Amazon, just in case you think the reports are off

[Marti Talbott]

As you probably know Amazon had a major system breakdown last week. It was so bad their drivers didn't know where to deliver packages.

I can tell the reports are still backed up because my D2D sales are 25 for yesterday and my Amazon sales are only 2. Also, we have a package coming from Amazon, which says delivered in one place and won't arrive until Tuesday in another.

[TimothyEllis]

As you probably know Amazon had a major system breakdown last week. It was so bad their drivers didn't know where to deliver packages.

I can tell the reports are still backed up because my D2D sales are 25 for yesterday and my Amazon sales are only 2. Also, we have a package coming from Amazon, which says delivered in one place and won't arrive until Tuesday in another.

I didn't know, and really didn't notice anything either.

My last launch belly flopped, so my last couple of weeks has been abnormal anyway.

[Marti Talbott]

As you probably know Amazon had a major system breakdown last week. It was so bad their drivers didn't know where to deliver packages.

I can tell the reports are still backed up because my D2D sales are 25 for yesterday and my Amazon sales are only 2. Also, we have a package coming from Amazon, which says delivered in one place and won't arrive until Tuesday in another.

I didn't know, and really didn't notice anything either.

My last launch belly flopped, so my last couple of weeks has been abnormal anyway.

Maybe your last launch didn't belly flop and Amazon hasn't caught up yet. We can only hope.

[Marti Talbott]

We absolutely have to dream up a new way to promote our books - something new and fun that will attract readers and people who don't even know they're readers.

I still think a public argument over something silly would work. Something like, which is right - sofa, couch, or davenport? It should have something to do with writing, or authors, or editors, and even proofreaders. And it would have to be someplace where we were the only ones allowed to post. Or we could add a reader comment place. I envision a website where the middle is the argument, one side is reader posts joining in the fun, and the other side is our book promotions.

All we need is three or four authors willing to participate and have fun doing it. Then a big push to invite our email lists, FB fans, etc., to join in.

Dream on, right?

[TimothyEllis]

We absolutely have to dream up a new way to promote our books - something new and fun that will attract readers and people who don't even know they're readers.

I still think a public argument over something silly would work. Something like, which is right - sofa, couch, or davenport? It should have something to do with writing, or authors, or editors, and even proofreaders. And it would have to be someplace where we were the only ones allowed to post. Or we could add a reader comment place. I envision a website where the middle is the argument, one side is reader posts joining in the fun, and the other side is our book promotions.

All we need is three or four authors willing to participate and have fun doing it. Then a big push to invite our email lists, FB fans, etc., to join in.

Dream on, right?

I have a domain parked for that purpose. Just never got as far as building a site, or a second forum.

[Marti Talbott]

We absolutely have to dream up a new way to promote our books - something new and fun that will attract readers and people who don't even know they're readers.

I still think a public argument over something silly would work. Something like, which is right - sofa, couch, or davenport? It should have something to do with writing, or authors, or editors, and even proofreaders. And it would have to be someplace where we were the only ones allowed to post. Or we could add a reader comment place. I envision a website where the middle is the argument, one side is reader posts joining in the fun, and the other side is our book promotions.

All we need is three or four authors willing to participate and have fun doing it. Then a big push to invite our email lists, FB fans, etc., to join in.

Dream on, right?

I have a domain parked for that purpose. Just never got as far as building a site, or a second forum.

Do you think it's a good idea?

[djmills]

I heard that substack.com is the place for free speech and comments, but don't think that would attract readers to watch the play off arguments between writers. 

[Marti Talbott]

I heard that substack.com is the place for free speech and comments, but don't think that would attract readers to watch the play off arguments between writers. 

That's why it has to be funny and playful, and hosted on our own platform. We are entertainers, after all. We write about funny characters, at least I always include at least one in each book. We could play it as ourselves or create characters with funny names.

It's just an idea at this point. All suggestions pro and con are welcome.

[Marti Talbott]

Ugh, reports are normally off this time of year, but no sales for two days, not even free ones? Oh please! And it's not just me, others are reporting the same thing. Amazon needs to kick the tires.

[TimothyEllis]

Ugh, reports are normally off this time of year, but no sales for two days, not even free ones? Oh please! And it's not just me, others are reporting the same thing. Amazon needs to kick the tires.

I just noticed that.

The sales are there, but no money is.

[Marti Talbott]

Ugh, reports are normally off this time of year, but no sales for two days, not even free ones? Oh please! And it's not just me, others are reporting the same thing. Amazon needs to kick the tires.

I just noticed that.

The sales are there, but no money is.

No money for me either. Are your sales showing up on the regular report? I have a few on the beta, but the month to date says...No data available

[idontknowyet]

20books is has a big post saying reporting is broken they are working on fixing it with no eta.

[TimothyEllis]

20books is has a big post saying reporting is broken they are working on fixing it with no eta.

I wonder what they changed to break that?

[idontknowyet]

Part of me wonders if it was truly fixed after it broke a while back. But no clue with something that big i doubt its easy to fix/pinpoint

[Marti Talbott]

Looks like it's fixed this morning.

[Gerri Attrick]

Looks like it's fixed this morning.

Not entirely. I'm still missing a lot of royalties, though they are beginning to trickle in.

[Marti Talbott]

Looks like it's fixed this morning.

Not entirely. I'm still missing a lot of royalties, though they are beginning to trickle in.

Well, that gives me hope.

[LilyBLily]

I guess the four cents one of my books earned this month is incorrect, then?

[Marti Talbott]

I guess the four cents one of my books earned this month is incorrect, then?

A WHOLE four cents? Whatever will you spend it on? My sales are so far down I'm almost afraid to look. I guess we can hope that the G5 system which is supposed to go live this coming weekend, will convince people they should read books instead of watching TV or movies. I know, dream on...

[CoraBuhlert]

Ugh, reports are normally off this time of year, but no sales for two days, not even free ones? Oh please! And it's not just me, others are reporting the same thing. Amazon needs to kick the tires.

I just noticed that.

The sales are there, but no money is.

Same here. Sales are on the graph, but not being reported.

[CoraBuhlert]

Sales and royalties are trickling in now, though I still have some missing.

[Marti Talbott]

My sales for January 1 & 2 filled in this morning.

[TimothyEllis]

My sales for January 1 & 2 filled in this morning.

Mine stayed the same.

But it looks like I got extra on the 4th.

[Marti Talbott]

My sales for January 1 & 2 filled in this morning.

Mine stayed the same.

But it looks like I got extra on the 4th.

Sounds like they made a big mess this year. Hopefully, yours will show up soon too. It could be you actually sold that many on the 4th. My 4th shows no sales. Interesting. 1st = 2, 2nd = 10. 3rd = 5, 4th = 0, 5th = 5. I ain't gonna get rich that way.

[TimothyEllis]

My 4th is a good bump, so I doubt it. Won't say no to extra though. 

[JRTomlin]

My reports seem normal.

[cecilia_writer]

Looking at the graph, it seems as if I had a sales catch-up on the 30th of December, but I am just trundling along at a fairly low level so it probably isn't significant.

[Marti Talbott]

Looking at the graph, it seems as if I had a sales catch-up on the 30th of December, but I am just trundling along at a fairly low level so it probably isn't significant.

Yep, I see that now. They upped my December sales by $11.00. Keep going, keep going, Amazon!

By the way, the news said an Amazon delivery guy dumped a bunch of packaged in a field Dec. 24th. Guess he opened them all, took what he wanted, and left the rest.

[idontknowyet]

Reports are still super laggy. I haven't had a click on one of my ams ads in over a week, and today i showed one page which means someone downloaded it.

[Marti Talbott]

Reports are still super laggy. I haven't had a click on one of my ams ads in over a week, and today i showed one page which means someone downloaded it.

Sigh ... I remember a time when we could depend on sales showing up within a few minutes. If I get sales these days, it's not until late in the evening. Sometimes it dribbles in one or two a day, and then several show up at the same time.

[Marti Talbott]

Yesterday, I bought a gift eBook copy of McShane's Bride and sent to a historical society (that's another story). Anyway 24 hours later my reports aren't showing the sale. I was charged full price, so there is no reason why it hasn't been credited to my account. Since my sales are way down, I wonder how many other sales haven't been credited. If I don't see it tomorrow, I'll email them - again. It seems like I have to complain at least once a month. Each time I do, it several sales mysteriously show up at a time.

It can't be just me, can it? For months I've wondered is some genius zon employee figured out how to skim off the top. Would that explain why, in a series of 10 books, book number 3 rarely sells? I tried to prove that last year, and never got anywhere with customer service. Still, it makes me wonder.

Last time I complained because I was getting reviews on paperbacks without sales. Customer service explained this and that, which was just how things work. Suddenly, paperback sales for that book appeared. I think I've lost my mind.

[Marti Talbott]

Yesterday, I bought a gift eBook copy of McShane's Bride and sent to a historical society (that's another story). Anyway 24 hours later my reports aren't showing the sale. I was charged full price, so there is no reason why it hasn't been credited to my account. Since my sales are way down, I wonder how many other sales haven't been credited. If I don't see it tomorrow, I'll email them - again. It seems like I have to complain at least once a month. Each time I do, it several sales mysteriously show up at a time.

It can't be just me, can it? For months I've wondered is some genius zon employee figured out how to skim off the top. Would that explain why, in a series of 10 books, book number 3 rarely sells? I tried to prove that last year, and never got anywhere with customer service. Still, it makes me wonder.

Last time I complained because I was getting reviews on paperbacks without sales. Customer service explained this and that, which was just how things work. Suddenly, paperback sales for that book appeared. I think I've lost my mind.

Example of missing book 3 sales: (Month to date)
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 1 (Anna, Rachel & Charlet)   B003XF1E36 (FREE)   0   0     16
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 2 (Maree, Gillie, Jessup & Glenna)   B003XRE5NA   1
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 4 (Bethia, Alison, Kadick & Glorie)   B003XRE5SA   1
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series 5 (Clare, Dolee, Catlin & Lasha)   B003XT5RV2   1   

[TimothyEllis]

I have a single paperback like that as well.

Just for some unknown reason, book 2 in a trilogy is the only one not to have had a sale.

Since the other 2 have only had 1 sale each, it stands out as odd.

[idontknowyet]

I have a trilogy can't be read out of order. I have half the books sales on book 2 than book 1 and 3. Book 1 and 3 have exactly the same number.

[Marti Talbott]

I have a trilogy can't be read out of order. I have half the books sales on book 2 than book 1 and 3. Book 1 and 3 have exactly the same number.

I went all the way back to 2014 and then gave up talking to them. At least you can see why I don't have blind faith that everything is on the up and up.

2014   
Marblestone 2   1552
Marblestone 3   1223
Marblestone 4   1340
Marblestone 5   1264
Marblestone 6   1276
   
2015   
Marblestone 2   586
Marblestone 3   409
Marblestone 4   470
Marblestone 5   455
Marblestone 6   458
   
2016   
Marblestone 2   168
Marblestone 3   143
Marblestone 4   161
Marblestone 5   149
Marblestone 6   149
   
2017   
Marblestone 2   198
Marblestone 3   142
Marblestone 4   169
Marblestone 5   151
Marblestone 6   146
   
   
2018   
Marblestone 2   107
Marblestone 3   91
Marblestone 4   122
Marblestone 5   118
Marblestone 6   121