An Amazon Robot Ruined My Best-Selling Book Status, and Caring Human Employees Couldn’t Fix It

How I Took Personal Responsibility for My Blindspot and Turned Setbacks into Better Results with Lessons Learned and Practical Tips

Sep 29, 2024

I also shared this poignant yet powerful story on Medium for my followers

Valuable Life Lessons for Book Authors

Dear Subscribers,

Happy Sunday! I hope this post reaches you in good spirits. I have penned this deeply meaningful story with the hope that it guides book authors and aspiring writers. It serves both as a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration—a reminder to persevere through setbacks and disappointments, which are an inevitable part of our often challenging writing journey. May it encourage you to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles

Two days ago, feeling the weight of my unexpected setback, I called my mentor, Henry, a retired psychiatrist, hoping for some clarity. He listened patiently as I explained my concerns, frustration, and disappointment. Expressing our emotions in a healthy way can lower our anxiety quickly.

In his calm, reassuring voice, he said, ‘Every cloud has a silver lining. With your talents, this isn’t the end — it’s the perfect chance to turn this setback into an opportunity.’ At that moment, his words lifted a heavy burden off my chest, reminding me of my strength to reshape this challenge into a positive outcome.

To give you a brief background, over a month ago, I initiated a hybrid publishing process for my new book, Substack Mastery, as I documented in a story. This allowed me to work with a publisher, who would handle the official release and offer royalties on sales while I simultaneously self-published and promoted the book using my own resources.

Everything was going smoothly until September 26th, just three days before the official launch of my pre-order book, which had already reached best-seller status in three categories. Unfortunately, this success was derailed by an automated process on Amazon — which I refer to as a “robot” — triggered because I failed to upload the final manuscript three days before the scheduled release.

On September 26th, I received the final edited version of the book from my lead editor. With the help of several proofreaders, the editor incorporated feedback from hundreds of beta readers to finalize the manuscript.

However, just before I could upload the document, I noticed that the pre-order entry for my book had disappeared from the Amazon Author portal. Concerned, I checked my email, only to find an auto-generated message from Amazon that was both cold and disheartening.

The message stated, “The pre-order for your book, Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author, has been canceled because no manuscript was provided by the submission deadline. We have notified customers of the cancellation. They will be refunded.”

Canceling a pre-order may seem like a small issue on the surface, but it has a significant impact on an author who has poured their heart into writing and promoting their book.

In my case, after finishing the first draft, I shared chapters publicly on multiple platforms to receive feedback from beta readers and improve the book for final release.

Their input helped me improve each chapter, which I then forwarded to the editor for further refinement. I covered the editorial costs for the self-published version, while the publishing company paid for their edition.

In addition, I wrote several blog posts across various platforms to create visibility for each chapter, linking to the pre-order page on Amazon as a call to action.

Now, that link is gone, meaning I need to update multiple blog posts across these platforms. Worse still, if any reader shared the link, it is now dead, as Amazon’s automated system has deleted the page.

The saddest part is that as the pre-order book entry on Amazon was rated by many readers, it hit the number one on Google search's first page. I was so proud of this outcome which uplifted my spirit.

Now, when readers click on that link, here is what it shows:

Seeing Amazon’s ridiculous ‘lucky dog’ image for a deleted page feels like a slap in the face for an author who has poured his heart and soul into gaining visibility on Google. It emphasizes the painful reality of how these soulless robots are meant to serve a company that prides itself on care and customer satisfaction.

I genuinely hope that Amazon’s executives take a moment to grasp the frustration and disappointment caused by this unintentional oversight — because behind every book is a passionate creator who deserves better.

As a victim of this broken link, I don’t know when Google will remove this incorrect entry, and I have no power to get it fixed. Only two giant organizations, Google and Amazon, can remove it and replace it with the correct link to the book entry. I hope Google’s smart algorithm fixes it soon.

Amazon is a massive organization with great customer service. I have deep empathy and compassion for their staff. I have been using their services since its inception, and I have excellent customer satisfaction as a user and author. However, there are also other options for us as readers and authors, so no company is exclusive and should never remain complacent about its status.

For new readers having the broken page, here is the new link on Amazon:

Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics…
Substack Mastery: Insider Secrets from a Content Strategist & Seasoned Author: Learn the Basics, Stay Motivated, Grow…amzn.asia

After providing this background, I will now briefly summarize my approach moving forward.

My Solution Approach to This Unexpected Issue

When I received the sad message from Amazon, I initially felt a wave of disappointment, frustration, and regret. These entangled emotions were natural, given the effort I had invested in making this book a success, not only for myself but for my loyal readers as well.

However, I quickly decided to channel these negative emotions into something positive by accepting the situation and taking personal responsibility. I devised a solid plan to address the issue.

My first step was to contact Amazon support to explain the situation and ask for assistance. The initial response from the support team was brief: they informed me that KDP automatically deletes a pre-order if no manuscript is uploaded three days before the scheduled release date.

I followed up by explaining my case, pointing out that there were still three days left before the official launch, meaning readers were unaware of any process issue.

I proposed that Amazon could simply notify these readers about the updated link for the now-published book. Since the book had already been published under a new link, I believed Amazon could inform the customers who had pre-ordered.

However, the next support agent informed me that they couldn’t send a message to customers and would instead issue refunds. I found this perplexing because Amazon, a company known for its exceptional customer service and creator support, couldn’t send a single message to notify readers who had been anticipating the book for over a month.

As the author, I did lose a significant amount of income due to the cancellations, but that wasn’t my primary concern.

I reframed the income situation by reminding myself that I could earn back the lost income with eight hours of consulting work. This cognitive restructuring helped provide me with emotional relief.

My main worry was disappointing my readers, who had committed to paying for the release with the expectation of receiving the book on September 30, 2024. Some readers, especially those who don’t know me personally, might assume that I was irresponsible, given that Amazon’s refund wouldn’t come with an explanation of the situation.

As a professional with experience in large organizations, I understand the importance of policies, processes, procedures, and rules — especially when enforced by automated AI systems. However, in this particular instance, a small human intervention could have resolved the issue amicably for all parties involved.

When the next support agent confirmed that nothing could be done and offered a sincere apology, they asked me to provide feedback. I had no issue with the support staff, and I was impressed by their kindness. However, the feedback form only provided a rating scale and a “Satisfied” or “Not Satisfied” option.

So, I decided to offer more detailed and thoughtful feedback in a caring and honest manner hoping Amazon can improve customer experience.

My Feedback to Amazon for Improvement

Here is what I said in an email, feedback coming from my heart:

Dear Support Team,

I am reaching out not to repeat what I mentioned in my previous email, as I fully accept the situation and the outcome. While I have many ways to communicate with most of my readers, my loyalty to Amazon inspires me to provide thoughtful feedback by investing my time to share it with the KDP team.

The link you provided is solely for rating the service, and I would truly appreciate it if you could forward this message to the appropriate person. Here is my honest feedback for improvement:

In any corporate organization, there are exceptions to every process which authorized individuals can approve. I believe this feedback could help refine that process.

Amazon is a wonderful organization with outstanding customer service and excellent support for creators. I believe it could improve the user experience by implementing a simple one-line message in situations like mine, which could say:

“The original book entry is currently unavailable for XYZ reasons, so we are refunding your purchase. However, the good news is that the author has published the same book with the same title and content, which is available at this link if you’re still interested. Thank you for understanding our situation, which was beyond our control.”

When I offer this feedback, I speak from the perspective of a reader, writer, and former client executive. This solution would create a win-win-win scenario: readers will be pleased to know the book is available two days earlier than expected, the author will be happy to support loyal readers who have waited over a month, and Amazon, as a customer-focused organization, will gain goodwill from both readers and authors. The current situation, unfortunately, creates a lose-lose-lose outcome.

As a technologist, I understand the importance of rules, processes, and procedures, especially when AI systems are used to manage such a vast organization. However, I also believe Amazon has the capability to code exceptions for unique situations like this. In 2019, one of my pre-orders faced a system issue on the final day, and I couldn’t upload the file in time. Readers received an old, unedited version of the book. After I provided proof to the KDP team, they sent the corrected copy to readers along with an apology. This not only satisfied me but also delighted my readers.

In this current situation, I harbor no hard feelings and take personal responsibility for my oversight. Please accept my sincere apologies for taking up your valuable time.

I hope the design and executive teams will consider this genuine and caring feedback. Thank you again for your excellent service and kindness. I wish you all the best.

Current Availability Status of the Book for Interested Readers

While Amazon couldn’t recover the pre-order scheduled for 30 September 2024 entry which reached a best-selling status multiple times I am pleased that the KDP team quickly approved the new version and published it on 26 September 2024. It is now available for purchase.

Here is the link for those who might be interested in purchasing it from Amazon markets.

Multiple Options for Purchase

In addition, the book is currently being published by multiple popular publishing companies and will be available in hundreds of bookstores globally. I created a universal book (books2read) link that will show the purchase options:

Available now at your favorite digital store!
Substack Mastery by Dr. Mehmet Yildiz books2read.com

Discount Price for Loyal Readers

To support my loyal readers and address disappointment caused by Amazon, I also offer the Substack mastery book at half-price through my Patreon and ConvertKit shops.

Patreon PDF Version for half-price

Convertkit EPub Version for half-price

The funds generated from this book will be donated to the management of the Substack Mastery site for the ILLUMINATION community. This education site also amplifies the newsletters of freelance writers.

Customer Reviews

The customer review version is available at Goodreads. I’d appreciate an honest review to improve it for the next version.

Currently, I have a huge backlog of feedback from beta readers. I will address them and will publish a second version soon. I will provide a free copy of the second version to those who purchased the first one. I can be contacted via my website at this link.

I am also updating the book for a paperback as some readers don’t like electronic copies.

I will continue the beta reading process publicly so interested readers might find free copies through the following links:

Preface of “Substack Mastery” for Beta Readers, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19…

Conclusion and Takeaways

Mistakes are an inevitable part of growth. Those who fear making mistakes may never evolve. The key is to recognize, accept, and address them with a thoughtful and methodical plan.

In my case, the error was a minor oversight regarding the submission deadline and the automated nature of AI-managed publishing systems. While the mistake itself seemed small, the impact and consequences were significant.

When we look at the issue from a business perspective (not red tape), the author still submitted and published an edited version after feedback from many beta readers, offering quality and first-of-a-kind content for freelance writers. However, robots couldn’t tolerate a few hours of delay in the code in the process.

I took personal responsibility for the situation, devised a plan, and managed to deliver the final product three days before the scheduled release. Despite my best efforts, some customers may still form negative perceptions due to the automatic refund process. I made every attempt to have Amazon communicate with the affected customers, but unfortunately, it was beyond my control.

As a result, I’ve chosen not to dwell on it. I trust that my readers will understand my intentions and efforts and forgive this unintended oversight.

I lost my best-selling position unfairly due to Amazon robots, and my special book might not be a best-seller in this category on Amazon again. That is fine by me. However, Amazon is not the only bookseller. Some of my books were best sellers, and even Amazon was established.

I don’t give up! So this setback inspires me to make this unique book a best seller in multiple great publishing organizations globally loved by readers. Here are some examples:

Purchasing Sources Will Be Updated for New Publishing Markets and Shops

Here are the key takeaways for all parties involved:

For Authors

Be mindful of deadlines: Double-check submission dates and familiarize yourself with platform rules to avoid last-minute complications.

Accept responsibility: When mistakes occur, take accountability and address them promptly with a clear plan.

For Publishing Organizations

Improve communication: A simple automated message to customers informing them of any changes or new options could maintain trust and avoid confusion.

Allow for flexibility: Implement systems that allow minor exceptions for cases like this, where the issue can be easily resolved with minimal impact on customers.

Consider human intervention: While AI can manage processes efficiently, certain cases benefit from personalized responses, especially when customer trust is at stake.

For Readers/Customers

Be open to errors: Understand that even experienced authors can face technical or logistical issues. Support them by recognizing their effort and intentions.

For the Writing Community

Share experiences: Authors who encounter such challenges should share their experiences and solutions, helping others navigate similar situations more effectively.

As an author and reader, if you have such experiences, I’d love to read them in the comments sections.

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

I wrote many stories about content development and marketing strategies. You might find some helpful ones on this list.

Writing, Content Development & Marketing Strategy Guides

I just want to share this insightful comment on my Medium story earlier by

Dr Mike Broadly

which gave me a few chuckles 😂

Community Building on Substack Bridging with Medium and Patreon

Many writers ask why I emphasize the community aspect of platforms so much. The answer is simple: platforms like Substack can feel lonely and isolated without a strong community.

I learned this firsthand during my first six months on Medium, which was anything but enjoyable. Building a supportive community changed everything.

Besides, I have yet to encounter any successful writer, bestselling author, or leading Substack creator who thrives without being part of or leading a community. Community isn’t just an add-on; it’s essential for lasting success.

Integrating Substack with Medium is a great idea. To this end, as a community builder, I created a philanthropic organization that will empower creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs with a commercial arm. I documented the strategy and high-level plan in a story. Please feel free to ask questions and provide feedback. Refraining from perfection, I choose a progressive path.

Here are our draft service definitions for creators, freelance writers, and content entrepreneurs. We will explain the details in our upcoming newsletter. Here is an invitation from a founding member.

If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers. ILLUMINATION-Curators curate, feature, and promote newsletters of our contributors in collections like this one. Being part of a community can bring many benefits, such as a fast-growing audience. Substack Mastery Featured Newsletters: Episode 12.

For advanced writers, we also have a publication called Curated Newsletters, which replaced the former ILLUMINATION-Curated. As I withdraw from the boost program, I now allocate more time to support writers in extending their services to Substack or other platforms.

If you are a writer, you are welcome to join my publications by sending a request via this link. I support 32K writers who contribute to my publications on this platform. You can contact me via my website. I also have another profile to write and curate tech stories. Friend Links to My Sample Boosted Stories for Non-Members of Medium.

New Submission Guidelines for ILLUMINATION, Curated Newsletters, SYNERGY, and Technology Hits.

You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack and our education tool, Substack Mastery, curated by ILLUMINATION-Curators. Here is the Importance and Value of Medium Friendship for Writers and Readers.

Invitation to Be a Guest Blogger for Creating Visibility for Your Content and Profile

I recently opened my website to welcome all writers as guest bloggers, offering a platform to boost visibility for your profiles, Medium stories, and Substack newsletters.

I have outlined the compelling reasons to join our community blog in detail, making it an ideal space for authentic and ethical writers who want to share their work freely.

Here’s Why I Opened My Website to Freelance Writers as Guest Bloggers from Multiple Platforms
I explain why and how writers can benefit from this free blogging opportunity, empowered by a non-commercial writing…medium.com

Here, no legal content is censored! I strongly value diversity, inclusion, and equality in distributing content. If you want a supportive environment to amplify your voice, I have created this accessible and supportive place for you.

Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.

Health and Wellness by Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Content Strategy, Development, & Marketing Insights
Technology Excellence and Leadership

Content Marketing Insights

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