Posted on 08/19/2004 6:30:01 PM PDT by abner
I ordered 3 copies of Unfit for Command from Amazon last week. I am still waiting for them to be shipped. Tonight, on our way home we were listening to Mark Levin talking to people give anecdotes from people trying to buy the book and the troubles that people were having with that. We decided to stop by Barnes and Noble since it was on our way home. Here is what followed:
I walked in and Bill's book is front and center as you walk in the door. I walked around looking for the book. Well, you guessed it, nowhere in sight.
I went to the information counter. There were two copies of Unfit for Command on the information counter and I picked one up and said, "This is the book I want!" I asked the gentleman behind the counter, "Why isn't this best seller next to Bill's book, and where are the other copies?" He replied that he had just 'found' a box of the books in his section (the bargain books) and that since I was buying a book, he would get another one from his box of books. I asked why only two out at a time since it is a best seller, and he shrugged his shoulders. It also is full price at B& N. I got the feeling that he would put up a big display if it were up to him. The manager type standing next to him just glared at me the whole time.
Next, I brought the book up to the counter to purchase. Even though I have 3 on order, I thought, one more won't hurt and I can put it in the office for people to comment on.
Anyway, I brought the book up to the counter and asked the lady the same question, "Why isn't this book right next to Bill's?" She replied that she, "Didn't want a political discussion." I said neither did I, but it just makes sense to have a number one best seller next to Bill. She back tracked a bit and the manager type behind her said that, "We are sold out." "Well, I said to her, the guy at the information booth said he has a whole box of them." The manager type just walked away.
I bought my book. VOC and I now have a plan. A secret plan.... Stay tuned...
Yes. Got mine this week. The original release date was September, but it was moved up.
It appears that if you go to Regnery's website, you can phone them and place an order. Cut out the middle man - send them your money!
I am also a fellow Texan and our Hastings has Unfit for Command in a hard to find location. The Bush bashing books are front and center.
Well, non-fiction is what it is, right ? If it was fiction JK wouldn't be so upset :)
Same with my Barnes & Noble...a whole display on Bush Bashing books. No Ann Coulter, No Laura Ingraham..no Unfit. Nothing.
Dateline Austin, Texas, Barnes & Snoble. My husband & I went in last Friday evening. Bill's book greeted us at the entrance aisle. We didn't see Unfit so we asked the Putz at information to look it up for us. He punches it up on the computer and says it's not in stock and he hasn't heard of it. My husband asked him if it was #1 on Amazon why don't they have it in stock? He said we'd have to talk to the manager that he hates all the political bickering! So, my husband replied to him just as the manager walked up, "So, you've never heard of it but you know it is political? Hummm!" The manager said that it has not been released by the publisher. So, we said fine, we'd order it on Amazon...which we did! We just burst out laughing and left!!
I got my copy at a Barnes and Noble last night... BUT...when I asked for it I was told that they hadn't received any yet. I picked up a copy of American Soldier by Gen Franks and as I was leaving the store I saw a copy of Unfit for Command on the reshelve pile. I asked if it was for sale.
"I have to ask my manager".... a subsequent 10 minute delay but I got it. Sure seemed strange that "we haven't received any yet".... but there was a copy to be restocked hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm????
Look here.
Wardaddy had similar experience this evening!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1195082/posts
I think part of the problem is the publishers didn't expect it to be such a best seller, and there are only so many to go around.
I was in a Books a Million today in a very conservative town. I was there for over two hours. Every 10 to 15 minutes someone was either approaching the counter or calling on the phone to ask for the book. The clerk indicated that this has been going on all day.
They said that the publisher limited BAM to 5,000 copies -- the entire chain -- to be distributed among all of their stores. I think the publisher printed a certain number and was inundated with orders and is now trying to catch up.
I know in the store I was in, if they had them in stock, they would have displayed them prominently because they would have raked in the money.
Now, I don't doubt that some liberals out there working in book stores will try to sabatoge sales, but probably in a couple of weeks, there will be plenty to go around, and at least some of the bookstores will display them and sell the heck out of them.
Just sent an email to B & N telling them that for months I've seen piles of Bill Clinton's memoirs (so many that I wondered if they had sold ANY) Also let them know that since they did not respond to the market by stocking an NYTimes #3 book, I bought Unfit for Command on Amazon.com... I told them that
"had they planned ahead, they would be making money rather than dusting off Bill's books"
Gotta hit them where it hurts. Let them know you're buying the book elsewhere
Here's my plan, go to B&N, find the book, sit in one of their comfortable chairs, read book, return to shelf when done. This will tie up a reading position all day and piss off the libs.
Now I will also buy a copy of the book, but on line to screw B&N out of any profit.
At Chapters.ca, the largest online bookstore in Canada. Unfit for command is "Not yet Available" and is selling at 5% discount. I haven't seen it in Stores yet. I got a friend in NJ pick up the book for me.
This is a Liberal country??
The operating word is Liberal.
I'm from Carteret and will go to Menlo Park tomorrow and report it on FR of the response.
Wonder what would happen if one had a T-shirt with a message: Barnes & Nobel censor conservative books? Or something like that. Even if you got thrown out of the store you could still walk around outside the store.
Same here, this is a conservative state. But every B&N and Borders you go into has leftist books of all types prominently on display, particularly Bush-bashing books. The more vitriolic and outlandish, the more prominent the display. But the conservative-leaning books are buried on lower-shelves, etc.
We should be, this is incredible. I feel like we're living in a real life Mr Smith Goes to Washington and fighting the Taylor Machine.
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