July 28, 2004

Got Your Number

So Amazon is now asking for credit card details from "reader review" contributors. They say it's to keep writers from anonymously reviewing their own books. But it beats me how that keeps people from e.g. using a friend's name and credit card. Wonder if this move could also have to do with the recent rave reviews of the Reading Mastery Storybook formerly known as My Pet Goat.

Posted by Martha Bridegam at July 28, 2004 07:53 PM
Comments

You must have good friends if you're willing to hand out your credit card details to them ...

Posted by: Alan Allport at July 29, 2004 04:25 AM

Good point. But I was thinking of for example one's partner or roommate. Amazon can't really afford the time to track down Surnames Of Intimates Of Amazon Writers, now, can they?

But, yeah, it's a win-win for Amazon. They get the credit card info and they get to make people think twice before saying something traceable.

Dunno what effect this'll have wrt the free exchange of opinion, tho.

Posted by: Martha Bridegam at July 29, 2004 10:13 AM

Dunno what effect this'll have wrt the free exchange of opinion, tho.

Well, let's not eulogize Amazon reviews too sentimentally. The rule of thumb is that the more controversial the book (or whatever), the less useful the review; anything involving Bush, Kerry, Michael Moore, etc., is a write-off. On the other hand, books on more pedestrian subjects often attract genuinely useful reviews. I've made several purchasing decisions based on thoughtful Amazon reviews and on the whole haven't been disappointed.

Posted by: Alan Allport at July 29, 2004 11:49 AM

It's just more evidence of Amazon's importance in areas traditionally left to libraries and literary magazines which are traditionally subject to some kind of professional code. Amazon seems to have found itself a niche. Is this because those who aren't in research oriented professions are finding it increasingly necessary to do research as part of their daily lives, making convenience and accessibility important where they never particularly were before?

It surprises me how many reviewers on Amazon seem to be angling for a reviewing job. Some of them certainly have their chops down.

Posted by: Alan Hogue at August 2, 2004 07:36 PM