Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

http://www.thepassivevoice.com/12/201...

Someone posted this on the KDP forum. Thought I would share.

Hmm, very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I think it is more complex, but Amazon aren't sharing why. A legit review on your book gets removed, let's say. Not it turns out Bob the reviewer has a financial or perceived financial link to the author of another book her reviewed. Maybe they pull the lot, just all at once.

How do you define a relationship with the author, or a perceived financial link. The KDP boards are full of people complaining about it then saying "Well my Auntie left me a review and now it has been pulled." Or "my friend left me this 5 star review" or all the "trading reviews" requests and these reviews get pulled, plus anything else that reviewer has left.

If I review your book, I don't like it and leave a 1 star review then am I doing it because, as a reader, I actually think your book is rubbish or whatever or do I have the motive you are in direct competition.

I think Amazon are handling it not as well as they might. Tell an author "review was pulled as we think this person has a financial interest in this book" or "this reviewer has been found taking payment for reviews, although we do not think this is the case here this reviewer's comments are being removed."

Oh and yes communication could be better.
It is how it is being handled, at least that is how it seems.

As Oscar Wilde said, "the truth is rarely pure and never simple."

It looks like Amazon is trying to guess at the motive of the reviewer? I know one the reviews for one of my books I have published on there has been removed with no explanation. It was there one day and gone the next. I didn't know the reviewer and maybe the reviewer removed it but it was a five star so I don't know what's going on.