$25 offer a mistake, admits Reed Elsevier

Submitted by Bibliofuture on June 24, 2009 - 2:56pm
Topic: 
Publishing

Reed Elsevier officials have admitted that it was a mistake for the STM publisher's marketing division to offer $25 (£15) Amazon gift cards to anyone who would give a new textbook five stars in a review posted on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

More here.

Comments

Submitted by birdie on June 24, 2009 - 9:03pm.

With giant companies making immoral if not exactly illegal business decisions and then apologizing for them. What happened to ethical standards in business?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on June 25, 2009 - 11:57am.

Why didn't they just ask their own staff to send in fake reviews?

Submitted by Daniel on June 25, 2009 - 2:51pm.

How anyone in publishing can think pay for reviews is ok. Or why potential reviewers would sell themselves so cheaply. I mean, if you're going to be an agent of payola, at least get a decent dinner for two out of it.

"No doubt another may also think for me; but it is not therefore desirable that he should do so.." - Thoreau