I have recently had a few people who have not received their winning books. For the most part I have had very little problems with this, but lately it has become an issue. I have a very good relationship with the publishers I work with and I hate to think that my readers are getting the wrong idea about them. I do not think it is the readers place to go to the author and expect them to provide a giveaway copy when they did not agree to offering the giveaway in the first place and this comes out of their pockets. I have considered sending out my own copies of the book when the publisher doesn't come through, but I feel that is an injustice to me as well. I work hard to make sure this blog is a good book blog that offers what readers and publishers want. I work very hard to read these books and let readers know what to expect if they choose to buy them. I work tirelessly to get publishers to sponsor giveaways and I feel the copy of the book I receive is the compensation for all of that work... giving it away seems a waste of all the time and work that went into the posts. If you've never done a blog of your own you have no idea the amount of work that goes into it.
It has made me question whether or not to continue doing book giveaways at all.
I do not want the publishers to be dis-satisfied, the authors or you as readers. If you win a book you should receive it. I don't do giveaways very often from the blog that are not publisher sponsored because I cannot afford the postage to send the books out. It has been very disheartening to me, to read your comments about the giveaway process. I have long said that I am not responsible, when books don't turn up, but in a sense I still feel responsible. I apologize to those of you who have not received your books and I would like to say that it doesn't happen very often. But if this continues to be the case, I will be removing any and all giveaways from the blog. I will still give details where you can go to try an win a copy on other blogs if that information is available but I would rather not continue if it is going to cause problems. I have enough worries without adding that to the mix.
I will make one more attempt to retrieve any books you have not received. Please email me with the name and author of the book and your mailing address, as soon as possible. If I do not hear from you this week, I will make no further attempts, as I am becoming a nuisance instead of a respected blogger. (justpeachy36@yahoo.com)
I know this sounds on the harsh side and I want you to know that I am not blaming you for wanting to receive the books you have won. But my blog was always supposed to be fun for me and for you, and when there is conflict all of the fun goes out of it for me.
On a brighter note... I will be posting the latest winner's post later this evening.
If things improve, the giveaways will remain the same... if not December's books will be the last of the giveaways on my blog. If you have comments or questions please feel free to email or to post them here in the comments.
5 comments:
I always figure there will be a portion of things won that don't arrive for one reason or another. I always appreciate the help of you bloggers in trying to get things but if they don't come, it's not your fault.
I'm sorry it has become such a problem for you. You should be enjoying your blog. I hope things get better soon.
I can understand how you feel, you work so hard to bring these giveaways to us. If I don't receive a book I don't complain, I just assume that it got lost in the mail. People should not try and hold you responsible if they don't receive their books. Thanks for all you do for us!
I know it is not your fault when the book is not received and I have never held it against you. I am one of those who never received one of the books I won but it did not stop me from visiting your blog. I know you checked on it once and I am assuming the publisher just did not care that the book was not received. Like I said though it is not your fault you did all you can, I agree it is a lot of work that you put into your blog and I appreciate all you do.
I won a book here once before and I did receive it, no problem. Over a year ago I won a book on another blog and it was being sent from the publisher, Berkley Prime Crime. It didn't arrive so I contacted the person who ran the blog and later on I contacted the publisher. The book finally arrived but it must've been floating around the mailroom for a month because I checked the date on the U.P.S. packing slip (and the tracking online) and the delivery date specified and date sent said September. I didn't receive it until a whole month later in October. A few days later I got a double.
Hope you'll continue with the giveaways; I love them!
Maybe sometimes the publisher needs to be reminded to send the book. Books sometimes get lost or stolen from a person's mailbox or the front porch. U.P.S. and FedEx won't put them in the mailbox, but you can always put up a note to deliver packages to the back door. Sometimes they don't feel like doing that so they stick them inside the front screen door.
I really don't think it is the publishers's fault. It may be sometimes but most of the books that I have not received, it is because of something to do with the post office. Before we moved to our apartment, there was a lot of stolen mail where we lived. Now, I am receiving most of the books. I do appreciate a follow to see if the publisher has sent them out.Sometimes the answer is that the publisher says the books are late getting out. One time, the person who was to send them out, hid the books and quit her job. There are all sorts of reasons why we don't get all of our books.
Not receiving the books is not the most important problem in out lives. We would be very lucky if it was.
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