The Letter I Wrote to Amazon/IMDB owner, Jeff Bezos

This is what I wrote. You can write anything. It can be super brief. I just think letting him know personally could help. His email is: [email protected] And he says he wants to hear from people.


Dear Mr Bezos,

Please read the following article, it says almost everything I'd like to say:

https://news.boxofficebuz.com/article/why-imdb-s-message-board-shut-down-is-misguided


I've been a heavy Amazon Prime user, have your credit card, post product reviews, etc. But your decision to take away the IMDB message boards has me seriously rethinking my commitment to your company.

I do have two suggestions that could keep IMDB users like me happy and be profitable for you at the same time.


1. Use volunteer moderators (see NextDoor.com, the local neighborhoods site, as an example). If a moderator is abusing the established guidelines, they will weed themselves out based on members' complaints.

2. Unobtrusive advertising. (Again, see NextDoor.com's advertising). Ads are inserted as a message topic on the board and it's entirely the users' choice whether they're interested in clicking on the message or not. For example, security devices and home automation systems are popular ads on the Nextdoor site. On IMDB: A network or cable site could buy a message spot with a link to their newest show. If a user is interested in that show, they can click on the link. Very easy. Amazon could post links to DVDs available on Amazon and Amazon Prime Video. Ads would be limited so as not to overpower the board. I used to work in advertising, so if there were even just one or two ads on each of the thousands of boards that IMDB hosts, that would be easy money. It's a built-in demographic for Networks, streaming sites and movie studios for advertising their new shows or movies directly to their audience. I'd take that sales job as a no-brainer. How can you and IMDB pass up that opportunity?

I really hope you'll reconsider your decision to close down the message boards. I and many others feel we'll no longer have a reason to use the site since the info IMDB provides can be found in many other places. It's the interactive experience of getting questions answered, comparing notes, reviewing content, etc. that draws us to your site. With that feature gone, I'm just as happy using Wikipedia or Rotten Tomatoes or any number of alternative information sites.

Thanks for your consideration,

xxxxx xxxxx








"Man is born into trouble as sparks fly upward." –Lucifer (DC comics)