[Wactclc-alma] [External]Re: ACQ Question regarding Amazon searching

[Wall, Miriam]

Yes, I had noticed this a while ago—when a book I ordered turned out to be the wrong edition even though I had searched by ISBN.  My response has been to be very careful about comparing details and ISBN’s before I order, but it is awful.  I recently had to order replacement copies of some classics like 1984 and Heidi.  It was almost impossible to find the version that the librarian was referencing.  I have been sending feedback using the link on the order page.

Miriam Wall
Olympic College
360-475-7258

From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Ryer Banta
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 3:49 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: [External]Re: [Wactclc-alma] ACQ Question regarding Amazon searching

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Hi Paula,

Very frustrating. It’s not helpful in Amazon, basic or advanced search.

But I did a Google search for ‘isbn 9780316529488’ and then clicked the Amazon result, which took me to this page https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Displaced-Journey-Stories/dp/0316529486.  Under product details there is this same isbn, it has a dash in it though. Is this the same edition you were looking for – hardcover, large print?

Searching within Amazon itself is a problem, as you say. Don’t think I’m even seeing this version.

So as a band-aid I’m suggesting using Google to search for ISBNs to get to good Amazon links. I did try some other search engines (Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo) and did not get useful results.


Ryer Banta
Information Literacy and Technology Librarian
Pronouns: he/him/his
Centralia College
360-623-8121
Ryer.Banta at centralia.edu<mailto:Ryer.Banta at centralia.edu>


From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Thomas, Kirsti
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 2:43 PM
To: WACTCLC Alma Discussion <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Wactclc-alma] ACQ Question regarding Amazon searching

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I haven't heard about this from my acquisitions staff yet.  All my words in response to this are 4-letter ones.


Kirsti S. Thomas
Library Technical Service Manager
Seattle Colleges
kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:kirsti.thomas at seattlecolleges.edu>



From: Wactclc-alma <wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Paula Laine
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2020 13:57
To: wactclc-alma (wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>) <wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:wactclc-alma at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: [Wactclc-alma] ACQ Question regarding Amazon searching

I think Amazon changed the way their front page search works. I usually search by ISBN and Amazon has always linked me to the specific item with that ISBN. Now the ISBN links me to a FRBRized kind of title page with all the editions and formats attached to it. It takes too long to find my specific ISBN in that mess. I have to click on the different editions, and scroll down until I hit the ISBN. Nope? Go on to the next one.

I spent over an hour on chat this morning (yes I missed our meeting) and I believe MAYBE the tech understood what I was talking about. Here is the test I gave her:
Your librarian has handed you an order card with the title “We Are Displaced” and the ISBN 9780316529488. Search the Amazon database by ISBN. How long does it take to find the ISBN the librarian wants in that mess? (Hint: you will get a result, but Amazon does not have this edition in stock)

I asked for some kind of parameter that would do an exact ISBN search. I asked to escalate twice. I wrote an email to Jeff Bezos.

Someone, somewhere made a big change to the searching strategy and it is awful.

It’s not just me, right? I know Seattle orders from Amazon. Has anyone noticed anything?

Paula Laine
Bellevue
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