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Original poster

To think that people who fall for this 36 free books thing are daft

175 replies

scoobyloobyloo · 03/11/2015 22:27

36 books for buying one book. Why are women I otherwise like and think are intelligent falling for this? What's wrong with them? It's fricking pyramid buying and it's yer mates yer ripping off!

"I am participating in a book exchange for my children So, I need 6 mums, mums to be, grandmas, or anyone interested in the book exchange that will actually participate and follow through. Here is how we play: You must purchase and mail ONE book to a child and then your child receives up to 36 books in return (if all goes well and everyone follows through).You can do this in 10 minutes or less if you order the book through Amazon. Just think of how much fun checking the mail will be for your child with lots of books coming! Let me know if you are interested, and I'll pm you the instructions...it's super simple! First 6 to commit will be in."

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 04/11/2015 14:54

Yes, but mandi73, you participated because it was nice for a little boy to receive a book & your DD was also excited to receive one. Maybe she'll get more. But somewhere in the same chain/pyramid/list as your DD there will be parents buying a book for an excited child without their own child ever getting anything at all back.

It's a con and hugely unfair.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 04/11/2015 14:57

That's exactly my problem with it NerrSnerr.

I won't worry for the parents who can afford to lose the cost of a book plus postage and also buy another book for their DC, when the promised 36 don't turn up. Not everyone can afford to lose the money however.

mandi73 · 04/11/2015 14:59

I had no expectation of getting a book back, just didn't see the issue with buying a child a book, have no expectation of getting any more books for DD, in fact I haven't mentioned anything about the books to her so she's not expecting more, nor am I.
If people feel it's a con or unfair don't do it.
I don't do chain mails/letters or anything like that just didn't see the harm in buying a child a book

Bimblywibble · 04/11/2015 15:18

Well, you do "do chainmail/letters or anything like that" because that's exactly what this is, it's basically gambling the cost of one book plus postage, in a game where the actual chances of "winning" are massively overstated.

It's not exactly a crime to have a bit of a flutter with money you can well afford to lose. People gamble for fun all the time. The dodgy bit is you make any "profit" in books by overstating the likely "winnings" to people below you in the chain, and encouraging them to gamble money they might not be able to afford. But they are adults, they can choose not to play.

merrymouse · 04/11/2015 15:23

I have seen a few that have said 'My Hannah has just got into reading so deciding to do this book share'. Why not go to the library? Pick up some cheap books from the charity shop?

Exactly - there are loads of other ways to share books that don't involve spending money and pyramid schemes.

Secondtimeround75 · 04/11/2015 15:36

Kelper

Can you post s copy of the image.

My sil posted a cartoon explaining how it's a pyramid scheme so I've shared that.....

ottothedog · 04/11/2015 15:38

Oh i didnt realise how this worked. I thought it was a literal book swap with friends thing (didnt read much about it just popped up on fb)

buymeabook · 04/11/2015 15:39

Mandi, for you to have got a book back that means you must have recruited people who have in turn recruited other people (at least 1 that we know of). When you recruited them did you explain that there was little chance of them getting anything? And it's not just them, it is their friends and family who are no doubt being pestered and guilt tripped with this nonsense. There is nothing nice about this.

avocadoghost · 04/11/2015 16:18

Someone on my FB (who tbh I thought would have more sense) just posted this. A bunch of people pointed out that it's a pyramid scheme and the person he got it from has jumped in all defensive saying "well of course it is, but it's a nice pyramid scheme, a bit of fun" Hmm

I mean...really. No.

BertieBotts · 04/11/2015 16:26

If people can't afford to lose the payout then they shouldn't take part. It definitely shouldn't be penned as some amazing deal or way to get something for nothing. But a fun, pay it forward, maybe get a surprise further down the line? Why not? I don't get why people are so annoyed about the whole concept. I'm with mandi73.

When I said "People drop out" that doesn't necessarily mean that people get nothing, though it might. But that's the reason you send to six friends rather than one. There's less chance that six people will ALL consider it rubbish, or not want to be involved (fair enough), or write the address wrong, or just plain forget to send it on, but a fair chance that 1 or 2 out of the 6 will do so. And that is repeated with the next "layer". So it's not a case of 6x6 every time, it's more like 2x2 with the other 4 or 5 being "insurance". It only takes 1/6 to pass it on for it to keep going and the person buying one book to receive at least one back.

I don't think it's hugely different in principle to the MN secret santa which lots of people do and find really fun and morally sound Confused

trixymalixy · 04/11/2015 16:29

Bertie, these chain letter schemes are illegal in some countries. Have a good hard think about why that might be the case?

It's nothing like the MN secret santa FFs!

Rollermum · 04/11/2015 16:32

Completely agree with NerrSnerr many people will get nothing. I'm imaging sad disappointed children awaiting books and nothing comes. Extra bad if the parent can't afford it and doesn't realise they won't get 36 books.

merrymouse · 04/11/2015 16:33

The maths of secret Santa make sense - it's not supposed to be something for nothing. (Although mm secret Santa is a bit different)

A book swap is comparable to a secret Santa, a book pyramid scene isn't. Secret Santas don't involve pestering an increasingly wide circle of friends and family to take part. You either put put your name in the hat or you don't.

AnnaMarlowe · 04/11/2015 17:10

Bertie but it is written like that! "Join in - get 36 books". The text people are sharing on FB doesn't describe it as a pay it forward scheme or say that you are in all likelihood going to receive nothing.

But that's the reality. Most people will get nothing.

And they are not being recruited on that basis. It's false pretenses.

BertieBotts · 04/11/2015 17:17

Well, it shouldn't be written like that. If I take part in one, I'll rewrite it.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the rest.

Jux · 04/11/2015 17:17

Um, it's very different from MN Secret Santa, which is all about generosity. There's no 'something for nothing' about it.

FizzlePops · 04/11/2015 17:32

A teacher friend on fb is also doing this. I asked for more details and she'd put her daughter's name and address on the message then asked me to send it to 6 people. There is no way that I would put my daughter's name and address on fb ever.
She also messaged me about 2 months ago to try and get me to sign up to forever living. I might defriend her now for being so stupid.

trixymalixy · 04/11/2015 17:52

looks like this book chain letter has been around a long time

Bertie, why do you think this kind of chain letter is illegal in the US?

DeathstarDame · 04/11/2015 17:59

I'm glad I've found this thread just so I know I'm not being a total bitch by pointing out the truth! A friend of mine on Facebook has shared this about 20 times in the last few days in the hope of 6 people joining in.

Suggestions of starting an actual book exchange where shat on because I'm being "negative"! ??

trixymalixy · 04/11/2015 17:59

Hah, I got told I was negative and cynical too!

EmmaWoodlouse · 04/11/2015 18:38

I bet nobody would get 36 books even if everybody did their bit. By the time you get to friends of friends, there's bound to be some people who get asked more than once, unless you have 6 friends in completely different parts of the country who don't know anyone in common.

NewLife4Me · 04/11/2015 18:42

I did pyramid selling many years ago, it was smell like perfumes. Can't remember the name now.
It didn't earn me a fortune but I was only 16 and it paid me over £300 a week in commission, back in the 80's.
I was enrolled pretty quick though and near the top.
if you can get in the beginning you can do quite well.

AnnaMarlowe · 04/11/2015 18:44

Happy to agree to disagree Bertie but I would predict that it doesn't get such a take up. It's the 36 books that are the lure.

ottothedog · 04/11/2015 19:07

Well yes newlife4me, a lot of crime pays.

var123 · 04/11/2015 19:52

I don't get why some posters think its ok.

Can it be that they don't understand that it takes advantage of naive people who otherwise would be called "vulnerable" and encourages them to exploit their friends?

Or are they just unable to comprehend that for anyone to be a winner, there has to be multiple losers?