Books on Board changes policy for Rewards Dollars

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by RWood

I think what phenomshel is objecting to at Fictionwise is the "nag screen" that tells you that you have selected a book that is not in your "default" format. Since my default format is LRF (for the Sony and only available at Fictionwise as a "MultiFormat"), all I get is a notice that once downloaded I cannot return the book.

Given the confusion over book formats, I regard that as a "blessing" personally. I'm sure that it must enormously cut down on the problems associated with people inadvertently buying books in the wrong formats, given that different books are available in different formats.

[koland]

Originally Posted by RWood

I think what phenomshel is objecting to at Fictionwise is the "nag screen" that tells you that you have selected a book that is not in your "default" format. Since my default format is LRF (for the Sony and only available at Fictionwise as a "MultiFormat"), all I get is a notice that once downloaded I cannot return the book.

Yeah, the nag screen is slightly annoying, if only because it assumes you are an idiot (and since it only went up after the Kindle was on Oprah, I'm sure it's an assumption needed at the store). At least it isn't as annoying as the process at BoB (and yes, I still buy at both):

Click to checkout.

Click the "yes, I know you won't email them, let me continue" button.

Click the checkbox that I really know what I am doing.

Enter the amount of rewards to use (making sure It is no more than the total amount, as despite their help/faq page's opinion, you can accidentally give them back extra rewards and then they are gone). Click the apply button.

Click the button again that says I know what I am doing, once the page redraws.

FINALLY, click on the check out, no really, it's checkout for REAL button.

Click on each book, one at a time, to download (no bulk download allowed).

Check your email and send in for any rewards.

Watch your email for several days, resubmitting the rewards request daily until someone there actually does their job (this can take three or four requests and most of the week, if they are busy).

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the confusion over book formats, I regard that as a "blessing" personally.

I agree, and completely understand why they implemented it. Doesn't bother me in the least.

[=X=]

If I may rudly intrupt and bring back to topic posted by the original poster.

I find that email interesting, since Kurt Johnson, specifically posted on the topic of double dipping to get reward dollars for reward dollars.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=19

I don't think an email from support constitutes a change in BooksOnBoard policy, remember that is usually a tech support giving his/her opinion, sometimes that does not always align with a policy.

=X=

[phenomshel]

Originally Posted by koland

Yeah, the nag screen is slightly annoying, if only because it assumes you are an idiot (and since it only went up after the Kindle was on Oprah, I'm sure it's an assumption needed at the store). At least it isn't as annoying as the process at BoB (and yes, I still buy at both):

Click to checkout.

Click the "yes, I know you won't email them, let me continue" button.

Click the checkbox that I really know what I am doing.

Enter the amount of rewards to use (making sure It is no more than the total amount, as despite their help/faq page's opinion, you can accidentally give them back extra rewards and then they are gone). Click the apply button.

Click the button again that says I know what I am doing, once the page redraws.

FINALLY, click on the check out, no really, it's checkout for REAL button.

Click on each book, one at a time, to download (no bulk download allowed).

Check your email and send in for any rewards.

Watch your email for several days, resubmitting the rewards request daily until someone there actually does their job (this can take three or four requests and most of the week, if they are busy).

You've nailed it. It's the "assume I'm an idiot" part that got to me.

[wallflower75]

Originally Posted by ProfJulie

I just use the vendor that gives me the best deal. A year ago, I spent a lot of time researching ebook vendors and, at the time, it seemed that BOB's prices were better. But lately I've found some really great prices at eBookmall.com and even some good prices at mobipocket.com. Truthfully though, until ebook prices get more stable I'll just check multiple sites and buy from the site that gives me the best price...no customer loyalty here, at least not right now.

Agreed. I am a Buywise Club member (I renewed it when it offered 100% Micropay), but there are times when the BoB price is cheaper. For instance, I recently purchased the upcoming book by Karen Harper, Mistress Shakespeare. When I bought it at BoB, the price was around $17 with $4.74 Rebate Dollars. At FW, it was $21 with $6 Micropay.

But that's not always the case. Not every book at BoB has the Rebate Dollars, or they only have them for a limited time. If I hadn't purchased the book when I did, I wouldn't have gotten the rebate because it was the last day to get it. Now, the book is $17 with no rebate at all. FW's books always have a Micropay rebate, even if it's only 5%. (And to be fair, the Micropay rebate dropped at FW as well, from $6 to around $3.)

So while I get most of my books at FW, I do watch the rebate deals at BoB just in case they're better. Comparative shopping never hurt anyone.

[koland]

Originally Posted by =X=

I don't think an email from support constitutes a change in BooksOnBoard policy, remember that is usually a tech support giving his/her opinion, sometimes that does not always align with a policy.

It appears to be a change - the policy, as stated in the email Lee sent me last year, WAS: reward dollars are the same as real dollars and you get reward dollars no matter how you pay for books.

The policy now appears to be: reward dollars may be used for any book, but you earn no rewards on books paid for in whole by RW and you are limited in how many RW you earn if you have a mixed payment order (this is what happened to my mother - they did not give her the full RW indicated in the order and was a clear change from last year's policy).

The wording of the email may have been just one person's opinion (if so, I would hope that person is already standing in the unemployment line; if not, well .... there are laws about liable for a reason and customers have rejected other companies for far less).

I'm still waiting to see if I'll get my promised rewards from my last order - it's been two full business days (Bob has posted here several times that they only take one) and no reply at all (and no rewards posted).

[DanT]

Well I just bought a book on BoB by paying all with reward.

Taxes: $0.00
Sub-Total: $4.35
Applied Rewards: $4.35
Total: $0.00

Foward the receipt and promptly receive my $0.44 reward

So it's still old policy for me, at least for $0.44 value.

[basschick]

if you have ever worked customer service, you know just how many people DO download the wrong formats of things. i personally think it's a plus to have the nag screen - it will hopefully free up BoB to do other stuff.

Originally Posted by phenomshel

You've nailed it. It's the "assume I'm an idiot" part that got to me.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by basschick

if you have ever worked customer service, you know just how many people DO download the wrong formats of things. i personally think it's a plus to have the nag screen - it will hopefully free up BoB to do other stuff.

It's FW who have it . But you're absolutely correct.

[JSWolf]

I just bought a book at BooksOnBoard using reward dollars in full and was able to get the 63 cents reward on the book.

[basschick]

i knew that - i'm just veeery sleepy. thanks!

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's FW who have it . But you're absolutely correct.

[phenomshel]

Y'all are probably right. I got into the same thing with Vista with User Account Control. I just *hate* being lumped in with the idiots who don't know what they're doing. I can see that it cuts way down on the time FW has to spend explaining to people, "No, sorry, you ordered the wrong format..blah blah..." I'm in customer service too, and there is a really fine line between treating people as idiots who don't know how to read,(even though some of them ARE idiots who don't read), and being patient enough to explain the same things calmly and clearly a hundred times a day. It still rubbed me the wrong way, though.

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Y'all are probably right. I got into the same thing with Vista with User Account Control. I just *hate* being lumped in with the idiots who don't know what they're doing.

I simply don't find Fictionwise's format selection system to be a bother to me at all in the ordering process (and have occasionally found it helfpul -- when I ordered a book without noticing it was unavailable in my preferred Mobi format, it was nice to get the reminder).

Vista's UAC -- that was much more intrusive to me (until I learned how to get it out of the way).

[koland]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just bought a book at BooksOnBoard using reward dollars in full and was able to get the 63 cents reward on the book.

I received mine today as well (a penny more than the entire order, all of which was paid in rewards dollars, as one was full rebate and the other was a penny more than full rebate).

I don't know what their problem is -- my mother still has not received hers and received the rude notice about fraud (this only a week after spending over $100 on books on their 100% back sale, on her first order trying to use those reward dollars). Still no reply from the company other than the one from the rude customer service rep.