November 18, 2010 3:47 PM
Amazon removing more pedophilia books
Please call Amazon at 800-201-7575 to complain about any books on pedophilia still remaining. They are responding. I saw one title come down this afternoon.
Two still up:
My second letter:
Dear Jeff:I am a blogger who has enjoyed having an affiliate relationship with Amazon for four years. My blog receives 10,000 visits per day and I have a loyal following of moms who have developed the habit of shopping for everything from rowing machines to raisins at Amazon. I could always recommend Amazon with pride because I have depended on Amazon for my own shopping for 10 or 12 years - maybe longer. I actually can't remember what my shopping life looked like before Amazon.
Jeff, maybe it doesn't matter to see a small slice of your revenue drop because of parents who are boycotting Amazon. I have removed my widgets and stopped making daily recommendations to do my small part in trying to get your attention about the pedophilia issue. I was proud when Amazon removed the Greaves listing - though I think you missed an opportunity to restore confidence in Amazon by issuing a statement that you understood the concerns of parents, seizing a teachable moment on the difference between government censorship and business ethics.
I wrote to you last week and you never responded, though I keep hoping any day you will issue a compassionate and sincere statement that will restore your image and Amazon's.
Today a reader sent me an Amazon link to It's Okay to Say Yes: Boy-Love and Sex Tourism . While the listing says it is currently unavailable, it really needs to be pulled. How sad to think that children enslaved in the sex trade in impoverished countries should be treated so cavalierly by a pedophile who not only exploits them but offers others exploiters a rationale.
[News Flash: in the 20 minutes I've been writing, evidently you have pulled this book. The customer service rep I just spoke to said that there is no policy regarding these books but that they are supposed to pass customer complaints about specific titles to their supervisors. But please read the rest of this letter to understand that it will not be enough with some parents that you remove the books. You have a PR crisis and need to restore confidence and trust in your customers by demonstrating responsiveness, taking responsibility and appealing to customers to give you a second chance. This is not weakness. It is strength and good business sense.]Jeff, children are all over the world are hurting and will carry scars all their lives because of sexual abuse. I would never want to think that I had had a part in any way in enabling this monstrous behavior. I keep hoping you will come to the same realization and truly clean house at Amazon, while apologizing and assuring parents that Amazon is responsive to their concerns.
I wish you would read this very simple and savvy advice: Market Lessons from Amazon's Pedophilia Scandal. Also, you probably know that there is a Boycott Amazon Facebook group.
While I know some people will never forgive your mistake, most reasonable people are waiting hopefully for some communication that lets us know you've heard us and share our concerns. We would like to reorder the Kindles we sent back and get back on our Subscribe&Save and finish our Christmas shopping at the place we have grown to count on.
Please let us hear from you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Curtis
If you call, please emphasize that we want a statement from Jeff Bezos!
Posted in Activism | Permalink
Comments
All I got was an auto email that didn't address any of my questions and just said "the products are no longer for sale".
Not good enough - what products? How long will they be not for sale?
Posted by: Milehimama | November 18, 2010 4:20 PM
I got the same reply. Completely inadequate. I think calling is better. Light up the lines! 800-201-7575
Posted by: Barbara | November 18, 2010 4:22 PM
I wrote to Jeff and told him I'd been an enthusiastic Amazon shopper, but would pay through the nose to buy stuff elsewhere, until he apologized and promised to never sell books like this or video games like RapeLay again He has betrayed the public trust, and his deafening silence and unwillingness to redress this wrong is as creepy as these books.
Posted by: judy | November 18, 2010 4:32 PM
I got the same message as milehimama and Barbara in my inbox. I called them again today to ask specifically for a statement from Jeff Bezos. The first customer service lady I got was very sweet and seemed like she totally understood my concern. WHEN IS THIS GUY GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT??? We need to pray that he cannot sleep at night until he makes this right!
I am with you, Barbara: light up the lines!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lisa | November 18, 2010 5:16 PM
How about posting the phone number on your blog?
Posted by: MicheleMomof9 | November 18, 2010 7:08 PM
The phon number is in the first sentence: 800-201-7575
Posted by: Barbara | November 18, 2010 7:16 PM
The horrific "It's okay to say yes" is back up again. This now-you-see-it, now-you-don't, now-you-see-it-again thing is mightily tiresome...
Posted by: Jeanette | November 18, 2010 8:56 PM
Jeanette -
I think the issue is that when you remove pages on the web, they stay in the memory for a while. So if you google the title you will get a link to the old page in amazon. But if you go to Amazon and search for the title, it is not there.
I am going to call amazon tomorrow and explain that what they need to do is remove the content of the pages so that when the titles are googled people will get a blank page. Or someone else can call and explain. I'm too tired tonight.
Posted by: Barbara | November 18, 2010 9:37 PM
HOw about "Fun with Pedophiles"!!!!!!!!!
I found this 'book' recommended when I was checking to see if the other two books are still available.
Keep going, Barbara. We need more calls. Amazon has to know that you DO NOT MESS WITH MOMS!
http://www.amazon.com/Fun-Pedophiles-Doug-Stanhope/dp/0615135420/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3
Posted by: Kathie Hogan | November 19, 2010 3:03 PM
