Remove the secret code BOTD bonus

[Scott]

Each time a person doesn't open an email from OnlineBookClub, it hurts our sender scores with the email providers, which makes our emails land in more people's spam boxes. This creates major problems for people who want to get the emails, such as when verifying their email or getting important alerts about things like overdue reviews.

Also, if there is problems, like the emails not going through, I find members are more likely to report those problems when we have the bonus in place.

In theory, if everyone entered the bonus code, it effectively wouldn't be a bonus. However, about 70% of entrants do not claim the bonus entry for the bonus code.

[kfwilson6]

Interesting...Well Helen, I feel better about it now

[MsTri]

I too am in the US and could do without it. I'm a night owl, often staying up until 1 or even 2am, yet there are times that it doesn't come before then and so I miss out on that point! And like someone else said, I'm here everyday anyhow, so it's really a pain in the doopah to then have to check my email to get the code and put it in HOURS after I've already done everything else, and I'd just as soon do without the emails entirely.

[Helen_Combe]

Each time a person doesn't open an email from OnlineBookClub, it hurts our sender scores with the email providers, which makes our emails land in more people's spam boxes. This creates major problems for people who want to get the emails, such as when verifying their email or getting important alerts about things like overdue reviews.

Also, if there is problems, like the emails not going through, I find members are more likely to report those problems when we have the bonus in place.

In theory, if everyone entered the bonus code, it effectively wouldn't be a bonus. However, about 70% of entrants do not claim the bonus entry for the bonus code.

Ah, thank you for that. I did wonder if it had another purpose other than a simple bonus. Now I know that there is a purpose, I’m quite happy with it.

Mind you, Ms Tri has a good suggestion, which is to completely abandon the book of the day email. I’m sure a lot of people just get into the habit of doing the book of the day at a particular time of the day. I gave up waiting for the email long ago. Then you wouldn't have the inherent problems of emailing to such a huge list every single day.

[samiam013]

I have to agree with you on this one. Sometimes I do receive the email and there are times I do not receive the email for the daily giveaway. On those days I am unable to enter the secret code, so I miss out on one of the entries for the giveaway. Thanks for posting this. I did not realize there were others who were struggling with this as well.

[Vickie Noel]

Well, I really don't mind whichever way it pans out. I'm equally outside the US and have had the email come in much later than usual. On such occasions, I generally don't get a good night's sleep because I keep waking up to check until I see the mail. This was way before the secret code bonus because I use the email to add the BOTD to my bookshelves in compliance with the twitter retweets program. So it's pretty useful to me personally; I didn't even know it had other implications for the site as well. And with Scott's explanation, I understand why the mail went to my spam a few times past.

[Helen_Combe]

Well, I really don't mind whichever way it pans out. I'm equally outside the US and have had the email come in much later than usual. On such occasions, I generally don't get a good night's sleep because I keep waking up to check until I see the mail. This was way before the secret code bonus because I use the email to add the BOTD to my bookshelves in compliance with the twitter retweets program. So it's pretty useful to me personally; I didn't even know it had other implications for the site as well. And with Scott's explanation, I understand why the mail went to my spam a few times past.

I use the link to bookshelves at the bottom of the review to put the book on my bookshelves.

[Vickie Noel]

Oh, never really noticed that before, thanks a lot.

[Jude Austin]

I never bother with the Secret Code entry; it's more trouble than it's worth. I don't quite understand the thinking behind it, to be honest.

[MrsCatInTheHat]

I never bother with the Secret Code entry; it's more trouble than it's worth. I don't quite understand the thinking behind it, to be honest.

Scott explained it's purpose in one of the comments in this thread.

[bookowlie]

Honestly, the complaining about this seems a bit much. The BOTD giveaways are a nice thing that has not always been a part of the site. I feel the same way about the contest for two gift cards for the BOTM discussion. When I joined, neither of this prizes were part of the site. The bonus points for social media weren't part of the reviewer score formula either. I guess I feel all of these things are nice extras and not something to gripe about, as far as timing, inconvenience, etc. Just my opinion.

[gali]

Honestly, the complaining about this seems a bit much. The BOTD giveaways are a nice thing that has not always been a part of the site. I feel the same way about the contest for two gift cards for the BOTM discussion. When I joined, neither of this prizes were part of the site. The bonus points for social media weren't part of the reviewer score formula either. I guess I feel all of these things are nice extras and not something to gripe about, as far as timing, inconvenience, etc. Just my opinion.

[gali]

Enough was said about this. I am locking the thread.