Isn't that the trend in society anyways. Everyone is so sensitive, that they cant go a day without getting offended. Everyone is better than the next person. Your time is more precious than my time. You deserve that lane before me because you drive a better car.....blah, blah, blah.
T-Dogz, do you have anything to contribute to the discussion other than standing on the sidelines and doing the equivalent of shouting "fight, fight" ?
"A real limited edition, far from being an expensive autograph stapled to a novel, is a treasure. And like all treasures do, it transforms the responsible owner into a caretaker, and being a caretaker of something as fragile and easily destroyed as ideas and images is not a bad thing but a good one...and so is the re-evaluation of what books are and what they do that necessarily follows." - Stephen King
Aggressive like telling someone they're whining, telling someone to be careful about what they say, and that they're paving the road to hell?
Your question is ridiculous. Either you're not thinking at all and just want to argue, or you're not thinking at all because you just want to rationalize your position out of self interest.
If I buy a book from Betts he's doing a service for the seller that doesn't want to deal with selling a hundred books individually, and also doing me a service by putting me in contact with a seller that I might never have come in contact with. He's adding value.
If I buy a book from a B&M store, I get to examine the book in person and make sure it's exactly what I want, plus don't have to worry about shipping problems or packing problems. Added value.
If I buy a book from Abes it's hoped that I'm dealing with a professional that's at least moderately competent in grading and packing and isn't going to rip me off, rather than some random eBay schlub, many of whom are incompetent if not downright dishonest. Added value.
Buying a Carrie Lettered and putting on eBay the next day for 2 grand over list is adding no value whatsoever.
Well I didn't want to get involved in this "messy" conversation because honestly I could care less what someone does with their copy. There is always a mark up from production to end user so however it gets there is all the same to me.
I do feel I have to stick up for Mistercrowley here though for those who think he is sleazy or simply a profiteer. I recently purchased an item from him for about $170 under market price. He could have gotten more from me for the book and he declined that. So I don't think he fits the mold of evil profiteer that some may think here.
I think a lot of us look at collecting from both the aesthetic and investment aspect, I know I do. If he wants to buy the book, hold it in his hands, admire it and then pass it on immediately then so be it.
Did I call you sleazy? I didn't call anyone sleazy. I said a practice was sleazy, not a person, hence not personal. If we can't discuss how we feel about the practice without you whining about it being personal, how can there be any debate at all?
You're going to take anything that anyone says that's negative about flipping personally because you're a flipper. You can't put that on me.
Honestly I'm just going to give up trying to have a conversation with you. I don't need to rationalize anything. I'm going to do what I want to do regardless of what you think. When you called the act of simply purchasing to make a profit I initially took offense and called you whiny was not nice and for that I do apologize. That's the last I'll say to you.
... And yet another conversation gets out of control when RF isn't here to moderate!! Hopefully he's back soon!
Misrepresenting what I said isn't nice either. Maybe you should lay into webstar also, he thinks its a tad dirty, so by your reasoning he was making it personal and saying that YOU are dirty.
Look at your first three posts in this (recent) thread. You really think those could be part of a rational reasonable debate? "Don't buy it and it doesn't effect you" and "If it weren't for flippers like me you wouldn't ever get any books on the secondary market"? They're overly sensitive, butthurt, lame rationalizations. Unless everyone in the thread said nothing beyond "I love flippers and am glad for the service they provide" you were going to take it as a personal insult at some point.
I enjoy my conversations with webstar. With you and T-Dogz....no. You fly off the handle if there is a question asked or a different opinion given. Questions are considered ridiculous simply because your on the opposite side of the spectrum. Thankfully the majority of people on here are fun to talk without going straight into asshole mode
I think Jerome would say something like "back on topic." Nothing will ever get resolved about the issue here. Too bad there can't be a duel.
mistercrowley doesn't even like PS Publishing books, let alone be able to admire and appreciate the Lettered copy of Carrie before passing it on. He has been very clear about his inherent distaste for PS Publishing when he shamelessly bashed them a few weeks ago...Originally Posted by Aronstg
Well I didn't want to get involved in this "messy" conversation because honestly I could care less what someone does with their copy. There is always a mark up from production to end user so however it gets there is all the same to me.
I do feel I have to stick up for Mistercrowley here though for those who think he is sleazy or simply a profiteer. I recently purchased an item from him for about $170 under market price. He could have gotten more from me for the book and he declined that. So I don't think he fits the mold of evil profiteer that some may think here.
I think a lot of us look at collecting from both the aesthetic and investment aspect, I know I do. If he wants to buy the book, hold it in his hands, admire it and then pass it on immediately then so be it.
Copies of this book should only be sold to collectors who will treasure it and truly appreciate its value.
There are people on this site who, according to their posts, will buy or attempt to buy multiple copies of a S/L edition in order to sell the extras to compensate for the cost of the one they want to keep.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing. (Or a good thing). It's a reality.
But if you disparage "flippers" do you also include folks that scoop up multiple copies to sell at a profit as an offset?
They're big boys. They can work out their disagreements.
Overall, I have enjoyed hearing various parties' opinions on the topic presented to the group.
Personally, on the minuscule chance that I land a copy in the publisher's sale, I plan to keep it. However I won't pretend that someone couldn't get me to sell it at a high enough price.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
I don't think those that buy to sell could care about what others might think. I run a store and purchase items that I sell at a higher price on the next day. It's a job. And those who don't run a store but do that anyway, well...I don't see the difference. I work to earn money to spend it. They do the same and the only difference is that they don't have a store.If there is a limit of one book per household, but someone uses various addresses and different credit cards to buy multiple copies with the intention of scalping people later on... Then yeah, I think they are to be disparaged with great fury!!
Wanted list:
Ubris
If the publisher is willing to sell multiple copies to an individual then to me if you have a problem with that you should take it up with the publisher.
If you truly believe that a books price is inflated then wait for it to go down, 90% of books you can buy at less then original price, but don't hold your breath if it King.
Do you have any idea how many times I have planned my day around ordering a King book only to hear someone later whine that they didn't get a chance to buy it. If you missed out it is most likely your own fault, or just bad luck but its no one else's fault. My prized possession is my S/L Legends (also inscribed by Whelan and a full page remarque by Wilson) I called or visited ever bookseller I had a relationship with as soon as I found out about it, and it paid off. Uncle Hugo's came though for me and I even got the membership 10% discount. If anyone want to buy it they better come with a thick roll of Benjamin's.
Great thread
Rich DeMars
I think the only thing I will "win" on onsale day is the sweet feeling of schadenfreude gained when some of these participants who are honking their horns the loudest fail to purchase one of the 26 copies!
Wanted
CD Carrie Portfolio 719
Dark Tower S/N LE's 171 or 203
ANY Stephen King S/N LE #171 or 719
A Storm of Swords #218 or 346
Ancillary Justice #455
American Gods (+ SC Reader copy) #624
Michael Whelan original art
DT VII: Michael Whelan Remarque