On Mon, 7 Feb 2005 22:40:23 -0000, "CK" wrote:

~Hi All,
~
~I had read those offers from "Gardeners' Book Society" from time to time.
~The starting offer often looks attractive. However, I had heard another
~famous book club with bad reputation, good starting offer but then not much
~interesting offer in the next 4 monthly magazines, which you are obligated
~to buy at least one from each. I tried to look for people's reviews or
~comments by surfing the Internet but only know that the Society also
~publishes books. Anyone had been subscribed to it? Could I hear your
~opinion? For example, the choices and discount of garden books after the
~starting offer, the cost of p & p, customers services, book returning
~policy, etc.
~
~Looking forward for any reply. (The free offer this time would be the
~birthday present I have suggested to my love one)

long reply...

I was a member for a year, got some nice books (yes, you can order two
of the same introductory book as two choices - so both Dad and myself
got the then-new RHS revised encyclopedia of gardening) and then
counted up to the number I thought I needed as minimum. They insisted
I buy six not four extra, but since there were a couple I needed, I
didn't whinge too much. But do count carefully and watch your small
print.

The normal club books can be ordered from any magazine including back
issues so do keep them all. They expect you to order one book every
issue (bimonthly) but it doesn't have to be *from* that issue so don't
order two at a time - save the second for when you can't find one you
want!

The editor's choice is a pain if you don't cancel it fast enough. And
the phonelines stick you in a queue for absolutely ages, even at 8am.
Beware. Likewise the line for paying with credit cards.

They are quite good if something gets lost. My first order of the HDRA
Organice encyclopedia and Bob Flowerdew's organic gardening was placed
about a month before Christmas 2003 and never appeared. I queried this
close to Christmas and got replacements early in the new year. Some
beggar got a free present though :-(

The books in the magazines are about the same prices as on Amazon but
postage is more, so they come out dearer for one book. However once
you factor in the savings you make on the intro offer, you come out
ahead. Just don't go into it unless you really do need a lot of
gardening books. For me just getting the £35 RHS book for a fiver
(twice) made it worthwhile. But a lot were coffeetable and TV
presenter books rather than actual how-to books, which is what I was
after. So you may find choice is slightly less than you expect, and
all the good ones are in the intro offer so you've already bought
them.

When I cancelled they asked me why. I said (truthfully) I had no more
room on my shelf! Have heard nothing since, so they do take you off
their mailing lists promptly. (Unlike Worldbooks, who are STILL
sending me crap about children's book offers after 2 years, and I
don't have any kids!)


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!