I just received a book and I'm not sure if it is an ARC. There isn't anything unusual on the front cover, but on the back, where the ISBN would be, it says: "Promotional Copy, not for resale." Does this make it an advanced reader copy, or is this something different? I know PBS is very strict about swapping ARCs, so I don't want to keep this in the system if it isn't supposed to be there. But at the same time, I don't want to penalize the sender for no reason!

Thanks for the help.

Yep usually that does! If it says that on the front or back, its an arc usually.

I don't think a Promotional Copy is an ARC. It usually just means it was sent free and they are usually sent after publication. Something alongs the lines of Uncorrected or Advanced is usually the indicator for an ARC. Either way, if there is no ISBN offering it in the Book Bazaar is the best place to get rid of it.

I thought Promotional Copy was just a different way to say ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)?  Do PBS guidelines differentiate between the two?

Yes, Advanced copies usually may have text that is different from the actual final, printed copy. The books themselves state that somewhere in the books and that no text should be copied from an ARC and used for book reviews or interviews, but to consult the FINAL copy as the text may be different. For that reason, PBS does not allow them. But, a promotional copy which is simply the final copy being given away for free is okay.

The ISBN should be on the copyright page inside the book even if it's not on the back cover. If there is no ISBN at all, then you should not trade it, except in the Book Bazaar.

Do PBS guidelines differentiate between the two?

No, but it also doesn't list those words in the ARC text either. I have seen tons of Promotional copies out of the series romances and none of them would be considered an ARC.  An ARC should indicate on it somewhere that it is not a final copy because that is what makes them not swapable, the fact that they were given away free doesn't matter.

You can actually swap ARC's here for a credit. You just can't post them to your shelf or the FIFO WL  and then ask if they still want the book.  You can post them in your signature, your profile or the book bazaar and ask a credit for them.

If this book was WL then I would post it in the book bazaar and explain the issue with the book.  Someone may still want it and pay a credit for it.