Advice for Ethical Requests of Amazon Reviews?

[Lima Bean]

Originally Posted by Hitch

FYI:

If anyone cares, I just reviewed a book I'd received as a gift, and the review shows up as a verified purchase. Now, I redeemed this in the correct way, so perhaps that's the way that it distinguishes.

The only way I can see to really TEST this would be for me to ask some clients to send me gift copies of their books, and then for me to review them. The problem with that is that, of course, we have a relationship with the client; we have a"pecuniary interest," in that we've done paid work for them. (Even though we have zero interest in how the book itself does; we're producers, not publishers.) This means that if I review their books, I would be violating Amazon's T&C. The other books that I've received from OTHER authors have not had issues, as we've not done work for those clients. I mean, Amazon wouldn't know, but I would, and I don't do unethical.

Hmph. I'm going to have to cogitate on this. I want to know, because I'm really tired of seeing this line about "you can't gift books to people..." around, as in my experience, it's not quite accurate.

Hitch

Nobody is saying you can't gift books to people. Speaking for myself, all I am saying is that the Verified Purchase label hasn't showed up for any of my gifted ebooks and I've gifted at least a dozen. The gifts were shown as "claimed" on my Amazon account. Lengthy reviews were left later, which indicated that the recipient probably used the gift in the manner I had hoped.

Claiming the gift "correctly" as you say, might be the issue at play here. There may well be some finger gymnastics required to ensure that a review shows up as verified, but I don't know what it entails. And, apparently, neither do the recipients.

So my advice to anyone thinking about gifting ebooks in hopes of getting the Verified Purchase label, proceed with caution.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Lima Bean

Nobody is saying you can't gift books to people. <snip>

I simply meant, the two refrains I hear a lot:

1. If you gift books to reviewers, Amazon will remove the reviews, and,
2. If you gift books to reviewers, they won't show up as Verified Purchases.

I simply want to see if I can drill down to the actual facts. Granted, Amazon can do whatever it wants, so it likely has shifting algorithms--what might work for one author mightn't work for another, based on other factors (duration of relationship with Amazon, self-pubbed or not, number of other reviews, etc.). It's an interesting puzzle to me.

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

I know when I was gifted a specific book, it did not show up as a verified purchase. It shows up in my gifted books on my manage my devices and content.

I also know if you are gifted a book you already own, you will get a message saying click here for a gift card.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I know when I was gifted a specific book, it did not show up as a verified purchase. It shows up in my gifted books on my manage my devices and content.

I also know if you are gifted a book you already own, you will get a message saying click here for a gift card.

That's absolutely fascinating. Not one of the gifted books I have shows up as "my gifted books." I don't even seem to have a category for that. Wild, just wild.

Hitch

[ApK]

Ok, enough. I'll settle this.
All you guys, gift me some books.
I'll report back.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ApK

Ok, enough. I'll settle this.
All you guys, gift me some books.
I'll report back.

LOL...I think that the test only works if the AUTHOR gifts the books. Sadly, I've none in that category to gift. I mean, sure, we could gift stuff otherwise, but the test is only relevant if we make sure it's the publisher/author who gifts it--agreed? Perhaps some of the other posters here can oblige for a test?

Hitch

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Hitch

That's absolutely fascinating. Not one of the gifted books I have shows up as "my gifted books." I don't even seem to have a category for that. Wild, just wild.

Hitch

I just checked, and I don't have that category either. I have two books that were gifted to me in the past 6 months, and neither of them appear any differently when I look at Manage My Kindle. Neither of these were gifted by the author/publisher, though, so that's got to be the difference.

Shari

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by shalym

I just checked, and I don't have that category either. I have two books that were gifted to me in the past 6 months, and neither of them appear any differently when I look at Manage My Kindle. Neither of these were gifted by the author/publisher, though, so that's got to be the difference.

Shari

Well, it's easy for me to get gift copies from authors, heaven knows. I guess I'll have to go test this.

Hitch

[ApK]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if gift something I published on Amazon, i still have to pay retail for it right? I can't just give free copies or coupons, like I can on Smashwords, right?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ApK

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if gift something I published on Amazon, i still have to pay retail for it right? I can't just give free copies or coupons, like I can on Smashwords, right?

Yes, that's right (you have to pay).

Hitch

[Dr. Drib]

Moderator Notice

Take the Gifting offline, please.

This is not a place to offer promotional handshakes and promotional links.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Take the Gifting offline, please.

This is not a place to offer promotional handshakes and promotional links.

Dr. Drib:

I think that, in all fairness, this was an investigatory offer. Not promotional (even if it has that unintended consequence). You'ze de Mod Boss, but if you read the thread, really...we were kinda trying to figure out why things go whither they go with gifted books.

Hitch

[AnnGirdharry]

Aaron - just to go back to your original question, I would underline the good advice you've received already to check out the Goodreads forums. There are several where writers can post requests for others to review their books.

There are frequent discussions on the Goodreads threads about whether or not
review 'swaps' between authors are ethical - so these threads make interesting reading too...

It is also clear on Goodreads that when reviewers receive ARC (Advanced Review Copies which are given out free) from publishers prior to a book launch, the reveiwers state this in their review so that it is clear for potential readers.

AnnGirdharry