I often trade for ARCs. It can’t be helped when I feel the need to have every single edition of my favorite books and when I NEEED to read the books I’m really looking forward to asap. I just don’t have the patience to wait for books that will be releasing later in the year when I can trade for it and read it NOW.
When I trade for ARCs, I often meet two different kinds of people: people who are really “strict” and people who are more lenient with the trade.
By “strict,” I’m talking about people who strictly only want to trade their ARCs for other ARCs, no exceptions. They won’t accept a paperback or a hardcover for that ARC, even if that book was on their wishlist. The more lenient people don’t care – they accept ARCs, paperbacks, or even hardbacks for the book they’re trading away. I fall in the lenient category. For me, as long as I get the book I want, anything is fine, with the exception of ARCs that are released later in the year. I only trade those ARCs for other ARCs similar to its release date.
So one day, I put up an ARC for trade and someone offered to get any book I want on Amazon for the ARC I’m willing to trade. When I saw that, I couldn’t help but think, when put that way, isn’t that trading an ARC for money?
I’ve asked several people about this. One person said that as long as we’re not selling the actual ARCs, it doesn’t matter. Others agreed.
What do you guys think about this issue? Is it okay to trade ARCs for finished copies or do you think it’s not okay to do that? I want to know!
There are a lot of ways we could see that as. I just think as long as you guys are trading an ARC for a book (not for money) It is alright.
I’m super weird when it comes to trading books because the only people I’ve encountered so far don’t even have a wishlist or even a trading list. They just want to see what I have. I guess it’s kind of turned me off to trading because I know that they want something from me, but they don’t have any set guidelines. It scares me because I keep thinking that someone like that might rip me off.
I think trading ARCs for finished copies is alright as long as the book wasn’t purchased specifically for the trade – like as long as it’s a gently used book. I’d much rather trade ARCs for other ARCs, but I’m still trying to figure out how exactly I want to start trading ARCs and books.
Erin @ The Hardcover Lover recently posted…Review: Dorothy Must Die
I think it’s okay to trade an ARC for a book. I probably wouldn’t agree to buying a book from Amazon though, because that’s pretty much buying an ARC. I know that not everyone would agree but that’s what I think. I don’t have any problem with other people doing that, I just wouldn’t.
Molly Mortensen recently posted…R.I.P. Sir Terry Pratchett
I think that would be okay. Since they are getting you a book in exchange for the ARC, I wouldn’t consider it money. I wish I could trade ARCs, but all mine are ebooks.
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This is a good post Kelly. I have been trading a lot recently and come across this situation myself. The way I see its a book for a book so I think no harm. I don’t often have the arcs people want where someone might have something I really want so the only way I would feel worthy of the trade is to get them a book they are really looking forward to. On the flip side if I’m trading my arc and say it’s not a book im to crazy about or I have a preorder coming, then I don’t see anything wrong with trading for a piblished book from my wish list. The one thing I do try to do is trade with people I have interacted with. I’ve seen some arcs get sold on eBay and that totes turns my stomach, so as long as I trust the person I’m a lienent trader. It’s nice to help someone out once in awhile too with helping them obtain a book they might be dying for. Not everyone has access to all the print arcs so trading can be really hard sometimes.
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It’s something I have been thinking about and in some way, you are trading an ARC for money, but it’s still not the same as selling it. It’s by definition a trade, because both sides end up with a book they can’t wait to read :) There is no real profit, because you aren’t making any money out of it.
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 219. Nova Ren Suma – The walls around us.
Even if we do trade ARC’s for money. Is there such thing as a foolproof plan to make sure the money is not used for profit or something like that? :S
That’s a really good question. Honestly, I had never thought about this until I found your post in my inbox. Now that I’m thinking about it though, I find that I have a distinct opinion on this particular topic. I believe that ARCs should only be traded for other ARCs. If a company didn’t give the other blogger an ARC because the company deemed the blogger insufficient for their needs I feel as though giving the blogger an ARC they did not earn is cheating the company. Companies and authors work really hard to get their work out there to the right demographic and by trading away an ARC given to you because of your qualifications for an in print book to a blog and writer who doesn’t fit the book’s target demographic is cheating the author of that ARC of the exposure they would have had with your review.
Rachel Hinkley recently posted…ARC Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School #1) by Jen Calonita
Gorgeous post Kelly. <3 Love your thoughts about this :) Well.. I think it is okay to trade ARCs for finished copies of books, or Amazon giftcards. It isn't selling; as the ARCs are going to people who really want it :) And it is done in an honest way. At least, that is how I look at it. I.. am not that good at trading :p I want ALL the ARCs. But I don't want to give away any of my own.. as they are all precious to me :\ so it would mean the world to me if people would be willing to trade their ARC for a finished copy / giftcard :)
Carina Olsen recently posted…Review: The Novice by Taran Matharu
I agree, but I feel like for the most part if you’re trading for another book, it is okay. You know that it is going to someone who wants it for the book. I’ve traded with people by getting them an e-book for the price of the shipping. I don’t feel bad about that. But some people are really strict. Great post!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…March New Release Giveaway Hop
I feel like trading an ARC for an ARC is okay. I was actually thinking about this the other day because a blogger I follow does something where they offer people old ARCs they have, but require a donation, which feels to me like asking for money for an ARC. However, with sites like YA Book Exchange, which I have used a couple times, I think what they do is okay, though personally I would also feel weird about having someone offer to spend more than shipping money for an ARC, since it is illegal to sell them. To me, if you are not currently spending money on another book for an ARC (like even trading a finished copy you already had for an ARC), it’s okay.
Shayna recently posted…In My Mailbox 3/14/15
I like the idea of trading novels. I have to admit I like seeing ARCs on my bookshelf. But if I like them enough to have a finished copy I like having both :)
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Tricky, tricky…
I am not at the point of trading ARCs yet, but I feel like an ARC for an ARC is fair. But a book specifically purchased in exchange for an ARC feels like selling to me.
I’m sort of confused about the rules with ARCs because they are obviously not for sale, but do publishers like sharing or do they frown upon it?
Emily @ Follow the Yellow Book Road recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #31 (3/7/15 & 3/14/15)
I think that’s OK. You’re trading the ARC for a book, not cash. And if it is a finished copy, I could be being really ignorant here, but I don’t see the problem in it. I might not have a book you’re interested in, or I might not want to part with any books in my collection, and in that case the only thing I can offer you is a book of your choice from a store. It’s not trading payment for the ARC, it’s still a swap, just a swap in which you get something you really want, that the person is willing to provide as they don’t currently own it, or are unwilling to swap their copy because they want to keep it…
Rachel (Confessions of a Book Geek) recently posted…Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
I have never received an ARC, however, I thinks it’s ok to trade an ARC for an Amazon book . Reasoning: Either way you get the same product in exchange. If the person isn’t allowed to get you the book from Amazon why should they be allowed to get you one from their bookshelf? I think it’s fine as long as the ARC gets reviewed by someone. But I know little of these ARC politics and protocol.
Great post Kelly! This might sound really weird, but I have a lot of different thoughts on trading. I personally trade a lot, or at least I try to. This isn’t because I don’t appreciate the publishers sending me ARCs, because I always feel incredibly lucky to get one. I trade them for a few different reasons: I might have a duplicate copy that I obviously don’t need, I get a book from a publisher that I didn’t ask for and doesn’t sound like something I’m going to read, or if I get one and see that another blogger really wants it and they have a title I’m looking for – and I usually end up getting e-ARCs of a lot of these on top of print – so I don’t mind trading my print copy. Like I said, I get tons of ARCs and finished copies that end up in my trade pile – which is actually huge. I just can’t make myself give the finished ones away to people who aren’t going to appreciate them. Does that make sense? I want them to go to a reader who is really interested in it and will enjoy it.
I do trade finished copies for ARCs and I think that’s okay. I trade mine because, like I said above, I have duplicates or they just aren’t something I’m going to read. I don’t think of it as buying an ARC because I’m trading with someone who really wants to read the book I have (and probably won’t read) and they have a copy of one that I really want to read. It’s a win/win for me as long as both parties are okay with the trade and it’s done for the right reasons. When it gets to the point of someone wanting to trade with me, but they don’t have anything to trade and offer to buy me a book or give me a gift card – it turns into a gray area. Some places I trade through ask in the trade form if you would be open to receiving an ebook in exchange for your book. I usually can’t read ebooks because they give me migraines, so if I accepted a gift card to Amazon instead of another book or an ebook – and, obviously, I’m going to use the GC to buy another book – is there really anything wrong with that? I’m not completely sure where I stand on that, but for the most part I think it’s okay. Like someone else mentioned, I always feel really bad when someone wants to buy me a book in exchange for one I have – I end up asking them flat out why they would want to buy me a book instead of buying the book they want. Again, it’s a gray area and I’m still kind of undecided about it, but for now I’m down with it – especially if I’ve traded with the person before. That makes it easier for me because I know they aren’t trying to rip me off or do something illegal.
Here’s a question that I would love to get feedback on: Like I said, I literally have a HUGE amount of books for trade – both older finished titles, newer finished titles and ARCs. I can’t seem to get anyone who wants to trade for most of them, so what should I do? Should I advertise on social media and on my blog more that I have lots of titles for trade? Or do you think I should donate them? I want them to go to people who will appreciate them but, of course, I would love to be able to trade for a title I want. I’m in a serious jam here and I’d really love any suggestions or ideas you could give me! Also, if any of you are interested in trading or seeing what I have to trade, please feel free to email me (stephward84[at]hotmail.com) and I can send you links to my Goodreads trade shelf or to my list of titles on the YA Book Exchange. :)
Stephanie @ A Dream Within A Dream recently posted…Cursed by Fire Tour Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway
Hi Stephanie! Thank you for your thoughtful comment! (:
I feel the exact same way – with my books, I can’t give them away to people who I feel won’t appreciate them. I want them to go to a loving home where they’ll be stared upon and read.
I think the best way to find people who’ll be interested in your books is by using social media, mainly twitter, but again, it depends if you have a huge reach on twitter and if people would be willing to help you retweet your tweet. In your tweet, I suggest you don’t just say something along the lines of “I have HUGE amounts of books to trade, complete list here: [link],” but instead, I suggest you tweet that AND a picture of at least 10+ books that you think people would most likely be interested in. For some reason, people react better to these kinds of tweets if you tweet them with pictures rather than just using words.
As for the books you just can’t find any traders for, you can either sell them to used bookstores (only finished copies of course and some stores are really picky and won’t take them if they’re old titles without any resale value) or donate them if you want to make room on your shelves. I had to do that for some of my books that nobody was interested in.
I’ve also traded with you plenty of times Stephanie and when I see that you have a title I’m interested in, I’ll give you an email. ;D
Hope I helped!
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR List
from someone who has never owned an ARC , i think that it is ok to trade an ARC for another finished purchased book….i have no idea what other guidelines you need to follow in trading books but that’s my personal thought on this. you guys are so lucky to have easy access to these ARCs.
But then again you just have to scrutinized the person concerned more about his/her reason to trade books in such a way.
I’m definitely in the lenient camp. You’re trading a book for a book, it doesn’t really matter the format. To me, I don’t collect books, I just want to read the story, and so it doesn’t matter to me whether it’s ARC, hardcover or paperback because odds are good I won’t keep it after I’ve read it.
Sarah recently posted…Review: Sixth Grave on the Edge
I’ve never trade my ARCs with anyone but I wouldn’t think I have the opportunity due to my location. But I think it would be okay if you trade it with another finished copy as long as not “selling” it for cash. Treat it as a book exchange/swapping instead of trading might do the trick. ;)
Regina Foo recently posted…[Book Review] The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
It kind of is selling, because you didn’t have to pay for the ARC, but if the other person is giving you a book, they paid for it; in a way, it’s not a fair exchange because they’re getting something that cost the other person nothing, while the other person gets something bought. Especially in the case of old ARCs. That’s just me though. The whole ARC trading has been such a gray spot for me.
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