|
|
|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
FOOL FOR THE 4TH TIME ,OHH GOD READ THIS!!! (Reply to this comment)
by masterpiecehis
HI THOSE BOOK CLUB BOOKS ARE PRINTED ON CHEAP (THE CHEAPEST) MATERIALS. BOOK COLLECTORS SLOWLY REALIZE THE DISEASE OF BOOK CLUBS. ITS MORE OF AN EPIDEMIC. TO THE PERSON WHO JUST WANTS TO READ THE WORK, BOOK CLUBS PROVIDE A SIMPLE BUT EVENTUALLY PAINFULL WAY TO DO SO. FOR A PERSON THAT LOVES TO READ, AND GET THERE MONEYS WORTH, ALL BOOK CLUB BOOKS SHOULD BE AVOIDED. THE VALUE OF A "LEGITIMATE" PUBLISHERS EDITION, ESPECIALLY A NON BOOK CLUB FIRST EDITION, IS THE LIKE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GARAGE SALE AND A SOUTHEBYS AUCTION. THE BOOK CLUBS ARE NEAR WORTHLESS, EXEPT FOR MAYBE A DOLLAR OR TWO AT MOST. THE ACTUAL VALUE IS A DIFFERNCE OF 90-95 PERCENT OF BOOK VALUE. SO I BEG OF YOU ALL TO QUIT ALL BOOK CLUBS, BECAUSE YOUR GETTING RIPPED OFF BIG TIME.
ONE WAY TO TELL A BOOK CLUB FROM A REAL BOOK IS: if there is no price on the dust jacket, another is: if there is a small white rectangle of about six numbers on back right of dustjacket, another is: if there is if there is a embossed dot on the back right of hardback cover. another is: the book is short and thin. another is: if it says book club edtion.
|
Nov 23 '01
1:27 pm PST
|
|
Book Clubs (Reply to this comment)
by Bryan_Carey
These clubs can sometimes give you a good deal overall if you know how to play them. One good club that I have joined in the past is the history book club. I got 5 books up front, for a total shipping/handling price of about $15.00. Then, I bought only one more, at a price of $25.00 and quit the club. So, I got a total of 6 books for $40.00. It also helped that this club lets you logon to its web site, to decline the monthly selection. There's no worries about forgetting to mail the card back in.
If you don't keep up with things though, these clubs can be a living nightmare!
Great post!
|
Sep 05 '01
9:09 pm PDT
|
|
Hi There! (Reply to this comment)
by pepsipipe
I liked your review. I heard that sayign before about "fool me once, etc." It's so true.
I don't like bookclubs. I get into a mess with them. They never understand what NO means after you order your 4-a-year books.
My husband's grandmother gets brand new books at the senior citizens club and they are all free so she passes them on to me. Saves a lot of money.
~Julie
|
Sep 03 '01
8:45 pm PDT
|
|
Incredibly detailed review! (Reply to this comment)
by Lisa_J
Thank you for sharing!
hugs~
Lisa-J
|
Sep 01 '01
8:53 am PDT
|
|
Oh Dear, (Reply to this comment)
by Caprig
I thought I told you, but I guess the email never got to you......
NEVER join a bookclub unless you get an 800 number AND web site.
First of all, the art bookclub that you joined, DECORATIVE ARTS bookclub, does not require that you purchase anything beyond the original intro books (3 for $20 or so including shipping)
They do require that you received their catalog for 6 months (not a year) and they also have a phone number that you can call for assistance.
They also have a policy where you do NOT have to return the card. It is easily requested and always honored for me and anyone else I know that I have recommended to the club.
Just ask for the order only feature where you are not required to return the card(they call it ORDER ONLY BASIS). Tell them that you are leaving soon, and can not take a chance on the card getting lost.
I have dealt with this company in THREE different book clubs for 7 years now. They have been consistently helpful and have corrected any problem that has come up.
I really hate to have people think they are terrible, for they aren't It is so hard to find a decent book club and they are one of the rare few that are decent!
As for your not receiving the books right away, you can again, call for information when you are not sure.
For the future, here are several requirements for joining ANY club.
Check for 800 numbers- call them and ask a LOT of questions- if they are not helpful or clear. DO NOT JOIN.
Email BEFORE you order online. See how the customer service center is.
Ask if they have available ORDER ONLY status so you do not have to be bothered with the cards.
Ask via phone for the shipping rates and confirm them again if you want to be sure. ASK ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OTHER POSSIBLE SCENARIO YOU CAN THINK OF. BEFORE you join the club. Write down names of who you talked to and dates and time.
If there is a problem, call right away. The art company in particular are almost always helpful and courteous.
As for your books taking long- they sent out several notices to club members that they were moving a warehouse and that orders were taking longer than usual. It is possible that you got in the middle of that. A lot of people were frustrated.
I received several notices about it, you probably didn't.
As for the other club, NEVER join anything by a telemarketer. UNLESS you go through the steps I outlined above.
I gave this an H because it is more of a rant of frustration than helpful advice on whether or not to decide to join a bookclub.
Here is the number to the Decorative Arts Book Club.
1-877-889-6290.
Call and straighten out any problems you are having. All books ARE returnable in unused condition. Tell them your frustrations (nicely) and they will probably help you.
Watch, you will probably get the only mean person ever to work there in 7 years....
HAHAHHAHA
I am sorry about the frustration you went through (especially since a call could have made it a lot easier -sorry I really thought I gave you that number)
I am also sorry that people now think that this company is just as bad as all of the rest. They have been perfectly wonderful to deal with for so many years and if anyone gets a rough deal, I almost ALWAYS do.
This comment is not meant in any negative way. Email and online writing is sometimes hard to discern. Just wanted to clarify that.
Have a better week than this book club experience!
Capri
|
Aug 29 '01
11:03 am PDT
|
|
Letta - Letta (Reply to this comment)
by Granniemose
Too trusting, maybe, because that's the way you are, but a fool - NEVER. I got taken in by Harlequin Romances if you can believe it. (I absolutely hate that trash - and donated them to a Nursing Home. After the first few packages they didn't want them either.) Their ads offered such a good deal - prizes they told about (I think his and her sport watches - plus a surprise gift worth I don't remember how many dollars.) Anyway the prizes were junk. Even Lou got taken in, and his was on a sports magazine and a super mechanics book - and his free gift (plus free books) was a diamond ring. (an industrial diamond chip you literally needed a magnifying glass to see. The findings were some kind of plated stainless steel, I think.) Well, anyway, I think I had better break all my mirrors. Love,
Virginia
|
Aug 28 '01
7:21 pm PDT
|
|
I MUST Admit............... (Reply to this comment)
by CANS4US
....I too have joined many book clubs. I also must admit that I rarely stay longer than I have to, via the buying requirements. Some can be great and some (like yours) are junk! Thanks though for the honest "eye opener"...it is much appreciated!
Susan
CANS4US
|
Aug 28 '01
1:02 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Yes,+ME,+TOO... (Reply to this comment)
by ifif1938
the latest folly of mine was joining the Audio book of the month club....Yikes, they didn't leave me alone and kept sending books I hadn't asked for...Finally I called them.. Now I get a notice that says to send back the card only if I want something...That seems to help....Joining the library was one of the best things I did this year...:)
Excellent review
Thanks
Barbara
|
Aug 28 '01
8:02 am PDT
|
|
Yes, ME, TOO... (Reply to this comment)
by GinaHill
I've joined every Book Club that ever existed I believe and always end up wishing I hadn't... guess that's just another one of those life lessons:) This was wonderful, as usual... enjoyed reading :) Gina
|
Aug 28 '01
5:24 am PDT
|
|
Call ME Fool (Reply to this comment)
by Freak369
Record clubs, book clubs, Cookie Of The Month club, Fruit Of The Month club... you name it and I've probably fallen for it. This is an awesome review that should serve as a warning for anyone even remotely interesting in joining a book club.
I would have given this a MH rating but as usual - I get the dreaded "Connection Timed Out" page.
^V^ Freak ^V^
|
Aug 28 '01
4:09 am PDT
|
|
Join The CLUB (Reply to this comment)
by LEDOMAINE
Yes, Letta, I too have been a victim of the old subscription game. I, too, have vowed never to be their FOOL, again. The last one was Time-Life Books. Before they got popular online, they had the same system (if you do not return card indicating you DO NOT want the book, you get the book and are billed for it!) and I sometimes even ended up with multiple books of the same title.
Those days are past. I refuse to go there again. Like you, I feel enough is enough. Great review (your usual). Glad to know I'm not (or haven't been) alone!
Rouchelle
|
Aug 27 '01
8:36 pm PDT
|
|
Great title and ending line (Reply to this comment)
by bonniesayers
Letta I have been fooled many times. I also just checked out the other site listed in comments.
Nicely said your review!
Bonnie
|
Aug 27 '01
12:13 pm PDT
|
|
How true it is! (Reply to this comment)
by whalewatcher
I've had my share of experiences with book clubs in the past, and have avoided them like the plague since (not to say I haven't been tempted!).
I guess it's the word 'free' that should always raise the flag, since nothing in life is free. We pay for it in one way or the other, even if it is just with aggravation!
Great review, Letta!
Claudia
|
Aug 27 '01
12:13 pm PDT
|
|
I broke my mirror a long time ago (Reply to this comment)
by lorace
LOL Yes, we've all done it, I'm sure.
What a great Review and what a pain for you to have to go through all this.
Thanks for warning me, again. I was seriously thinking of joining a FREE CD's club - I've changed my mind just now.
Good luck to you and thanks,
Lorace
|
Aug 27 '01
11:53 am PDT
|
|
*Laughing* (Reply to this comment)
by AdaDavis
First, I never deal with telemarketers. Not for anything, ever. Period. Dealing with a telemarketer is like feeding the cockroaches coming to your house, hoping they will go away if fed! :-}
Go to www.1bookstreet.com Good selection, good prices, and no shipping charge. You can even get free books. And they ship promptly. And no club to join and no unwanted books.
|
Aug 27 '01
11:37 am PDT
|
|
I have been there too!! (Reply to this comment)
by RobinLynn
I guess most of us at one time or another have been taken in by these clubs. What always gets me is that the shipping and handling charges are so ridiculous!! I loved your ending about the fool and themirrors... I have never heard that one before, but will have to remember it!!
Great review!!
Robin
|
Aug 27 '01
10:53 am PDT
|
|
LOL! (Reply to this comment)
by elzora,  in Books
I love your closing statement! I have been taken in with a few myself, one was a Christian bookclub and I actually made out quite well. The other didn't even have a phone number or email address to be able to contact them!! Talk about frustrating!!
Great review.
Sue
|
Aug 27 '01
10:31 am PDT
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.