Problems posting to B&N

[Alison]

Is anyone else having problems posting reviews to B&N? I was thrilled when they updated their review portal because the old one was so clunky but the new one keeps rejecting my reviews for profanity. I honestly have read each of the reviews four or five times and I can't see what is triggering this issue, other retailers such as Amazon, Kobo, Google Books and Waterstones are publishing the exact same reviews without comment.

I can't find an email address to contact them to ask what is triggering their profanity alert and the review doesn't highlight the word which is tripping their sensors.

Anyone had the same issue or have a handy guide to everyday words which could cause problems?

[Lori]

I had a issue when it first changed. I had the word ‘hell’ in a review. Had to go back and change it. I haven’t had an issue since though.

[Em__Jay]

Do you have a link to the reviews we can read? There might be something others can pick up that you missed.

[Connie]

Alison wrote: "Is anyone else having problems posting reviews to B&N? I was thrilled when they updated their review portal because the old one was so clunky but the new one keeps rejecting my reviews for profanit..."


B&N drives me nuts! When they changed their format, I was delighted, but quickly lost that happiness when they refused my review for profanity. There was NO profanity! Now, it takes forever to get a link to my review and the link is very long. I know that sounds technical but I am still confused with it and truly ready to stop posting my reviews with them. I have posted tons of reviews with them over the years and thoroughly disgusted at this point.

[Alison]

Hopefully this is a link to a blocked review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Time Waits by C.B Lewis

[Fictionophile]

Alison wrote: "Hopefully this is a link to a blocked review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Time Waits by C.B Lewis"

I'm not certain, but it might be because of the NetGalley disclaimer at the bottom. Try submitting your review without it and see how it goes.

[Alison]

Thanks, but I have to add a disclaimer that I have received the book for free and B&N have posted many other reviews containing that specific disclaimer so that can’t be the issue

[Melanie]

Alison wrote: "Hopefully this is a link to a blocked review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Time Waits by C.B Lewis"

It would be terrible if this is the case, but I've had it happen on Amazon before (B&N could be similar). But is it possibly the word gay?

[Fictionophile]

Alison wrote: "Thanks, but I have to add a disclaimer that I have received the book for free and B&N have posted many other reviews containing that specific disclaimer so that can’t be the issue"
I've heard that Amazon will not accept the NetGalley disclaimer so I thought B&N might be the same.

[MarilynW]

I was having so much trouble with the old format for reviews but since it's changed, all my B&N reviews have gone through (knock on wood).

If I get a book from NetGalley, I always include the NetGalley disclaimer on my reviews, on both the B&N and Amazon sites and they've taken them. Hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that. These things seems so fickle 🤣

[Lori]

i always put a disclaimer regarding ARC from NetGalley. I’ve never had an issue....just posted 2 this week and both were accepted. Agree about jinxing/fickle!

[Alison]

Marilyn, apologies to all I’m on the iPhone and can’t reply to individual posts (or don’t know how) I too put the NetGalley disclaimer on all Amazon reviews and (fingers crossed) I haven’t had a review rejected for ages.

[Alison]

Melanie, I don’t think it’s the word gay, I also had a contemporary straight romance rejected for profanity. I just wish they would highlight the word that offends

[Teresa]

I used the word "slut" and it was rejected. I changed the word and it went through fine. I was also rejected because I put that I received my book for free and that was rejected, took it out and it went through. Crazy.

Alison wrote: "Is anyone else having problems posting reviews to B&N? I was thrilled when they updated their review portal because the old one was so clunky but the new one keeps rejecting my reviews for profanit..."

[Em__Jay]

Nazi is the only word that I can think of that might trigger a block.

And yes, I understand there are books and book blurbs and other reviews that would include that word but these automatic checks are not always reasonable.

[Alison]

Found another one which I had to butcher to get through B&N, this is the uncut version https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lori]

The only thing I can see that could possible be the problem is ‘Badass’. If that’s it, it’s totally ridiculous!

[Barbara]

Could I ask if UK-based members are doing BN reviews? I can't see the point in joining a site for a company that isn't in my country just to cross-post reviews. As a relative newbie to NG, am I going to suffer if I don't comply with the request to post?

[MarilynW]

Barbara wrote: "Could I ask if UK-based members are doing BN reviews? I can't see the point in joining a site for a company that isn't in my country just to cross-post reviews. As a relative newbie to NG, am I goi..."

I don't know if it will help you to post your reviews to B&N but it certainly couldn't hurt. The book eventually gets [published in all countries so the more exposure your review gets, the better, I would think.

[Alison]

The US has far more readers than the UK so it makes sense to post to US sites if you can. Amazon US now have a minimum annual spend requirement so I can’t post there but I post to Amazon UK, Waterstones, Kobo, Google Play and B&N. I find iBooks too much hassle to post reviews so I don’t bother. Having said that, I don’t think it counts against you if you don’t post on multiple sites. Hope that helps

[Carolyn]

If the book is from a UK based publisher I think they like you to post to UK sites - that's their market after all - so I usually do for those books but not those from US publishers.

[Alison]

Okay, had yet another review bounced this afternoon by B&N after a string of successes, I had already starred out c*ck as a potential trigger but it still didn't like it. Randomly I guessed the trigger word was sex and restored cock to my review and it passed. So apparently "sex" is a profane word but cock isn't LOL, good to know

[MarilynW]

I posted a review for Victoria's War and used the word Nazi throughout the review because that's what it was all about...what the Nazis were doing during the Holocaust. I had to change every single Nazi to "German bad guys" despite the synopsis using the word Nazi.

[Alison]

marilyn wrote: "I posted a review for Victoria's War and used the word Nazi throughout the review because that's what it was all about...what the Nazis were doing during the Holocaust. I had to change every single..."

Ha ha, German bad guys. The inanity of these rules is just mind-blowing

[MarilynW]

Alison wrote:Ha ha, German bad guys. The inanity of these rules is just mind-blowing

I felt so silly doing it...I'm happy to say that Amazon took my review as I had originally written it.

[Alison]

And another one https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The offensive word was 'whore'

[Davida]

Lori wrote: "i always put a disclaimer regarding ARC from NetGalley. I’ve never had an issue....just posted 2 this week and both were accepted. Agree about jinxing/fickle!"

It has nothing to do with the disclaimer, it has to do with profanity, apparently. Words like sex, whore, slut are being rejected. I had this happen to me as well.

[Thamy]

I was so irritated the last time I tried to post to B&N I cut all my review and just posted a line from it...