it, but most book sales do not come from indies. To tell people not to do business with the people who generate most of your income is very, very bad business.
Larissa said on 09.25.09 at 11:01 PM • [link]
Courtney, that’s awesome!!!
Bev said on 09.26.09 at 12:25 AM • [link]
Well I did get that email today. I had no idea it was B&N. As of this morning, I had NO links to my book (which isn’t out until Jan 5, 2010). But after getting the email to get it up there asap, I updated it immediately. New authors can’t afford to NOT have a major bookseller boycotting their book over a link. But I have another website where I feature a ton of books and I do make sure that I have not 5 but 6 of the major booksellers linked to each and every book.
While I understand their frustration in believing, and frankly, KNOWING that here, Amazon has the clear advantage. But as an author, Amazon was the FIRST online retailer that had my book out there for pre-order. The others trickled in about 6 wks - 2 mos later. I think it’s a natural instinct to put up the first retailer that has your book on their site.
broke booklover said on 09.26.09 at 01:49 AM • [link]
This isn’t a retailer, but (http://isbn.nu) also helps you locate book sellers by ISBN.
Leaders33? Yes, please!
RKB said on 09.26.09 at 09:29 AM • [link]
@trish
Amazon has a better user online interface, a better discount on just about every book I have bought, and better help/service. Unlike B&N, you don’t need to buy a membership at Amazon to get the full discount on an item. Amazon has the Kindle, while B&N is still lagging behind in the e-reader department.
B&N needs to spend some time looking inward to see how they can improve sales. Because you work at B&N and you want to keep your job, it would behoove you to help your company in regards to improving sales, instead of being an yes-woman to bullying tactics.
Jen D said on 09.26.09 at 05:51 PM • [link]
I guess nobody likes a bully and that’s why there’s such a reaction. I found the email quite unprofessional in tone, but it was sent by the publisher, not by B&N, and that’s where the frustration here seems to be directed. It sounds as if some hack threw around their weight at a publisher that in turn sent a hasty, poorly worded email to its writers (Mr. Gonella, you can totally find the person without forcing an author to out them).
I have to say in the history of odd things publishers have done or said to authors I consider this one a pretty low-key incident. A little quid pro quo seems like not much to ask - it’s a link, not someone’s blood or firstborn. If B&N funded some hateful purpose to which authors objected, that would be different.
Even if an author has to pay a webmaster to make a website change, publishing is a business and they should have a link to all of the major online bookstores and it was an oversight to not do that initially….am I the only one who feels like this is a tempest in a teapot? (yeah, I’m not one of the writers, I’m a business type so I rely on a stash of cliches, ok?)
Sarah said on 09.26.09 at 06:19 PM • [link]
I’ve heard about this problem for at least a year. I have a big website and e-mail newsletter to which representatives from Borders and B&N are subscribed, and my publisher tells me the reps get pissy when we only link to Amazon.
Sorry, but Amazon makes it dramatically easier to link to them and to buy from them. Also, the only rankings that matter are those at Amazon, so it makes sense for an author to drive all the sales there to increase the ranking of the book to get attention from people in publishing. You never hear anyone crowing about a book making it into the Top 1000 or Top 50 at B&N.
But, because of the pissyness and implied threats of less promotion in physical stores, we added links to all the majors (and some independents). It doesn’t matter though, because I see the stats and nobody clicks on those links anyway.
B&N should have been worrying about Amazon 10 years ago. It’s too late now.
Deb Kinnard said on 09.26.09 at 08:47 PM • [link]
Put something in this deal for the author, Mr. Gonnella. For example, tell us you will stock our (small press) books in your b-&-m bookstores if we provide the online purchase link on our websites.
Thanks in advance.
Jamie said on 09.27.09 at 03:00 AM • [link]
Deb,
You did notice that he said this wasn’t their practice, right? So there’s no deal in which to put something.
RKB said on 09.27.09 at 03:25 AM • [link]
@Jessica Scott
Economic coercion is unethical, counterproductive, and history has shown that economic coercion doesn’t work. It’s not “just business”, it’s just plain stupid.
Linda said on 09.27.09 at 04:00 AM • [link]
Without the full story, I woul dhesitate to start slamming B&N. I think anything like that can be used to tarnish a reputation when only part of the story is revealed. And this site has had some really harsh things to say about B&N in the past so I have to wonder about their reaction.
Jason said on 09.28.09 at 12:41 AM • [link]
Reading through the comment thread, it’s good to see Joe Gonnella’s remarks, because having worked in the publishing industry for several years this strikes me as highly, highly, unlikely. While B&N would certainly like authors to include links (and why not? If the prospective buyer prefers B&N, why not make it easier for him to find the book?), there’s no way they would quit purchasing books with a profitable sales volume just because the author neglected to include such a link.
If anything, it’s the *publisher* who is making such demands in an effort to life their B&N sales volume, and placing the blame elsewhere.
Jason
Helen said on 09.28.09 at 05:12 AM • [link]
Ummm quid pro quo anyone? BN barely carries high selling midlist authors for a month on bookstore shelves (sometimes they don’t carry them at all!) Why on earth should an author be FORCED to advertise for FREE for BN. The link on an authors site will stay up for months if not years providing free advertising for BN for some time to come, with BN offering nothing in stores for many authors,while the authors shell out money for website updates. It is one thing to say “Hey, authors, if you link to our site you might get more sales, that benefits YOU and ME. We’ll provide you the code and we’d appreciate it you’d use it” and another to say “We won’t carry your books…at all… if you don’t create a link” Authors are being held hostage all over the damn place.
I had to write this twice because the comment thing didn’t take my spam busting code…that tells you how PO’d I am over this.
Angry Author said on 09.28.09 at 03:41 PM • [link]
Mr. Gonnella, you have your head in the sand.
This threat is perpetually implied by your buyers. Even if just in jest, it sends my publisher into panic mode. And then they get it from Borders, and Amazon, etc.
No publishers is going to send you a “memo” because there isn’t one. It’s strongly suggested—verbally. What do you want, a wire-tap?
Because it isn’t in your fucking corporate handbook doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
Mike Briggs said on 09.28.09 at 06:22 PM • [link]
I’m married to author Patty Briggs, and maintain her web site. We made the decision, years ago, not to link to booksellers. Ideally, we’d like to encourage folks to buy from their local booksellers, and there’s no way I can maintain a list all the independents.
Most readers already know about B&N, Amazon etc. and I don’t think we’re causing her readers any harm by not having a link farm on the books page. Hopefully, by providing good content, we’re providing what the readers expect from an author’s web presence.
There’s not enough hard data here for me to panic just yet.
However, if we do receive an ultimatum I’m sure our response won’t be favorable. We can’t afford to face off with a bookseller as big as B&N, but we won’t be bullied either.
I’d probably either pull the entire site down.
I might also run it as “The Briggs Family Website”, rather than an author website. Wanna’ see pictures of my kitty? Oh yeah, and Patty finished a new book!
Mike Briggs said on 09.28.09 at 06:36 PM • [link]
OK, somehow I skipped over Mr. Gonella’s comments earlier. I’m greatly relieved. I think authors should be able to concentrate on writing books, not marketing them.
I get irritated when I go to an author’s site and they have a thousand links to Amazon.com, and none to other booksellers. I can only imagine that other booksellers are even more bothered by this.
We’re going to continue promoting the books, and letting the reader decide where to buy them. I think this was a hot-button for me this morning because just wrote nice letters to a couple of persistent marketing firms informing them that I wasn’t going to clutter our site with their promotional gibberish regardless of HOW many folks they thought they could drive our way. Sorry for the rant!
Katrina Stonoff said on 09.29.09 at 09:25 PM • [link]
Mike, I get irritated when I go to an author’s site, and there’s no link to buy the book at all. In fact, usually I just don’t buy it if I have to type in the url of my favorite online bookstore, type in the title, wait for the list to come up, then click on the page ... all to get to a page most authors link directly too.
As far as pointing only to Amazon, right now Amazon has, by far, the best information to help readers decide if they want to purchase a specific book. I encourage my readers to actually buy the book at a local store (preferably an indie), but if they’re just looking for more information, Amazon is the quickest and easiest way to get it.
I’d love a better option. But right now, I don’t see one, and I don’t want to clutter up my website with links to umpteen different booksellers every time I mention a book.
Katrina Stonoff said on 09.29.09 at 09:32 PM • [link]
P.S. Library Thing’s Get It Now page is supposed to roll out soon, and it might be the better option I’ve been looking for.
http://www.librarything.com/blog/2009/09/amazon-policy-change-and-how-were.php
Catherine M. Wilson said on 10.01.09 at 02:28 AM • [link]
As an author, I often hear complaints from other authors about the grief they get from readers who think e-books should cost hardly anything because, you know, they’re just a file and don’t cost anything, not like a “real” book. And then the author has to patiently clue the reader in on how little writers get paid in the first place and how publishing an e-book is not without its own set of costs.
So as a web developer, I was surprised to hear an author complain about having to pay a web developer to update her website. Should the web developer work for free? Updating a website takes time, and the knowledge to do it well takes many years to acquire.
Amazon.com provides the code that will add a link, including a thumbnail image of the book cover, to an author website. Does Barnes & Noble also do this? I think that would be a good place to start.
Catherine M. Wilson
whenwomenwerewarriors.com
Joe Gonnella said on 10.02.09 at 07:33 PM • [link]
Here is the link to our affiliates’ program:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/affiliate/index.asp?
Joe Gonnella
VP, Trade Merchandising
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
eargeth said on 07.05.10 at 08:22 AM • [link]
Finding the right pair of biking designer sunglasses is not easy. Lots of users are keen on a certain brand or product and when it goes out of stock or the style disappears, they are at a loss about what to find as substitutes for their old biking sunglasses. fit well on the face, and this applies to wraparounds in particular. Such designs will keep dirt, pollutants and sun rays away from your eyes.
EAWHTH said on 07.09.10 at 04:17 AM • [link]
When eye doctors give exams they are doing more than just checking to see if they need eyeglasses. Women always spend much time than you can imagine on selecting eyeglasses, especially cheap eye glasses.Unlike the local optical store, no friendly optician there is to help you and therfore when you order online, you have to make all decision on your own.Buying eyeglasses online could be a good idea.They should also be done early if there is any eye disease in your family tree; or you are noticing your children squinting.
Gerry said on 11.06.10 at 10:49 AM • [link]
When I was still working at a chicago seo company, I had a chance to work with B&N for a graphic project. They were nice to work with and I do not think that the accusations are true.
Danny said on 11.15.10 at 06:33 PM • [link]
Barnes and Noble needs tos stand up to what is happening with the kindle 3 - amazon is going to wipe the floor with them if they don’t wake up and sort this out.
Shed said on 12.17.10 at 12:12 PM • [link]
I can’t believe that B&N is like this. I mean they are a well reputed company and they are involve in something like this? How ironic! Regards from our Shed Plans site.
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