I’m grateful to be spared from that, but just the same, I’m feeling like a punching bag. I’m shocked to say this, because I have always highly praised the customer service/tech support at Amazon KDP publishing. I was amazed by how great they were.
Well, my book world has turned upside down.
I’ve been dealing with crazy stuff from Amazon KDP publishing about my paperback since September 18th. I’ve been fighting a losing battle with their supposed people in tech support. Frankly, I don’t think there are any people behind that curtain — just some ridiculously poorly programmed AI bots.
Hey, Bots! I’m connected, I’ve got AI too.
Maybe AI Rocky could teach them something about punching bags.
“Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” — I got so excited about doing this nonfiction book that I put three other nearly finished projects aside to devote all my time to making it the best it could possibly be.
If I have to say it myself (and my father is turning over in his grave that I’m even thinking about saying something good about myself), I’m an expert formatter. I know what I’m doing, what the requirements are, and how to do it properly. When it should be shaken, and when it should be stirred.
AI James Bond could shake up their Goldfingered-bots. Although he and I disagree on one thing — martinis. Don’t shake the martini, you brute. You’ll bruise the delicate botanicals of the gin.
As you can imagine, when KDP customer service told me the book was on hold because of… the font on one blank line…and then a new and completely reformatted manuscript and several days later… They put it on hold again for the font in one blank SPACE between two words — well I felt both shaken and stirred.
Another wiped-clean and totally reformatted book AND another week and a half later they said “Aren’t we great! It’s fixed!”… BUT they had put it in a “Temporarily out of stock” status. Which I’ve been beating my head against for the past week. Customer service has no idea why tech support would do that.
Yeah, it’s a mystery… Although it holds no “Mystique” for me.
Since they use “print on demand technology” I’m particularly perturbed about the out-of-stock farce.
22 days of the Amazon KDP-jungle of nonsense. Hey, bots — what if AI Wolverine sliced through your jungle?
I got devious and called customer service via a backup email account that is not associated with my Amazon account. I called as a customer (which I am — I can’t buy my book either when they won’t print it). I asked why it was out of stock, and when it would be available. The guy repeatedly told my he couldn’t know — and — get this, it’s rich — he told me I’d have to ask the publisher.
“YOU’RE THE PUBLISHER!” I said.
All of this begs several rhetorical questions in my mind. (Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.)
How far does it have to go before it’s harassment?
When does it become suppression?
At what point is it censorship?
Finally… could AI Zorro please swashbuckle his Z slice onto the seats of their bot pants?
♣ ♣ ♣
Thanks for being part of this admittedly one-sided conversation. I’m too upset with all of this to be able discuss it, so comments are closed today. Hugs.♣ ♣ ♣
Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras
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“Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” E-book: relinks.me/B0DHC6JFVT Author Tool Chest full collection♣ ♣ ♣
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