It's a hard life...
Had an argument with a lady from Book Tokens the other day, and I said rather pathetically:
I have worked everyday since January 1st, seven days a week from 10 until 7 and only had two days off, and one of those was to go to a funeral.
And she said: Oh I know exactly how you feel, I missed our staff Christmas lunch this year.
Actually, I would be very interested to get the views of any other indies who read this, regarding the whole Book Token/BA deal.
(When you have a minute).
What is the deal with Book Tokens? Should we be avoiding them?
Posted by: ditdotdat | December 18, 2006 at 08:52 PM
Its been a long day, long month, long year - not a day off all year, had to miss a good friend's funeral, didn't even get a haircut this year ; lady comes along today with her husband's ghastly covered self-published book (its our busiest week of the year ma'am, positively no reps until next year please); finished unpacking 6 boxes of today's book delivery at after 8 pm, then hoover the shop etc ; where were we - oh yes, Book Token/BA deal...what can I say except "we" indies work too hard to tie-up valuable resouces in outdated sales techniques...as for the BA, when they accepted Tesco back into the fold they lost any credibility with this grumpy bookman.
Jonathan, it'll be interesting to see which if any other indies have to *spunk* to make an open comment on this issue.
Posted by: Clive Keeble | December 18, 2006 at 09:02 PM
Morning chores nearly completed, and it occurs to me that I should have been more explicit in my above thoughts.
Nothing wrong with either BA or Book Tokens for those whose turnover is in excess of say £450k ; for us lesser mortals we will only survive outside the mainstream, sourcing very special eclectic stock and watching cashflow ; to me the BA and Book Tokens are a reminder of the 1960's, a world long gone by and one which I cannot afford to be sentimental to retain.
Christmas trading has so far been ok for me ; many of those who are marooned in the mainstream appear not to have prospered.
Now to put Grincheux and Joyeux back in their daytime locations, and clean the outer shop windows.
Oh, I hope that South London mail deliveries are not caught in same "logjam" as those in this area.
Posted by: Clive Keeble | December 19, 2006 at 07:11 AM
Hmm. 'Spunk'. We don't deal in BA book tokens, we make our own and we're not going to renew our BA subscripton either. We can't think of a single useful thing that merits our 175 quids worth. Maybe the Batch system but really the amount of invoices we have to pay and our tight cash flow don't let us use it properly.
Also, when Waterstone's give out their own vouchers as change for 'national' book tokens I think the game is up for us.
Not only that but aren't Book Tokens just a hopelessly shit present?
Posted by: adam | December 19, 2006 at 09:54 AM
Clive - as usual you are busy hitting various nails on heads whilst I'm still in bed...a 1960's world long gone by just about sums it up I think.
Adam - your response was pretty much what I expected it to be; I'm in complete agreement. Shouldn't the BA be a little concerned that such a high profile new indie as yourself holds such a view.
Perhaps we will find out; someone from Book Tokens has just spent the last 9 minutes reading this.
Posted by: JonathanM | December 19, 2006 at 10:51 AM
Hi Crow - we have been trying to work out what the point of the BA was all year.
Our subscription is 363 days late and, in the end, I don't think we're going to pay it as I just can't see what the BA does for small guys like us.
Maybe we should look at forming our own sort of Independent BA or something. (Not that I have the first clue where to start!)
The BA suck as far as we're concerned and we are surviving without book tokens just fine thanks.
Posted by: matthew | December 20, 2006 at 06:16 PM
Matthew/Clive, but do you accept them?
Posted by: JonathanM | December 20, 2006 at 06:51 PM
Yes. And use them to buy stock on sale at 50% off from TescaAsdaWaterstonesSmiths.
Posted by: adam | December 21, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Ah, same hymn sheet, singing.
Hope you got some Moomins.
Posted by: JonathanM | December 21, 2006 at 11:59 AM
If Edward Gorey were still alive and wearing his fur coat and tennies to the ballet, he would certainly feel called upon to illustrate that first paragraph of your woeful plaint in finely hatched pictures.
I don't know quite how I tumbled here, but I do hope that you sell as many Moomins as needed in 2007...
Posted by: marly | January 28, 2007 at 05:59 AM
Marly - hello and welcome and I'm very glad you tumbled here. I've had the briefest of looks around your Palace and can only say it was meant to be. I shall be returning soon.
Moomin sales are holding up fine, in fact my last sale yesterday was a copy to a lady from the Finnish Institute who was full of Tove lore.
Fur coat and tennies always was a good look: Gorey we like too.
Posted by: JonathanM | January 28, 2007 at 11:31 AM
That's a relief! Since I tumbled in during the wee hours, I couldn't remember how to come back. And it certainly isn't nice to leave a note and not come back for a peek. Luckily I have The Deskside Raven, and that reminded me of the Crow.
Tove lore sounds like Carroll more than Tove... But a Lady from the Finish Institute full of Tove lore begs for Gorey again.
Yes, I'd like to have a big fat fur coat in my current climate, though I would wear it with my funny Norwegian boots (fit for meeting Finnish ladies.)
Posted by: marly | January 29, 2007 at 03:06 AM