Poll: Opinions Wanted

~ Bookstooge

I stopped doing the book giveaways when I didn’t get any bites for 2 months in a row. I am wondering if I should try again in ’21 or not. I do realize that over half my audience isn’t able to enter, being outside the United States.

Right now, I am leaning towards a “No”, as it is incredibly discouraging when you can’t even give books away. Let me know what you think, not just whether you’d try or not, but what you think of book giveaways in general.

I’ll probably bring this up again in January, so if you feel pressured to answer, don’t be. You’ll get a second chance to tell me how you really feel 😉

69 thoughts on “Poll: Opinions Wanted”

      1. I’d open the van doors before igniting your prized copy of Sandworms of Jaggeroth 4, so health and safety will be adhered so. I was correctly admonished for using the phrase ‘book burning’ is jest, but note that there were no complaints from your audience last week when I made a solemn promise to use your skull as a goblet, so I’ll be moving forward with that presently…

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        1. I’ve dealt with that whole sub-conversation. You did nothing wrong. It was all the other persons problem and they simply “forgot” that commenting like that on someone else’s blog isn’t appropriate. I left a message for them on their blog so we shouldn’t have a repeat.

          Because that whole goblet skull thingy from the other time? That had me laughing my head off. I think some people just don’t have the same humor as you and me.

          As for burning my prized copy of J4? That is not going to happen. I paid 3 whole cents for that baby, it’s my prized possession. If I had to choose between you and J4, J4 gets rescued every time. It’s muh baby 🙂

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          1. No! I think I did do something wrong! I think it was a fair comment that was made about my lame gag, and insensitive of me to mention something which has genuine triggers for other people, particularly in jest. Having said that, my remark was very much in the context of my desire to burn your house down, destroy your possessions, use your skull as a goblet and other noble activities which the general public stand firmly behind my desire to do.

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            1. This is my blog. Nobody gets to imply that another commenter is a nazi. If somebody disagrees strongly enough with a comment to think that, they have the refined option of not interacting with the other commenter and if they feel even stronger, of not following this blog.

              I will NOT have other commenters dictating what other commenters can say by using such terms as “nazi” and using social pressure to steer a conversation.

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              1. I appreciate your defence of my remark. From now on, I’m only posting pictures of kittens with ‘be all you can be’ messages.
                I do think there’s real value in having these discussions, if only to straighten out misunderstandings, but I also appreciate your willingness to defend our right to free, irreverent speech. As you say, you get to call the shots on your own blog, and that is what has made it a beacon of light for free-thinkers worldwide.

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    1. That is one of the biggest things I noticed last time. Giveaways have to compete with free ARCS, of completely brand new books.
      How is any book lover supposed to overcome that!?

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  5. I voted Depends because I will join only to the one I’m really interested in due to the fact that I’m living outside the US and shipments aren’t always cheap, especially in this period.

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  6. I don’t do giveaways as pretty much all my followers are in the US and I don’t have the money for overseas postage. I enter the odd international one if it’s for gift cards or choose a book from the Book Depository, that kind of thing. It’s rare that a book I really want is offered for a giveaway but overall they are good things.

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    1. I highly doubt anything I have that I could ship would be worth it to any of my international people. And what is funny is that the majority of those who interact on a regular basis ARE international 😀

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  7. I didn’t vote, but I don’t participate in book giveaways. I love the idea of them, I think it’s a cool way to get rid of old books, but as you know, I’m just not a physical book person.

    I also don’t typically participate in giveaways even if it’s for something I would use. I feel like I should leave giveaways for people who are in greater financial difficulty, somebody who really wants the thing but can’t afford to just buy it for themselves.

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  8. I didn’t vote either, because I am another who doesn’t take part in giveaways. I also usually feel that I should leave it for someone who really wants the book but can’t afford it themselves. Also, … my existing physical and digital TBR just doesn’t justify it.
    I do love the idea of book giveaways, tho.

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  9. I think it’s a great idea. But I’ve had similar disinterest when I tried to give books away over here. International shipping is expensive, I know. Is there a service that deals with this kind of thing? I heard about something like this a few years back, but don’t know the name. The person who wants your book pays for the postage…. Sorry to be so vague 🤷

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    1. No, that isn’t vague at all in my opinion. this is exactly what I was looking for.

      I am not aware of any service that is cheaper for international shipping. Using the US postal service, it ends up costing about what a new paperback would. or more, sigh.

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      1. Yeah, it’s too much! I backed a couple of Indiegogo graphic novel campaigns and the postage to Japan from the US is the same price as the book! Crazy. $25 and $25. The cheapest postage I’ve got so far is $20 for a slim 80-page graphic novel.

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  10. I genuinely enjoy book giveaways, however, if it’s something I don’t know that I’ll read, I don’t toss my hat in the ring. Why take away from someone who might really want it?
    I realize this answer probably helps you zero percent lmao.

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  11. I love that you had and may still have book give-aways! I was a big winner one time. I received some fabulous books. That is why I’ll never enter another give-away on this blog. I do not want to be greedy! Winning one time was plenty, thank you!

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  12. I don’t do much either with giveaways for the same reason….. witch is a shame because I have many books I could share or giveaway. Some that are YA I can unload as a donation at the school but the rest Im stuck with, We don’t have a local library and the one in town I wont donate to because it cost $10 bucks a month for a card if you live out if county, which the county is tiny and pretty much only people living in town can use for free. On top they don’t even have any good books only older tittles and only one of each. That is for e books the same… so its not even worth the 10 bucks a month.

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    1. 95% of donated books to our library ends up going into their book sale to support the library. I’m not at that point where I’m reading to accept that yet. Maybe if I get desperate 😀

      Having limited space is one of the big reasons I’ve moved to ebooks almost exclusively. I’ve got plenty of hard drive room 😀

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  14. This is a test of adding a picture to a comment. I’m doing this for four important reasons:
    1. When people are trying to figure out how to do something computer-related, I can never resist trying too.

    2. I heard Bookstooge was soliciting kitten pictures. As everybody knows, Bookstooge really really *loves* cats. (If you never hear from me again on this blog, it’s because I’ve been blocked…)

    3. What’s better than a photo of a kitten studying a book about computer networks? (This is Ernest in August 2014, when he was about 3.5 months old. Look at that earnest expression on Ernest.)

    4. To encourage people with cats to sign up for giveaways. Your cat probably likes to read too and doesn’t have any disposable income at all since most bookstores refuse to take dead rodents in trade for books.

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    1. In the interests of Scyenze, I declare this comment a smashing success, pushing the boundaries of what modern man has known about commenting.
      The picture not only showed up on the blog comments, but it ALSO showed up in my notification area. That is a first and I’m happy with that.

      2) No worries, I called the goon squad back.

      3) I thought Ernest looked a little “little” 😀

      4) Very true. Not that I have tried to pay for my groceries with dead rats though. Hmmmm, the possibilities…..

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  15. Follower from the UK here, so my answer will be no unless there are any you do open up to overseas followers.

    International shipping is costly though so I can’t say I blame you for drawing the line.

    Currently holding a Black Library related giveaway on Twitter and its like pulling teeth.

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    1. Last time I looked into international shipping (and it was just canada, so not even overseas), it was almost as costly as buying a used copy on Bookdepository. Bleh!

      While I’m sorry, I am glad to hear that I’m not the only one who has issues with book giveaways 😉

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  19. Pingback: November ’20 Roundup & Ramblings | Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road

  21. 1) Sorry to have discouraged you. I haven’t entered so far because i wasn’t interested in the particular books you were giving away.

    2) To all the commenters in Europe and elsewhere, I don’t know what Bookstooge’s issue is with sending things inter nationally. Maybe he needs that money for sissy stuff like food and heating his house. But as for me, I am HAPPY to send you a copy of MY book as an ARC. All I need is a mailing address. I’ve sent a book to Singapore successfully. This book wants to see the world!

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                1. Sorry, no can do. It’s way too much fun to watch you squirm. I can practically feel it through the screen.

                  And while I might be laughing at you, I do sympathize because I’ve done that kind of thing enough myself on other people’s blogs. People are hard to deal with, even online 😀

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