Stipulations on reviews?

I was pursuing the member giveaways last night and noticed a few books (by the same author) that sounded interesting, but in the notes he requested that winners leave a review on Amazon, but not make any mention that they got the book for free because he feels it dampens sales.

Is this right to ask? I thought that if you recieve a free copy of a book in exchange for a review, you’re supposed to be transparent in your review and say that it was free.

It's also against the MG rules, "You may not include additional terms, contracts, or stipulations with your giveaway, beyond those already specified by LibraryThing in these Rules and Conditions."

>1 amindy_2000:

There is no LT requirement that you be transparent in your review (although you should be).

It is a rule of Member Giveaways that the offeror may not include additional terms, contracts, or stipulations with your giveaway, beyond those already specified by LibraryThing in these Rules and Conditions.

A quick check on Amazon shows that this author is selling very short cookbooks for as much as $19.95. The Look Inside for Instant Pot Cookbook 2019 shows several recipes - none of which call for an Instant Pot.

Of course this member hasn't even bothered to enter the books involved.

I really suggest that if you write a negative review that you do post it to Amazon.

He also doesn't bother to send the books; note the comments on his profile: http://www.librarything.com/profile/Cashkits

Such a request is certainly highly unethical. It may in fact be illegal - reviewers are supposed to disclose if they got something for free in exchange for a review, per the FTC. (Or at least were at one point; even if it's not a legal requirement, it's still the decent thing to do.) I'd report this guy to staff, and if I was really feeling grumpy to Amazon as well.

And they probably aren't even the "author's" recipes. That "Look inside" piqued my curiousity because of all the CAPITALIZED BRAND NAMES that are usually what show up in recipes from a brand. Sure enough, the first one I checked was straight from Kraft's website. (Directions changed enough to avoid copyright issues - you can't copyright a list of ingredients, only the instructions for what to do with them - but it's still pretty clearly not original.)

Aside from LT terms, reviewers need to adhere to terms of the site where they’re posting a review and also follow federal laws: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides...

Some authors or publishers encourage the reviewer to violate this law by asking to avoid mentioning the book was obtained for free. No matter how official they make it sound, authors and publishers don’t have a magic wand to make laws stop applying to people, and if something goes wrong (review is “caught”) it will all fall on the reviewer.

There's a book on the Member Giveaways right now saying that you have to review within three months of winning, and if you already won a copy and didn't review it, you can't enter again. Just makes one feel less likely to want to request for a read and review, lol.

The Appel novels I often see a "one copy per person." rule.

I'm curious though. Aren't giveaway submissions looked through for allowed and disallowed summaries before being approved, or are they automatically entered each month?

https://www.librarything.com/profile/Cashkits also seems to be selling books based on copyrighted/trademarked properties (and reviewing/rating their own stock).

>10 konallis:

Not sure what that has to do with this thread.

In any case, I see nothing to suggest that member is selling books (looks like their books were given away as part of the Member Giveaway program). And even authors can review their own books.

selling books based on copyrighted/trademarked properties

I don't know what you mean by that.

>11 lilithcat: The suggestion that the user might not be operating within the TOS.

They're giving away books based on The Simpsons, but don't appear to be the official publisher.

>12 konallis:

I don't see anything that suggests they are not operating within the terms of service. You said they "seem to be selling" books and I don't know where that idea is coming from.

They're giving away books based on The Simpsons, but don't appear to be the official publisher.

So what?

Any member can give away any book, whether or not that member published the book. You can also sell them to your local used bookstore, donate them to charity sales, etc. Heck, bookstores sell books they don't publish!

I am having a hard time understanding what the problem is here.

>9 WillowMammoth: Can you point me to the giveaway in question? I'll be happy to drop the member offering the book a note saying they can't do that (because they can't, even from a technical standpoint).

>9 WillowMammoth:

The Appel novels I often see a "one copy per person." rule.

Although no additional stipulations are permitted, frankly, I don't have a problem with that. If an author has a limited number of copies to give away, why would he want to send more than one to the same person? And why would someone want multiple copies, anyway?

>14 lorannen:

It's Harables - Short Stories 2, by Haidji (It's listed twice on the MG list.)

>13 lilithcat: To participate in Member Giveaways, a member must be an LT Author (according to the wiki, at least). That implies they have some creative control over the book and are giving away copies as a publicity exercise, rather than simply giving away books they own and no longer want to keep.

>17 konallis:

To participate in Member Giveaways, a member must be an LT Author

That's not correct

How do I give away books with the Member Giveaways program?

To post a book for a Member Giveaway, at least one of the following must be true:

1. You are a LibraryThing Author
2. You have at least 50 books in your LibraryThing account
3. You have a paid LibraryThing account

Note that only one of those things is required. You do not have to be an author to participate in the MG program. Look at the current list - almost all are authors, true, but a couple are from a member who is downsizing: http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaway/list

>16 lilithcat: Thanks!

>17 konallis: Not quite. That's one of three possible criteria they can meet (and they only need to meet one of the three to post a Member Giveaway). Anyone who is either a paid member or has at least 50 books cataloged can also offer a giveaway.

Member Giveaways was originally created to do exactly what you suggest it's not for—to allow LibraryThing members to giveaway books they have.

ETA: lilithcat beat me to it. :)

>18 lilithcat: >19 lorannen: Thank you both, my mistake. I was only familiar with the self-promotional use of MGs.

I still think the member in question might have been doing something not legit (they seem to have been sending out digital copies). They don't appear to be active any more, though.

It was listed twice because one giveaway was for ebooks and the other one for paperbacks.