Changes to Baen Bundle program

[JeffZ]

This was posted on the Baen Bar forum earlier today...

We'd like to announce some changes to the "Gift a Monthly Baen Bundle to a Friend" promotion in order to alleviate confusion with how the program currently works.

Starting today, purchasers of Monthly Baen Bundles can gift a coupon worth $9.99 off anything in the Baen Ebookstore to a friend who is not currently a Baen Ebooks customer. Only one coupon can be sent at a time, even if you buy multiple Bundles at once. The coupons still expire in a year's time.

It's come to our attention that the coupon issued as part of the "Gift a Monthly Baen Bundle to a Friend" promotion can cause problems for customers who purchase a Monthly Baen Bundle last minute. The program is no longer compatible with the way Bundles work as Monthly Baen Bundles now have a purchasing expiration date. Even though the coupons state they are good for a year, a purchaser's friend is unable to redeem the coupon because the date to purchase the bundle has already passed.

[Marcy]

Still quite a bargain, if people are interested in passing the chain along. I suspect they'll be much shorter since you will have to pay something instead of nothing.

[gbm]

update from Baen:
The coupon is good for anything purchasable on the Baen Ebookstore. So yes, you can still use the coupon to buy a Bundle.

Originally Posted by Marcy

Still quite a bargain, if people are interested in passing the chain along. I suspect they'll be much shorter since you will have to pay something instead of nothing.

bernie

[colinsky]

I'm not sure this new model will always necessarily "move the chain along". Only purchasers of a bundle will get a new coupon to pass along, so the act of someone getting the $9.99 coupon and using it for something OTHER than a bundle (such as a specific book) would break the chain.

[Marcy]

Originally Posted by colinsky

I'm not sure this new model will always necessarily "move the chain along". Only purchasers of a bundle will get a new coupon to pass along, so the act of someone getting the $9.99 coupon and using it for something OTHER than a bundle (such as a specific book) would break the chain.

People can only sign up for the chain if they agree to use the coupon for a bundle. Simple rule as far as I can see.

Addendum: And not "a bundle" but "the bundle" the one that the chain was started with.

[jbcohen]

I like the price of the bundles, not to mention the fact that I get a cross section of the authors that Baen has to offer. 6 books for $18, that comes out to $3 per book, I would buy the bundle with without the chain, the chain just made it more appealing.

[Auricle]

So instead of getting the bundle for free, you would need to pay $8 for it. I'd still join the chain most of the time. It's not free but I always felt we were kind of taking advantage of Baen with the chains. So I'm OK with the change. Kudos for Baen for allowing the chains up to this point and for continuing to let these chains exist even in its modified form.

But we'll need to make *sure* everybody understands the new rules before we start the next chain. I think in the worst case, if somebody joins a chain and then doesn't realize they need to pay $8, and then doesn't want to pay $8, they should be able to just forward the coupon code they received on to the next person.

[gbm]

From Baen Bar Ebooks Forum:

If a customer chooses to use the coupon towards a Monthly Baen Bundle, eARC, or anything else that costs more than $9.99, then yes, they will have to pay the difference.

The new program is named "Gift A Free Baen Ebook", and the accompanying text clearly states that the purchase of the Monthly Baen Bundle entitles you to invite a friend to enjoy one Baen Ebook for free. The email sent to the recipient states you are receiving a Baen Free Ebook and the certificate is worth $9.99. We believe this change will actually reduce confusion as many new Baen Ebooks customers need some guidance in the way our Bundles work, or did not understand the free Bundle was limited to the Bundle their friend purchased. Opening it up to $9.99 off anything gives the new customer more options to explore our site and pick an Ebook that piques their interest.

bernie

[murg]

Originally Posted by Auricle

So instead of getting the bundle for free, you would need to pay $8 for it. I'd still join the chain most of the time. It's not free but I always felt we were kind of taking advantage of Baen with the chains. So I'm OK with the change. Kudos for Baen for allowing the chains up to this point and for continuing to let these chains exist even in its modified form.

But we'll need to make *sure* everybody understands the new rules before we start the next chain. I think in the worst case, if somebody joins a chain and then doesn't realize they need to pay $8, and then doesn't want to pay $8, they should be able to just forward the coupon code they received on to the next person.

This is affecting the current chains.

But, yes, you're right. Future chains are going to have to be structured differently.

In fact, can the coupons be chained at all? When redeeming a coupon, can you get a new coupon for someone else?

[koland]

if you buy a bundle, you get a coupon.

That should not be affected by using a coupon for a discount.

It does mean, those joining chains must be willing to pay $8.01 for the bundle (possibly, if you only want one book, it might be cheaper to get it alone and avoid the chain bundles).

[Iblise]

So are the current bundles still working or have those changed now?

[murg]

Originally Posted by Iblise

So are the current bundles still working or have those changed now?

If you've already bought a current bundle, it remains bought.

If you haven't bought the bundle yet, you will receive a coupon for $10 for someone else to purchase anything on Baen.

I believe the previously issued free bundle coupons will continue to work as such.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by murg

I believe the previously issued free bundle coupons will continue to work as such.

They do, if they were issued before the change. I just got September & October codes issued before the change and got those two bundles for free. The new codes it generated for me are $9.99 off though.

[hwlester]

I'll still participate in the threads. As some have pointed out, even at $8 for 6ish books, it's still a bargain.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by hwlester

I'll still participate in the threads. As some have pointed out, even at $8 for 6ish books, it's still a bargain.

Surely this is intended as an incentive to encourage a new customer to buy from Baen, not as a way for existing customers to get cheap books, isn't it?