Bizzare book prices

Of course I say thanks for the kind comments about my work!

Second-hand book prices – especially on still-in-print books always amaze me, but then so does what seems to be a standard reply from Waterworks. I once went into our local store and asked the girl if she could get one of my titles because we had a number of clients asking why we took so long to deliver our goods – which is odd, cos we always turn around stuff within 2 working days, so I wanted to see for myself.

I gave her the title and author, but did not give the game away by providing publishers name or ISBN. She tapped something into her ‘puter and came back with… ‘oh that publisher will take at least twelve weeks to respond to a order if you want that title Sir’. Was the reply. I pulled out my driving licence and business card. My reply, though barely printable was that *I* was not only the author of that particular book, but was also the publisher and that we were based not three miles from the shop, and could she EXPLAIN WHY she said that and WHY her system seemed to suggest 12 weeks? She just blushed, looked at the floor and mumbled something I could not make out. Needless to say, I left, and have never had a satisfactory reply, even from their HQ.
Ah well!

Always a mystery to me how booksellers value their books, I am sure they all check current prices and stocks, maybe a case of ‘schilling’ the price?:confused: