Forum Moderators: open
This is an American publication. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it worth the trouble?
There are rumours that Marquis Who's Who makes money selling addresses to direct mail marketers but I don't know if thats true.
And are you actually "somebody".
Do they want money?
I know that there are books called "The 10,000 most important web adresses" or the like. Often they are not very picky with whom they include. The business model is that most of the ones that are included actually buy a print to show it off to friends.
So check out the publisher and look at amazon or another bookseller if previous additions of the book are even available.
And are you actually "somebody".
That is very much a matter of opinion ;)
Their website looks genuine enough and their books are on sale in Amazon (for big bucks!)
Then its probably Marquis. Cost 500 Dollar or something.
Who's Who in America is published by Marquis.
Special Listee DiscountMarquis Who's Who Listees enjoy special savings on the publications in which their listings appear, as well as exclusive offers on commemorative keepsakes. Please call 1-800-473-7020 (Outside U.S. 908-673-1000) for more information.
I just tried calling it ..to see what the discount was for someone who had been invited to submit their Bio ..
It was shut ..opens at 9.00am EST ..if you really want to know what the discount is ..I'll call em again later ..?
but you note they do not offer a complimentary copy ..so I stick to my first opinion vanity publishing type "scam"..
even though you are doubtless worthy of inclusion BeeDee' on your own merits ..this is really just to get you to buy copies for yourselves and friends and family ..if retail without discount is $531.oo per copy ..that could make for a very expensive way to fame..
Ps .."vanity publishing" never asks for "money upfront" they rely on your wanting at least one copy badly enough to pay the "discounted price" ..calculate the number of people "approached" to include their Bio's and multiply by retail minus discount ..then remove print run costs ..and overheads ..
the profits to the publisher are amazingly high ..minimum of 50% of retail price ..often nearer to 80% ..and no risk ..
edited ..typos
[edited by: Leosghost at 1:29 pm (utc) on Jan. 23, 2007]
If there is no cost to you, completely make up your bio. Come up with things they wont easily verify.
Could be very entertaining.
If copies cost that much they certainly wont be selling very many, so who really cares how accurate the book will be.
It doesn't look like a scam and they are not asking for money. Their website looks genuine enough and their books are on sale in Amazon (for big bucks!)
I consider these scams. They make money selling books to be people written about. NO ONE else buys them. Libraries don't buy them.
Various flavors have been around for decades. I get one or two offers a year and throw them in the trash.
Reminds me of the scene in the movie The Jerk where Steve Martin is utterly impressed when he finds his name in the phone book.
The form looks as though it would take ages to complete. It asks for lots of personal data so I won't be completing it. I just wonder why they contacted little old me?
You are included in no cost, but the only people who buy the book are those who are included. It is a real book - it is actually printed, but the book is produced solely for those who are in it (ie. it is not in any library). That is how they make their money. I hate to be a debbie downer, but you were only chosen because it was your turn for the random mailer.
Parents are particularly vulnerable to the "Who's Who of HIgh School Students."
Parents are particularly vulnerable to the "Who's Who of HIgh School Students."
Ah yes. I remember this coming up in one episode of "The Simpsons".
I just wonder why they contacted little old me?
and they bought a $99.00 dvd of 9 million whois details scraped from registrars ..
if you did fill in all the questions on their form ..
you would never keep the ultra targetted spam of your back and out of your inbox and letter box ..
people who fill in detailed forms and profiles anywhere are worth gold to marketers ..as are those who use loyalty cards when they shop etc ..
Look up "Who's who" +scam in G.
I suggest checking a second hand copy or in a library first.
Matt
;) ;) ;)
FWIW, I've been published, not in Who's Who, but vanity press just the same. I never bought the book. In fact, I ended up researching the company, they got wind of my research and started making all sorts of accusations. I still got into the book :) Now I wonder if anyone has ever actually read my publication.
people who fill in detailed forms and profiles anywhere are worth gold to marketers ..as are those who use loyalty cards when they shop etc ..
You should see what MySpace asks for. They have like six tabs that you can fill out with unbelievably personal information. Now THAT is one lucrative deal. No wonder Murdoch snapped it up.
NOTE: MySpace has a "privacy notice" that is supposed to be displayed on pages that encourage you to enter personal information, except that it's broken. You get some CF key displayed there instead of the notice.
Convenient, huh?
