Accused of charging publishers for good reviews, Internet bookseller Amazon.com offered refunds Tuesday for all books it has recommended and promised to tell customers when a publisher pays for a prominent display on its Web site.
“We did get expressions of concern by people who are very important to us, namely our customers,” said Bill Curry, a spokesman for the Seattle-based company.
Newspaper reports this week disclosed that Amazon.com was offering publishers what Amazon called “cooperative” advertising packages.
Paying up to $10,000, a book publisher could get prominent display for a book on Amazon’s home page, an author profile or interview and “complete Amazon.com editorial review.”
The bookseller also accepted payments for books placed in its “Destined for Greatness” section and its “What we’re reading” list.
Customers were not informed of the payments.
