Comments on: Contests and Readers http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/ A seduction in words Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:35:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Shelley Munro http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-416 Shelley Munro Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:43:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-416 Since I live in NZ most of my prize winners come from the US, but I've also posted to Germany, Australia, Vietnam, and Canada. Yes, postage is expensive but I factor it into my promo budget. It's part of doing business. Since I live in NZ most of my prize winners come from the US, but I’ve also posted to Germany, Australia, Vietnam, and Canada. Yes, postage is expensive but I factor it into my promo budget. It’s part of doing business.

]]> By: Annalee Blysse http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-415 Annalee Blysse Sat, 11 Feb 2006 04:29:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-415 I haven't had to mail overseas for a contest, but I will when the time comes because I am having a great time meeting people from around the world. If and when I have to worry about the postage costs, I'll pinch the pennies elsewhere. Two less mochas at the coffee shop and I could mail a small pin all the way to Africa. I haven’t had to mail overseas for a contest, but I will when the time comes because I am having a great time meeting people from around the world. If and when I have to worry about the postage costs, I’ll pinch the pennies elsewhere. Two less mochas at the coffee shop and I could mail a small pin all the way to Africa.

]]> By: Lauren Dane http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-414 Lauren Dane Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:15:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-414 Thank you, Lili! And I've sent you a book before, it wasn't that big of a deal to do so. Millenia, I think that when you make controversial statements, you need to be ready for the blowback. I don't think Coulter ever is, despite the fact that she makes them quite often. I do also agree that when you're discussing something, the discussion will often reflect your own tone. Frauke - I've had readers email me and say, "I already have that book" or something similar and I'm always happy to substitute something. But that info about Amazon is quite helpful. I'll have to tuck it away that it's not good for international winners. Cathryn, I imagine that it's a much bigger deal for you and other authors who live outside the US! Thank you, Lili! And I’ve sent you a book before, it wasn’t that big of a deal to do so.

Millenia, I think that when you make controversial statements, you need to be ready for the blowback. I don’t think Coulter ever is, despite the fact that she makes them quite often. I do also agree that when you’re discussing something, the discussion will often reflect your own tone.

Frauke - I’ve had readers email me and say, “I already have that book” or something similar and I’m always happy to substitute something. But that info about Amazon is quite helpful. I’ll have to tuck it away that it’s not good for international winners.

Cathryn, I imagine that it’s a much bigger deal for you and other authors who live outside the US!

]]> By: lili-g http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-413 lili-g Thu, 09 Feb 2006 15:50:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-413 I have no comment on contests, but I'm glad to see the new profile pic, it's a beauty. And if I'd said 'eh' at the end of that last sentence, would you guess I'm not from the US? I have no comment on contests, but I’m glad to see the new profile pic, it’s a beauty.
And if I’d said ‘eh’ at the end of that last sentence, would you guess I’m not from the US?

]]> By: Cathryn Fox http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-412 Cathryn Fox Thu, 09 Feb 2006 14:36:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-412 This hits me hard, Lauren because I live in Canada. Most of my prize winners are in the states and I spend a fortune of shipping but that's fine because I want to thank all my readers. This hits me hard, Lauren because I live in Canada. Most of my prize winners are in the states and I spend a fortune of shipping but that’s fine because I want to thank all my readers.

]]> By: Frauke http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-411 Frauke Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:13:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-411 I'm a reader and I'm living outside the States, in Germany to be specific. Also, I'm participating in contests, especially scavenger hunts since I think they are fun (I'm always proud of myself if I found all logos *smile*) and I get to know lots of authors by visiting their websites. I've won two contests yet. As prize for the second contest I won an Amazon gift certtificate. I didn't know I won at all and especially not an Amazon voucher till I found it in my email box (there were also other prizes offered). It would have been nice if the author mailed me before just sending it. Why? I can't purchase eBooks at Amazon.com since I'm not living in North America. I also can't redeem such a voucher with Amazon Germany, it's only for Amazon.com. And buying something with a $ 10.00 gift certificate is not really an option since I don't own a credit card, I need as Not-US-customer (and if I had one I had still to pay the shipment/taxes for something I can get in a German bookstore without the shipment/taxes). In the end I did forward this voucher to a friend living in the States. I would have been very happy just to win an eBook from the author. Prizes, offered to all readers are great, but prizes that not-US-readers can also enjoy, would be great, too. As prizes I also love signed paperbacks - who wouldn't? And I even would pay the shipment myself to get a signed one - I don't mind. I mean when do I have a chance to get a signed one without travelling to one of the signings/conferences in the US myself? What I want to say is that authors can talk with us. I don't mind to get a substitute prize, pay the shipment myself or whatever. But to say up front "Yes, you can buy my books, but no, you can't win one" sounds sad. I guess nobody likes to feel like an outsider. I’m a reader and I’m living outside the States, in Germany to be specific. Also, I’m participating in contests, especially scavenger hunts since I think they are fun (I’m always proud of myself if I found all logos *smile*) and I get to know lots of authors by visiting their websites.

I’ve won two contests yet. As prize for the second contest I won an Amazon gift certtificate. I didn’t know I won at all and especially not an Amazon voucher till I found it in my email box (there were also other prizes offered). It would have been nice if the author mailed me before just sending it. Why? I can’t purchase eBooks at Amazon.com since I’m not living in North America. I also can’t redeem such a voucher with Amazon Germany, it’s only for Amazon.com. And buying something with a $ 10.00 gift certificate is not really an option since I don’t own a credit card, I need as Not-US-customer (and if I had one I had still to pay the shipment/taxes for something I can get in a German bookstore without the shipment/taxes).
In the end I did forward this voucher to a friend living in the States.
I would have been very happy just to win an eBook from the author.
Prizes, offered to all readers are great, but prizes that not-US-readers can also enjoy, would be great, too.

As prizes I also love signed paperbacks - who wouldn’t? And I even would pay the shipment myself to get a signed one - I don’t mind. I mean when do I have a chance to get a signed one without travelling to one of the signings/conferences in the US myself?

What I want to say is that authors can talk with us. I don’t mind to get a substitute prize, pay the shipment myself or whatever.
But to say up front “Yes, you can buy my books, but no, you can’t win one” sounds sad. I guess nobody likes to feel like an outsider.

]]> By: Millenia Black http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-410 Millenia Black Thu, 09 Feb 2006 06:28:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-410 It's unfortunate that this discussion turned sour. It really is a subjective thing and to each his own. I personally wouldn't exclude any reader from a giveaway or contest - however - if she feels a trip to the post office and a few extra bucks of postage is too much expenditure for her...that's her. :) It does seem that a cord was struck, though. She began the discussion in a very arrogant tone and when someone responded in kind - she couldn't take it. Felt she was being called "stupid" when no one said anything of the kind. I think she began to <I>feel</I> stupid in the face of more reasonable promotional logic. It’s unfortunate that this discussion turned sour. It really is a subjective thing and to each his own.

I personally wouldn’t exclude any reader from a giveaway or contest - however - if she feels a trip to the post office and a few extra bucks of postage is too much expenditure for her…that’s her. :)

It does seem that a cord was struck, though. She began the discussion in a very arrogant tone and when someone responded in kind - she couldn’t take it. Felt she was being called “stupid” when no one said anything of the kind. I think she began to feel stupid in the face of more reasonable promotional logic.

]]> By: Jaynie R http://www.laurendane.com/blog/2006/02/08/contests-and-readers/#comment-409 Jaynie R Thu, 09 Feb 2006 05:58:00 +0000 http://www.laurendane.com/blog/?p=268#comment-409 lol - Brenda has turned off her comments now. Just imagine if she'd been nice, all the good publicity this could have generated instead of the bad - sad really. lol - Brenda has turned off her comments now.

Just imagine if she’d been nice, all the good publicity this could have generated instead of the bad - sad really.

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