NetGalley Addicts Support Group discussion

I went to post a review on Amazon, but found the book wasn't published yet, BUT there were already several reviews posted under Amazon Vine. When I checked their site, it says that Amazon picks you and you review the book for free just like Net Galley. Why the competition with Net Galley? I just try to write the best review of my feelings of a book no matter who I am writing for.

I don't think they are trying to compete with NetGalley, but they can't confirm or verify an ARC from NetGalley. With their own system, they can verify an ARC is legit. There are plenty of other ARC programs aside from NetGalley - there's Edelweiss and of course Goodreads have their own Giveaways. Some publishers utilize all of them, to get as much publicity as possible, so I wouldn't necessarily the different programs compete against each other.

I agree with Robin that they aren't really competing with NetGalley. What I don't like however is that they allow the vine reviews to be posted way ahead of time as on Goodreads but everyone else that has read and reviewed an ARC from somewhere else has to wait for the publication date. I think that is really unfair and people then read the Vine reviews before any other. Unfair to reviewers and authors.

but when you think about it, you don't have to have read the book on GR to rate it pre-release and so by limited who can post those pre-release reviews they are limiting the likihood of a negative campaign being wages/the squee reviews that aren't actually based on reading the book etc

Well, like I say, they have no way to verify you did get an ARC. As much as I appreciate Goodreads allowing us to write whatever we want about a book, whenever we want, it does also lead to a bunch of "non reviews" - ie, people writing things like "OMG OMG OMG I CAN'T WAIT". I get so tired of those sometimes. Amazon are probably just trying to prevent stuff like that. In order to allow NetGalley reviewers, they'd have to open up pre-publication reviews to everyone, and then you get those annoying non-review reviews.

How many people do you actually think are writing for them? Since they have to pick you, I would think it would be a very small sampling of readers compared to Net Galley.

I was a member of the Vine program and left. You are selected by Amazon to participate in the Vine program. There is much speculation on how or why Vine members are selected and it's all a mystery.

There is no comparison to the Vine program, NetGalley or Edelweiss.

The Vine program offers a wide range of products including books for reviewers to review.

NetGalley and Edelweiss offer books only.

Interesting Penmouse. I guess it shall remain a mystery, but I now very much feel that Net Galley reviews should be as valued and not have to wait.

I do believe that's Amazon's selling point. Amazon can tell their sellers Vine reviews will receive top billing.

The rest of the reviews will be open for posting once the book is published and available for sale at Amazon.