Bloggers, who are we supporting?

I just wanted to post a quick post about something that I've noticed on some blogs recently.

Someone will review a book, and then, in the interest of disclosure say that they received a free review copy from a publisher (I'm talking Australian publisher here - and Australian bloggers).

This is all well and good. But what grates me the wrong way is that then some bloggers finish with "support my blog by buying this book from...." and they usually list Amazon, The Book Depository and occasionally an Australian online retailer.

Who's supporting who? You're happy to accept free reading copies from Australian publishers, but then you're willing to sell out their profits to their American or UK branches for a measly 2.5% cut on each sale? I mean, at the very least, for reviews on books that you've accepted a free copy from a publisher I think you should limit your "support me" to an Australian company and there's a higher chance that the sales will come back to the publisher that let you read it for free anyway. (although this isn't even guaranteed). Or look into a local bookshop that has a decent online store and add them as an option (if they offer this sort of remittance.)

Now I know that blogs are read by international readers, and they're not likely to buy something from Australia when they've got Amazon and the Book Depository in their own country... But I can't help but feel put off when I see them listed just underneath "review copy courtesy of *enter Australian publisher here*. 

You're probably thinking that this rant isn't very well thought through, but I don't think that some people arguments of the globalisation of the book industry are very well thought through. But that's for another post.

And if people want disclosure from me, here it is: The opinions in this Blog are my own. I get books from all kinds of sources, (publishers, booksellers, friends, bookshops - when I buy them myself - and even the occasional op-shop) but I only write about the ones that move me one way or the other and I only write my opinion of them. Then, I don't ask for support through sales because I can't get my head around it and all the implications that go with it. I expect that if someone read my reviews and were convinced to buy, they'll buy through their usual methods.

Well, this was supposed to be a short post, so I'll end it there. Feel free to comment. I'd love to hear differing opinions, even if they won't change mine.