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Are ebook images false advertising?

by Dayne Dylan Banned
31 replies
I was thinking, many people sell ebooks with nice images that look exactly like a hard copy book. The quality of the graphics are getting so good. As you may know, even if you say it is an ebook, people will buy and sometimes expect a real hard copy like the image.

Could this be seen as false advertising?
#advertising #ebook #false #images
  • Profile picture of the author Jillian Slack
    Put that same image on page 1 (like a cover page) so the image is actually included in the pdf.

    I don't think it's false advertising.

    It's kind of like when you watch a movie trailer and hear a song being played. Often, that song isn't even in the movie.
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  • Profile picture of the author steveweber
    Honestly, I wondered that too in the past. But after selling thousands, I can only recall one time that someone contacted me actually thinking they were getting the "box" full of written material.

    The vast majority of people understand about the marketing method I guess.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Originally Posted by steveweber View Post

      Honestly, I wondered that too in the past. But after selling thousands, I can only recall one time that someone contacted me actually thinking they were getting the "box" full of written material.

      The vast majority of people understand about the marketing method I guess.
      Actually, in some cases it does get confusing. If using ebook images, the marketer has to be extra careful to clarify in words what the buyer is getting. Some people need to know whether or not they're getting an instant download, whether there is something that is going to be shipped and what medium the information is in.

      If you use the word "book" and use an image that looks like a book, you can cause a problem. If you use the word "ebook" and use an image that looks like a book, you usually won't get into trouble.

      Another example: because I have satellite Internet, I sometimes have trouble watching online videos and have to watch my daily download limit. If someone is selling "video"s, I need to know whether they're downloadable, watchable online or shipped on DVDs. There was one $179 product I very much wanted to buy last month, but the sales copy didn't clarify what the format was, and there was no email address to contact the company for clarification. I'm sure they thought they were smart by heading off questions; I don't think so, because they lost my sale.

      Marcia Yudkin
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    • Profile picture of the author adamv
      Originally Posted by steveweber View Post

      Honestly, I wondered that too in the past. But after selling thousands, I can only recall one time that someone contacted me actually thinking they were getting the "box" full of written material.

      The vast majority of people understand about the marketing method I guess.
      I actually had the opposite thing happen to me once. I sell instructional DVDs on pencil drawing techniques and someone requested a refund because they thought it was a downloadable video.

      Nowhere on my website does it say anything about the video being available for download. I refer to the "DVD" multiple times to try to make sure people know that it's a physical product and I even include a print of the drawing along with the DVD. I don't know how I could be any more clear that it is a physical product but I did have that one person who was wondering how to download the videos.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Ayres
    To be honest in the last couple of years i have sold lots of ebooks and i have only ever had about 2 people think they were buying a physical book and i refunded them.

    I don't think it is false advertising as long as you make it clear they are only getting a download
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidO
    This is a very good question and if you're market is not tech-savvy it can really come into play. I offer an ebook as an instant bonus with my physical product. I've always described it as an "ebook" and for "digital download only" but even then I got lots of people complaining that they didn't get their "book".

    I finally added a note in a framed box that spells out that "you will not receive a physical book in the mail". That finally did the trick.

    Is it false advertising? If you fail to make it clear enough, certainly. The burden is on you the merchant because you are using what could be called a deceptive image in some circumstances.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
    I ask the designer to put large words indicating something like
    "instant download" etc....

    I think it must be clearly stated on the page what they get.
    As an affiliate for some products I get a lot of people ask me of they will be getting a Package for sent to then for software because the vendor does not make it obvious.
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  • Profile picture of the author mario2001
    Banned
    Actually this is correct advertising because
    people buy ebooks; therefore, this is works.

    When you want to sell an ebook or something
    else you have to impress the buyer otherwise
    is not going to buy it.

    Mario
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  • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
    Interesting points - I had never even thought about it since ebooks have become such a way of life for me.

    Then again, I've had to explain to some family members what it is I write. An e-what?! LOL

    It makes sense to make it as clear as possible on the sales page.
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  • Profile picture of the author Delanda
    Interesting point of view. It's important to clearly state what's being offered. I think when you also have CDs listed as part of the graphics then it becomes a bit misleading especially if no actual CDs are being mailed. I've seen some sites use CDs, and there were no CDs included in the package.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by Dayne Dylan View Post

    I was thinking, many people sell ebooks with nice images that look exactly like a hard copy book. The quality of the graphics are getting so good. As you may know, even if you say it is an ebook, people will buy and sometimes expect a real hard copy like the image.

    Could this be seen as false advertising?
    Nope, as long as its clear that it's a downloadable product.
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  • Profile picture of the author ianstables
    No, as long as you make it clear that it's a downloadable product in your copy. It's widely known that having a graphic of your ebook sells more. The truth is that people really do judge a book by its cover.

    Regards Ian
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  • Profile picture of the author LastingLifeSuccess
    Like a lot of Warriors've said up there... ebook covers drastically help sales. That's definitely been my experience (e-covers for bonuses help as well)... but clarity is KEY if you don't want a lot of emails saying

    "when am i going to get my book in the mail"

    making sure that you have "instant downlowd" and "digital book" or similar phrases down by the order link is best.
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    • Profile picture of the author JackTheLad
      The advantages of having an eBook cover image on your site, far outweigh the disadvantages (as far as I can tell). Most people talk of 'Dramatic increases' in sales and a site I went to recently actually claims that having an ebook cover on your site could increase your sales by 317% !!

      So..., you may get the odd person expecting a physical product, but as long as you've made it clear on your page that it's only a digital download - In my mind it's not false advertising.

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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Nope, not false advertising at all. It is only false if you claim that the person will be receiving a "book" rather than an "ebook" or a download. If it were false advertising, then I'd like that hot babe from the magazine ad that was laying all over the photo of that new car I just purchased.
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  • Profile picture of the author lexilexi
    Of course it's false advertising, hello! But then most advertising is. Great fortunes are made playing to the fantasies of the masses - and the picture of the hot babe on the car suggests to the subconscious mind that you are going to score with women if you get this car.

    Just because everyone knows it's false, it doesn't suddenly make it true.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    Of course it's NOT false advertising. Sheesh!

    It never ceases to amaze me what people complain about.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
      I doubt that it could be considered as false advertising as long as it is made clear that the customer/client is getting a downloadable product, not a physical product.

      After all, they are purchasing or being given the access to content not to a pretty picture or image (although they will get that too!).

      Regards,
      Jeff Henshaw.
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    • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Of course it's NOT false advertising. Sheesh!

      It never ceases to amaze me what people complain about.
      No one is complaining. They are asking which is smart if they are unsure.

      It *could* be false advertising if you are not clear about what is being delivered. A one line sentences in the footer doesnt NOT count as being clear.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben_Curtis
    I think everything has been covered, except perhaps that a quality ecover helps sales; I mean, we still want things to look good. But, point taken, for buyers not so internet savvy, you've got to make it clear that the product is a download and also, how to get it!
    Ben Curtis
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  • Profile picture of the author tiger325
    not as long as you state otherwise
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    Originally Posted by Dayne Dylan View Post

    I was thinking, many people sell ebooks with nice images that look exactly like a hard copy book. The quality of the graphics are getting so good. As you may know, even if you say it is an ebook, people will buy and sometimes expect a real hard copy like the image.

    Could this be seen as false advertising?
    Sometimes,

    when i go the bookstore...i see a nice book with a colorful and shiny cover.
    I buy it.
    When i open it..it only contains bland white paper with black letters on them.

    Scam?

    Edit: On a side-note, i understand what you are saying...but i really don't think its an issue.



    You get my drift i assume ...
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    • Profile picture of the author sylviad
      It's a borderline issue, I think.

      If you were depicting that people would get a book along with a CD, and all you were selling is a CD, then that's false advertising. If you make false claims... like, this book will make you a millionaire, that's false advertising unless the book really will do that. Not that it "could", but "will".

      The wording has to be precise or you could cross the legal line.

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      • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
        I don't worry much about it with my ebooks in the IM niche but outside I make it very, very clear. I have one in a niche where my target market are baby boomers and they're not too comfy with digital products so I make it very clear plus I pump up the other benefits (no shipping charges, have your ebook in a couple minutes after ordering, etc.) so I don't see it as false advertisement. I haven't had any issues over it so far.
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      • Profile picture of the author brianAwilliams
        100% Money Back Guarantee!

        No, I'm not selling anything here, I'm suggesting that if you're concerned about false advertising by making your electronically delivered products more sexy by using artwork that looks like real books and dvds, than make sure, as you should anyway, that you offer and HONOR your 100% Money Back Guarantee.
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        • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
          Originally Posted by brianAwilliams View Post

          100% Money Back Guarantee!

          No, I'm not selling anything here, I'm suggesting that if you're concerned about false advertising by making your electronically delivered products more sexy by using artwork that looks like real books and dvds, than make sure, as you should anyway, that you offer and HONOR your 100% Money Back Guarantee.
          Doesnt matter what your guarantee is if you are breaking the law.
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  • Profile picture of the author Re-cycle
    I've had some complaints regarding this issue before, and most were file by people over the age of 50! which is an interesting fact.
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    • Profile picture of the author dbarnum
      To avoid hassles with shoppers, especially on Ebay with digital products (CDs, etc.), use generic, blank covers - or include a page in your download with the exact image as the front page (like copy the image into a Word doc as page one of your report / ebook, etc, then convert entire doc to a pdf, burn on CD and send. You do not want negative feedback for this, and it can / will happen. Shoppers do expect many things there.
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  • Profile picture of the author RichardDean
    Hello,

    Ya false

    You should not use images that look so good.

    Richard
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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Hi All,

    I go to McDonalds and I see a beautiful glossy picture of an old fashioned fountain glass filled with a chocolate malt. I order the drink and it's served in a paper cup. ?False Advertising? There isn't even a disclaimer on the menu stating that my drink will be served in a paper cup and the crystal malt glass is only for illustrative purposes.

    I buy a frozen TV dinner with a picture of the wonderful food artfully plated on an expensive dinner plate. I open the box and lo and behold the food is on a plastic tray. False Advertising?

    Just some thoughts to add to this discussion.

    George Wright
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  • Profile picture of the author ShafirAhmad
    I think this depends a lot on the market. The market I am selling to, they expect a physical product, no matter it is told a million times that it is a downloadable ptoduct, it is an ebook, there are no shipping charges cos i don't have to ship it, and they don't even give me an address.

    Yest, they want the book shipped to the address that they did not even give me
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