Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

A new venture by Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ founder Otis, and his wife Elizabeth. Read the blog post, then go to the link for the press release...

http://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/41...

Judging by the comments it is not a popular move.

Will probably just make this site more commercial. Good for some, not for others.

It's hard to know what will happen. I just hope Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ doesn't change from what it is now.

I think that's all we can do Michael. There are definitely good parts of it, and hopefully, as Otis says, it will stay the way it has been, with improvements as well maybe:)

You are right about BD Michael. I thought the free postage would be the first thing to go but it still hasn't.

Didn't they just separate from Amazon?

There was all that kerfuffle about our book covers disappearing if we had used amazon ones?

Happy to wait and see.

Yes you're right Sally, that was January last year, and all of us librarians had to find alternate covers for the books that had had covers sourced from Amazon!

Michael wrote: "

Alot of mixed feelings on this one."

Thanks for that link Michael:)

Here's what's going on on Facebook...Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is responding to comments there...

Brenda wrote: "Here's what's going on on Facebook...Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is responding to comments there...

"

Wow! People are upset. But I think deleting your account without waiting to see what happens is a bit overly dramatic.

A lot of it seems to be animosity towards Amazon, not the announcement itself. Which is just people venting in an inappropriate place. As a Kindle owner, I wait to see what happens, but as Brenda says, I hope they don't change.

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Here's what's going on on Facebook...Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is responding to comments there...

..."

Yes I agree. We need to sit on the sidelines and watch and wait:)

Guys, hopefully the culture here won't change, nor the ability to review and rate books from all sellers. If it were to ever to be limited to only Amazon sold books, it would no longer be goodreads.

That's right Sharon...but the review sharing is the biggest concern by the majority. I'm just reading through this thread now... http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

SNAP Michael;P

Yes, I've read it and am aware of the review culture at Amazon - and as a reader first, then a writer, it would be extremely sad if they impliment the Amazon no author reviews books policy from Amazon to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. It has always been beyond me that there is a perception on Amazon that writers can't have personal views on books.

As well as telling reviewers they can't share their own personal thoughts eleswhere.

The powers that be state categorically Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ policy on reviews won't change...we will see!

See Post 212 from Otis Chandler about it all..answering some questions: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

I am really irritated about this news. I'm not exactly sure what on world is going on but I review on Amazon sometimes and they as entitled to dislike reviews. I really hope GR doesn't do that as most people on Amazon dislike reviews because they're negative.

From the above link post 212...

Q..> I hope that GR will not censure reviews, delete reviews without notice etc as Amazon does.

A..Our policies have not changed. Our philosophy is that readers should get the best and most relevant reviews. We actually are excited now to have more resources to focus on improving the order of our reviews (I would hope that one day they can be personalized!).

Melanie wrote: "I am really irritated about this news. I'm not exactly sure what on world is going on but I review on Amazon sometimes and they as entitled to dislike reviews. I really hope GR doesn't do that as m..."

Melanie, if you get a chance, read through the post 212 I linked...they have no plans on changing any of that.

I agree...it seems more anti-Amazon than anything. I'm not going to worry yet..not like some who have already deleted their accounts!!! I'll just wait and see...

Thanks, Brenda. Didn't see your announcement.

Causing a stir, I see. :-)

Yes, there are discussions everywhere...I probably haven't found them all, but the rate the comments are being added, especially to the initial blog, and the feedback group's thread, is amazing!!!

Brenda wrote: "I agree...it seems more anti-Amazon than anything. I'm not going to worry yet..not like some who have already deleted their accounts!!! I'll just wait and see..."

I'll wait and see, too.
I'm published through the Amazon company, CreateSpace, and my dealings with them have been good, overall.

I really think it's the only thing we can do...no point going off about it when we don't know very much at all!

Margaret wrote: "Brenda wrote: "I agree...it seems more anti-Amazon than anything. I'm not going to worry yet..not like some who have already deleted their accounts!!! I'll just wait and see..."

I'll wait and see,..."

I've published through CreateSpace (paperback) and Amazon (eBooks), too, and am comfortable with their arrangements. So see no immediate need for alarm and despondency.

Brenda wrote: "Yes, there are discussions everywhere...I probably haven't found them all, but the rate the comments are being added, especially to the initial blog, and the feedback group's thread, is amazing!!!"

They shouldn't have announced it on a holiday when everyone has the time to spend making comments!

Phrynne wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Yes, there are discussions everywhere...I probably haven't found them all, but the rate the comments are being added, especially to the initial blog, and the feedback group's thread,..."

I think there's a method to their madness Phrynne!! Though Otis and Patrick have been responding:)

Michael wrote: "I dont think it would of made any difference when the announcement was made Phrynne. I just love how all these members are hitting the panic button when any changes are months away."

I guess some people love a bit of drama.

That's right Michael...you should see the people in the feedback group who are off deleting their accounts as fast as they can press buttons!!!

It does sound like sad news - just another example of the big guys taking over... Very sad when small/independent businesses and organisations get swallowed up. I guess it's ironic - I want little businesses to do well, but then when they do so well that they grow big, I want them to stop :-/

As for what this means for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ users, I've just read the announcement and the link from Brenda to the post from Otis - I'd like to think that the only changes will be improvements (although as a non-Kindle/non-Amazon user, I can't see that any of that will affect me), however I'm cynical enough to suspect that there will be changes that are not improvements (although I'm sure Amazon will introduce them as such!), although I think Amazon would probably let some time lapse before implementing such changes.

But, as some of the rest of you have said, there's no point worrying about it - it may never happen. We'll just have to watch this space!

Kathryn wrote: "It does sound like sad news - just another example of the big guys taking over... Very sad when small/independent businesses and organisations get swallowed up. I guess it's ironic - I want littl..."

If people delete their profiles without waiting to see what happens, in my view, it's cutting off your nose to spite your face!!!

Brenda wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "It does sound like sad news - just another example of the big guys taking over... Very sad when small/independent businesses and organisations get swallowed up. I guess it's ironi..."

Yes, I do agree. However, as Dean just said - voting with our support is often the only means we have of showing our displeasure - and if you are hugely anti-Amazon, then you may not want to be associated with anything to do with them. I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons of belonging/not belonging to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and being a part/not being a part of an Amazon affiliate... I guess it's an ethical consideration.

Personally, I don't really like multinational conglomerates or companies with a monopoly/duopoly, but I still eat Kraft and Nestle products, use Unilever products and shop at Woolworths and Coles... But I still think it's sad...

Everything you say here is being carefully analyzed, Dean . . . So your privacy may already have been compromised! :-)

Interesting!

Yes. An insightful commentary. ""Writers can no longer afford to escape Amazon’s gravity. And now, with the takeover of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, readers won’t be able to either."

yep!

If you've not read this interesting interview with Otis and Amazon check it out. I think for now it will remain independent like IMDb but I have my doubts. There is a lot advantages for Amazon but not many for readers; expect kindle integration.

Michael wrote: "If you've not read this interesting interview with Otis and Amazon check it out. I think for now it will remain independent like IMDb but I have my doubts. There is a lot advantages for Amazon but ..."

Sounds more like a work in progress than a settled program. Watch this space!

I’m just been catching up with what’s going on and can't believe the drastic measures people have taken over this news now.

As long as it doesn’t affect our groups and reviewing, I’m not overly concerned by this take over.

That's the best attitude I feel, Mish:)

This terrible gnashing of teeth that the sky is falling just because a company decided to buy out another company is dreadful.

Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ is a free site, and there is no freemium model here. Which means they aren't angling for us to click on ads to get dosh from impressions. Not even close, we're the product.

Yes, we don't know what's going to happen. Yes, Amazon have done it before. But you know what? I've used IMDb for *years*, and the only thing I've noticed since the buyout is the banners saying "*PUHHHHHLEASE* buy IMDb Pro!!!" have disappeared.

The fact that Amazon has publicly stated that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ will remain a separate unit fills me with hope, and I hope it does stay like IMDb has.

The other thing that people need to keep in mind is that amazon.com is one of the most visited, and most stable websites in the world. If Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ can tap into some of the experience that Amazon has in running a website that has millions of impressions *per day*, while staying performant (and not dying in a screaming heap of fail under the load), then that is fantastic news, and I look forward to seeing it in action.

Well said Steve! It's good to see there are some **sane** people within the group..lol

Michael wrote: "Good points made there Steve. I hope you are right about little change. I an also point out that BD has been under Amazon control for over a year now and you woudn't even know it as it is pretty mu..."

Totally agree Michael :)

I am not going to delete my goodreads account - it is the people who make a group and no matter who owns the product (goodreads) the people will still be the same. There may be new people but the group culture is already in place so they will have to change. If that makes sense. I leave reviews at Amazon occasionally - what annoys me is the reviewers who give a book a bad review because of something Amazon has done. As God is my witness I swear I saw a 1 star review because the book was damaged in the post!!!! How on earth does that help decide if I am going to like a book?

As my dad would say - steady as she goes - which means just let it stay on course for now and react later. Dad was a sea captain - and he loved reading :)

Michael wrote: "Good points made there Steve. I hope you are right about little change. I will also point out that BD has been under Amazon control for over a year now and you woudn't even know it as it is pretty ..."

I use Book Depository as I get free freight - something all the doom and gloomers said would stop once Amazon got its 'claws' into it - didn't happen.

Sorry folks you don't get rid of me that easily :)

Sally906 wrote: "I am not going to delete my goodreads account - it is the people who make a group and no matter who owns the product (goodreads) the people will still be the same. There may be new people but the g..."

I hope potential readers gave that review the significance it deserved. :)