Why you should boycott AbeBooks
Nothing irks an author more than seeing review copies of his or her book for sale on the Internet. It's tough enough to make a living as a writer, without having to compete for sales against free copies of your own book.I found a galley of mine for sale on AbeBooks.com, and it was listed for sale before my book's publication date!
In case you're not familiar with them, ABE is the big bookselling network that recently bought LibraryThing. I've complained repeatedly since finding my galley there a couple of weeks ago. ABE has acknowledged my complaint but hasn't done anything about it -- it's still for sale.
Apparently ABE thinks I'll just go away, but they've got another thing coming. I blew a chunk of my retirement savings to print those ARCs, and I'm not going to sit here politely like a chump.
If you think I'm mad about this, you're goddamned right. This is one thing authors and publishers get pissed about. And that's why every reputable online retailer prohibits the sale of review copies, uncorrected proofs, galleys, or whatever else you want to call them.
Some people even argue that selling ARCs is illegal, citing copyright infringement. Personally, I think that's silly -- there's no law against selling review copies. And I don't have a problem with collectors selling ARCs of out-of-print books. But selling promotional copies of a newly launched book? C'mon, that's just sleazy, and that's why reputable sites have these policies:
Amazon.com:
[Prohibited]: Promotional media. Movies, CDs, software, books (including advance reading copies and uncorrected proofs), etc., that are produced and distributed for promotional use only.
Barnes & Noble BookQuest:
[Prohibited]: Promotional items, including Advanced Reading Copies.
Here's the deal, folks: Authors and publishers can't make money if parasites are allowed to siphon off marketing resources. If publishers can't make money, guess what's going to happen to ABE and every other bookselling network? They're toast. They'll need to find something else to sell instead of books.
How does AbeBooks justify sales of review copies? Actually, they don't, take a look at their participation agreement, they prohibit it too:
b. Unacceptable Listings
Promotional Items
Promotional items are goods that are distributed, free of charge, for the purpose of advertising an event or good, such as a movie or book. Promotional items can include advanced reading copies, un-proofed copies and posters.
But it seems ABE is giving a wink and a nod to anyone who wants to ignore this policy, even when a violation is reported. It makes you wonder what else is going on.
How many other authors do you think ABE is screwing by looking the other way while ARCs are trafficked on its site? A lot. There are more than 135,000 books on ABE described as "uncorrected."
What do you think about this? Feel free to post a comment here, and to post a comment to ABE too.
posted by Steve Weber at 3/06/2007
14 comments
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14 Comments:
That rots. I hope the sales of your book kick butt. I plan to read it. Good luck and keep hounding Abe.
I have mixed feelings on this.
If I specifically requested a review copy, then you are right, it should not be sold on the open market.
But if the review copy was sent unsolicited, to a publication that has never done a book review, then I don't see a problem with it. The publicist is throwing the marketing dollars away anyway by not targeting the mailing in the first place.
Like you, I have no problem if someone is selling an ARC of a book that's old. I have no problem if the book has been in print at least a year (after all, people sell used copies and I don't make a dime from those, either.)
But before a book comes out? Or when it's in its first year on-sale?
That's cutting into the legitimate sales of a book. And it mainly will affect the author and publisher and the ethical booksellers that carry the book for sale and do the right thing.
Booksellers make between 30-50% of a book's cover price, and when anyone actually sell ARCs to make 100% of that price (or more, since some collectors value ARCs), cutting out author and publisher, well...hmm, the steam comes out my ears.
You're right -- there's no law. It's bad form, and this is why I no longer sign review copies of my books at conventions or other gatherings -- because I don't ever want to see an ARC with my signature on it on eBay again.
I will personally inscribe ARCs for fans who reach me, but never flat-sign-only, because I don't want to add an impersonal value to something that should not have been sold in the first place.
I'm sorry your ARCs are showing up like this, Steve. On the other hand, the one thing I'll tell you is: this is the business right now. It's a problem, it's annoying, it's unethical. And it's there.
Your book is excellent, btw. I've been busy finishing a novel up, but I will drop you a line about Plug Your Book shortly -- a great, great book for writers.
#1 - ARCs are part of the publishers "product & market" development.
#2 - Unlike the distribution of Screenplays. ARCs aren't distributed "under agreement". As a result publisher's don't get them returned. If 100 go out 100 should go back.
All sites are wrongfully becoming a police force for publishers own lack of investment of time and manpower in the recall of ARC's after they are reviewed or proof-read.
If I get ARC's in a bulk sale or a Church sale it isn'tmy responsibility or my Venues[sellers] responsibility to curb what has found its way into an "open market".
I haven't broken any law or any contract. There are no laws protecting you as a author or publisher. The only protection you have are the systems you put in placa and maintain to stop ARCs from entering the marketplace.
The enablement must come from you not by harrassing us once we have possession through legitimate means.
If an ARC is present the orginal receipient has released it into the marketplace. Most publishers would not publically agree to this.
What of Libraries they must hurt sales? What of people lend their books to friends? Publishers are now owned by Media-Conglomerates. This includes software companies as most Publishers now have Multi-media divisions. As a result lawyers ahve become multi-disciplined. Thishad lead to books being treated as software i.e. licensed.
There is nothing a publisher would like better than a genetically engineered tree that, when processed would imprint itself with the DNA of its first owner. When handled by another person after imprinting the ink would evaporate.
And so begins The Last Dark Age.
You know what, I'd be pissed too, but this is the cost of marketing. It's simple business and perfectly legal. It it irks you, you should take a serious look at your unsolicited marketing efforts.
I sell ARC's on Ebay. I only sell them if they are "collectible" in nature. The newer ARC's rarely sell for more than a few bucks, which really isn't worth the bother. I have several friends that are authors, so I also have a rule to never sell an ARC I receive from them until two years after publish. I must say though, the thrift stores have a LOT of ARC's. One last note, when is your book coming out? Sign me up..your last one has helped me loads.
OK, BOO HOO-Gimme a break.ARC's have always been on the market-Sometimes they're worth their value in scrap-obviously some not. If you're so worried about them getting into the marketplace, somehow, as a publisher, one should control distribution-number them and the recipients agree not to distribute them. Obviously for a little known publisher, they'might say- well hell, I don't want to look at it any way. Maybe a self destruct CD-
Let's focus on the things that are real impediments-I certainly am not about to boycott ABE-I'd rather boycott Amazon-but the hand that feeds... Will in Maine
Folks, I never said I was expecting the ARCs to be returned to me. I understand that a marketing program costs money.
Just to clarify, my ARCs were sent to book reviewers and people who write about books at magazines and newspapers. They weren't sent to every Joe Blow in the phone book.
The recipients can do whatever they want with them -- they can read them, they can donate them to their library, they can use them for coasters, they can start a bonfire with them -- just don't sell them online while I'm launching the book!
If there's nothing wrong with selling ARCs then why does ABE say it's not allowed in their participation agreement? And if it's in their rules, why don't they enforce it?
As a new bookseller, I wasn't even sure what an ARC was. I figured it may be something quite collectible if the title became a bestseller.
When I first started selling on Amazon, I got an email from Amazon telling me one of my listings didn't comply, and it was indeed an ARC. I was confused, because I myself purchased it at a used book store. I pulled it right away ( I do believe it was a newer title), and don't purchase any ARCs at all. So, at least Amazon follows through on their policy. Though if I found an old Bukowski or Burroughs, or something like that, I would thank my lucky stars.
Thanks for providing a different viewpoint, Steve.
Much ado about nothing.
As an author and publisher, I have no objection if my ARCs wind up on eBay. All marketing expenses are "bread cast upon the waters."
I have always been tortured by ARCs mostly because I also write (although only minor publication so far). In searching out books (and larger booksales are often hectic), I can pick up lovely looking "trade paperbacks" for $2.00 and $3.00 only to find when I get home that are ARCs.
Many (most?) copies don't alert the buyer to this except with a small disclaimer on marketing in the back not far from where the ISBN is. Now, I have maybe three four or more ARCs per shopping trip (I buy 100 or more books each time), and I have to figure out what to do with them as I have loyalty to writers. For me, I don't put them online, ever. But I DO put them into my retail establishment AFTER a year as a 'collectible.' DO I like doing this? No, but in a year I might accidentally pick up 10-20 of these items, and I don't make enough profit to absorb the loss as a small shoppe.
Also, IF the publishers were more loyal to their authors, THEY would require reviewers to return these books as property of the publisher (in a SASE). But they don't care enough, but they expect US to care enough?!
I am getting better at NOT picking them up, happily, because I would rather NOT deal with this ethical issue. But on the other hand, I have personally read an ARC (I got stuck with it, so I read it to defray my investment until I might sell it in a year or so...and many lose their interest faster than that!), and have discovered a new author and have purchased the next title at full price from a new book store.
I suspect this has also occurred with my buyers inhouse who have discovered an author from an ARC. So the ARC did what it was suppose to do...promote the author. Ideally.
I understand the frustration re: this, Steve. But I have published friends who now dislike ME because I sell used books and they can't tap into that financial resource on their books out of print. SO many used copies are now out there online, that one published author can't get her book reprinted (it's a unique regional history). The demand is filled by these used copies, and WE do that to them, more than we harm them with ARCs!!!
There are A LOT more used copies of any title than there are ARCs. IMHO.
I DON'T know how I WILL FEEL when I get the book I am working on published. It's a lot more personal when it affects us (esp. financially).
Debbie K.
Regardless of what one thinks about ARCs a company ought to abide by its policies. I wrote to www.Abe.com and said, "I am disappointed that you allow people to sell Advanced Reader's Copies, especially since it goes against your policy.
Please show integrity and take care of this situation.
Thanks!"
Jeff Jones
www.Jeff4Books.com
Sleazy! And thank you for bringing it to our attention.
I understand your distress, but as a published writer with a NY publisher, I've got to say that I think this is small fish -- how many ARC's did you print? A couple hundred? What kind of dent in sales is that really going to make? Seth Godin gave out copies of his book FOR FREE to help generate buzz and by the time the printed version came out, he hit the NYT bestseller list. So there are a lot of approaches to bookselling, but I'd say that unless you printed thousands of ARC's, it's not worth getting uptight about. You should be more concerned if people DON'T want your book ... if they're bidding/buying for *ONE* ARC on eBay or Abe or wherever, be flattered. It's not as if they're printing illegal copies. Good luck with your book -- hope sales surpassed your wildest dreams!
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