Betts Books

[Calla_Wolf]

Tomas, i LOVE all of your ideas!

Although i am not so keen of the gift vouchers (would it really work?), and would find it hard to create the certificate that arent easy to reproduce... Nowadays...

thanks...though it's Ceri, not Tomas

[herbertwest]

David, if you bring new consignment content on the website : please get rid of all those "new", "new consignment"... it makes that the page is currently a real pain to read, and it's not easy at all to just browse into the content

I am part of the younger generation, and i am quite greedy! Who knows, maybe one day i'll collect english language items? :-)

[carlosdetweiller]

With the proliferation of electronic media, YouTube, social networking etc., I too worry about the "younger generation" and whether they will ever appreciate the feel and smell of an actual book. I am sure there will be a percentage (how small?) who will appreciate collecting, and reading actual paper books, but I am positive we have "lost" some of the younger generation.

I read this article the other day, found it interesting and it addresses this issue.

http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/iss...ectors-1.phtml

[carlosdetweiller]

David, if you bring new consignment content on the website : please get rid of all those "new", "new consignment"... it makes that the page is currently a real pain to read, and it's not easy at all to just browse into the content

I, too, find it hard to tell what is "new" today vs. what was "new" last week. I'm sure this will all get sorted out with the newer web design but I'd like the "Last Updated" heading to include the date and the TIME of the update. I find myself checking several times during the day and really have a hard time sorting new listings from old ones.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

And a couple more that once had large collections, sold them to Stu within the last 10 years and now are rebuilding all over again.

I am one of them. I collected King since the Carrie paperback, but sold off my collection. I started rebuilding again in 2005 just as prices were falling.

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

David, if you bring new consignment content on the website : please get rid of all those "new", "new consignment"... it makes that the page is currently a real pain to read, and it's not easy at all to just browse into the content

I have an Excel spreadsheet with every book listed at Betts since David took over. It has 2 tabs, "On sale" and "Sold".

I just have the webpage and my spreadsheet open alongside each other to compare. Easy peasy.

[Calla_Wolf]

And a couple more that once had large collections, sold them to Stu within the last 10 years and now are rebuilding all over again.

I am one of them. I collected King since the Carrie paperback, but sold off my collection. I started rebuilding again in 2005 just as prices were falling.

I've collected an estimated 250, maybe 300 signed King books over the years...but I've never owned more than about a dozen at any one time.

Now my collection's dwindled to nigh on zero

Shit happens

[agrabin]

Uncle Crunchy! Leave David's site alone! He didn't make it...he just acquired it from the previous owner.

?????...

[wizardsrainbow]

With the proliferation of electronic media, YouTube, social networking etc., I too worry about the "younger generation" and whether they will ever appreciate the feel and smell of an actual book. I am sure there will be a percentage (how small?) who will appreciate collecting, and reading actual paper books, but I am positive we have "lost" some of the younger generation.

I read this article the other day, found it interesting and it addresses this issue.

http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/iss...ectors-1.phtml

Yes, interesting. Thanks for sharing

[Nerak]

Dave

MY suggestions are:

A competition of some kind, like I used to run on skfakes. Nominal entry fee, say $5, and a grand prize of....something. How 'bout this - the grand prize equals 90% of the entry pot in the form of a Betts Books gift voucher, the other 10% going to Betts in admin fees etc.

Another suggestion - Betts Books gift vouchers

Another suggestion (if you can get enough interest from the old SKFakes authentication gang) - offer an authenticity service with high quality certificates that would be nigh on impossible to forge

Another suggestion - Newsletters with monthly competitions / offers for subscribers only

Another suggestion - Sponsor / host a King signing (yeah, long shot, I know)

Finally, you were talking about other authors - why not offer a service to new and unpublished authors. Off the top of my head, run a writing competition - short stories only - the winner, or the top three, get an exclusive page on the Betts Books website to showcase their work for 1 year free of charge, with free publicity - if the above email newsletter idea were to take off, they could get a ton of interest in their work.

ok, I'll shut up again now and return to lurkdom

Great ideas Ceri!!

[Nerak]

Uncle Crunchy! Leave David's site alone! He didn't make it...he just acquired it from the previous owner.

?????...

snicker snicker Love Ya Hun!!!

[frik]

And a couple more that once had large collections, sold them to Stu within the last 10 years and now are rebuilding all over again.

I am one of them. I collected King since the Carrie paperback, but sold off my collection. I started rebuilding again in 2005 just as prices were falling.

I've collected an estimated 250, maybe 300 signed King books over the years...but I've never owned more than about a dozen at any one time.

Now my collection's dwindled to nigh on zero

Shit happens

Ouch!
Are you planning on rebuilding...again??

sk

[Calla_Wolf]

And a couple more that once had large collections, sold them to Stu within the last 10 years and now are rebuilding all over again.

I am one of them. I collected King since the Carrie paperback, but sold off my collection. I started rebuilding again in 2005 just as prices were falling.

I've collected an estimated 250, maybe 300 signed King books over the years...but I've never owned more than about a dozen at any one time.

Now my collection's dwindled to nigh on zero

Shit happens

Ouch!
Are you planning on rebuilding...again??

sk

It's unlikely. After 30 years of book collecting, my interest has slipped elsewhere, though I still enjoy a good read. Photography has taken over and filled the gap. If I'm honest, I think things started to slip when I failed to finish Lisey's Story. I hated that book from the beginning and, though I really enjoyed Duma Key, The Dome's been another slog for me. I AM looking forward to the four novellas, but I don't see me 'collecting' again.

[frik]

Think I understand. Over the past couple of years I've been considering selling my collection. I'm certain, eventually i will.

Oh...I just LOVE Lisey's Story....

sk

[agrabin]

snicker snicker Love Ya Hun!!! [/QUOTE]


...who needs remarques anyway?

[Calla_Wolf]

Think I understand. Over the past couple of years I've been considering selling my collection. I'm certain, eventually i will.

Oh...I just LOVE Lisey's Story....

sk

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

I wont bother trying it then.

[Nerak]

Think I understand. Over the past couple of years I've been considering selling my collection. I'm certain, eventually i will.

Oh...I just LOVE Lisey's Story....

sk

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

OMG!!! I soooo totally agree! It took FOREVER for me to get into it and then it wasn't all that!!!!

[frik]

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

I wont bother trying it then.

You haven't read it yet?
Do give it a try - you're missing out on a GREAT book. I know the opinions are really divided on this one, but take my word for it: one of Kings best!

sk

[Mr. Rabbit Trick]

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

I wont bother trying it then.

You haven't read it yet?
Do give it a try - you're missing out on a GREAT book. I know the opinions are really divided on this one, but take my word for it: one of Kings best!

sk

I meant sex in treacle. Keep up frik

[carlosdetweiller]

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

I wont bother trying it then.

For me I guess it would come down to who is in the treacle with me.

[frik]

i thought it was like having sex in treacle...slow, hard work and really not worth the hassle

I wont bother trying it then.

You haven't read it yet?
Do give it a try - you're missing out on a GREAT book. I know the opinions are really divided on this one, but take my word for it: one of Kings best!

sk

I meant sex in treacle. Keep up frik

sk

[Brice]

[turtlex]

David - Anything with Michael Whelan would interest me, even if I couldn't afford it.

Also, speaking from the comic book geek world - a comic remarque is rather rare. Sometimes an artist will do a sketch on a cover with their signature, but it doesn't happen very often. I would make a suggestion for those though, to use CGC and have them graded and authenticated ( which can get pricey ).

Joe Hill would be a cool avenue as well.

[wizardsrainbow]

I am in the process this very minute of posting a major new consignment of nearly 40 signed 1st trade editions. Good pricing as well. Seller is a reputable collector I have known for 10 years. Go check it out at www.bettsbooks.com