Does anyone out there know what a book club edition is?  One of my RC's is "no book club editions" and I had a member turn down my request because the book cover had an Oprah's book club selection stamp.  I'm hoping this was an isolated incident, but let me know if I need to be more specific in my RC's.

Thanks

I'm assuming your first question is rhetorical.  I think people sometimes err on the side of being as broad in their RC interpretation as possible to avoid any possible problems.  I mean, they can't read your mind, and I promise you, at some point someone has likely had an RC in which they meant they didn't want the Oprah sticker when the RC said "no book club editions".  I would either add: "Oprah book club books are fine!", or chalk it up to the price of requesting with an RC.

"I'm assuming your first question is rhetorical..."   No William, my understanding of Book Club Editions is rather vague.  Pre-PBS forums it was zilch.

Even for people who know what Book Club Editions are, it can be hard to tell on some books. And I am sure there are a lot of people who think that they maybe know what a Book Club Edition is.

Anyway ... the book you were declined on, had the words 'Book Club" right on the cover ... didn't it? Obviously a Book Club Edition. For that specific book, you should probably add to your RC that the words "Oprah's Book Club" on the cover are OK.

Honestly .... since some people can't even seem to know what a hardcover is vs. a paperback ... If I were you, I might be more specific about what a Book Club Edition is. Or, put in a link to a Website or something that explains how to tell them apart from regular books, for people who need more info and/or are willing to take a minute or two to check into it. You will still get turn downs from people who aren't sure, or who are not willing to read your RC, or follow a link, or whatever ... but you just have to do the best you can with your extra requirements. Most people seem to be willing to take a moment or two for a RC .... based on the answers I get for my own.

I do not know what a book club edition is... I can say some of the hard covers I have gotten from a few book clubs I am part of seem to have what seems like a library binding to them. I would end up saying not to that RC just because I am part of a few book clubs and most of the books to me look no different and I would be at a loss to remember what books I got from them and what ones I picked up from B&N and Amazon honestly.

Since it is common on some book covers, you might consider adding "Oprah's Book Club is fine" to your RCs for the sake of clarity.

Yes, some people really don't know. My RC used to simply say "If the book I ordered from you is hardback, please decline if the dust cover is missing." I was declined at least a dozen times with the explanation "this is a paperback" before I was forced to add a line that says "if I ordered a paperback from you, please send it." Seemed obvious to me, what with the word IF in there. It was not.

To me, Book Club Edition means from a source like Mystery Guild, Rhapsody Book Club, etc.  Another way that I can tell if the book in question is from a book club is that is often not a price on the inside flap of the book cover.

I find it rather easy to distinguish between a book club edition and those bought in a store. I find nothing really similar about the two beyond the cover art. That could be because I belonged to Literary Guild and Book of the Month for many years too.  I don't belong any more but to me the difference between the books is obvious, starting with the size.

For those who are not familiar, especially TGs, I suggest possibly visiting an FOL and talking with the volunteers, ask them to show you. Most of them know the difference. At least at the FOL I volunteer at we do.

Unless people belong to a book club, I doubt that it would ever occur to people in the general public that book clubs sell specially made copies of the books. If you ask 50 people who do not belong to book clubs what they might know about the books or book clubs .... I bet 49 of them would guess that they are selling books that they get at a discount from the publisher.

And, even with book club members .... I would bet that many members of the club have never noticed there is a difference.

And, really, unless you actually see a book club edition of a book right next to a hardcover edition of the same book .... you would have no way of trying to guess what the differences might be, if you did not already know what to look for.

The only people who care anyway seem to be people who are interested in the long term value of their book collections (like book sellers, book collectors (amateur or professional), and libraries). Most people in the general public are not even aware that there are differences, much less care.

But for people who are interested: http://www.bookthink.com/0005/05bce.htm   and http://www.tomfolio.com/PublisherInfo/BookClubID.asp

William, I think you need to decide why you have "No book club editions" in your RC.  Decide just what it is you are trying to avoid, and maybe that will help you clarify your RC so that it's clear for people who aren't familiar with book club books.

Thanks to all who replied, but  I've decided to give club members the benefit of the doubt and leave the RC.  If I describe what a book club edition is it looks like I'm an idiot and that I assume the sender is too.