Posted on 06/22/2004 4:11:56 PM PDT by Libloather
Clinton book mania explodes on the Web
By John Borland
CNET News.com
June 22, 2004, 3:13 PM PT
Just hours after former U.S. president Bill Clinton finished a first round of book-signings for his new memoir, published Tuesday, autographed copies were selling on eBay for $250 and more.
Some of those copies hadn't even been signed yet. One St. Paul, Minn., seller named Jason Gabbert, an eBay regular and longtime Clinton fan, promised that his family and he had tickets to next week's Los Angeles book signing and were guaranteed a few autographed copies to sell.
"It's amazing the effect this guy has," said Gabbert, who has already sold a half-dozen autographed copies through eBay. "The demand on this Clinton stuff, it's a frenzy. He's a very popular guy, whether people want to admit it or not."
It wasn't just on eBay that the publication of Clinton's avidly anticipated memoir set off a surge of demand and interest, however.
The book, called "My Life," has been the subject of a publicity blitz over the past several weeks, including an hour-long interview on "60 Minutes" on Sunday night. It made the cover of Time magazine, and there have been stories in several newspapers about Clinton himself, about the book and even about the publicity of which those stories were a part.
For days before the memoir's release, the popular Drudge Report Web site ran a small section called "Clinton Summer," linking to assorted stories about the book.
That broad publicity blitz, along with Clinton's own still-strong popularity, has translated immediately into sales.
On the day of publication, the memoir became No. 1 on Amazon.com's list of top-selling books. But that wasn't all--the audio CD version was ranked No. 7, the large-print edition No. 8, and the audio cassette version ranked No. 24.
Like the people who stood in line for more than 24 hours to have a front place at the first book signing in Manhattan, at least one reader raced to be the first Amazon customer to post a review.
That reviewer, whose personal Amazon page identified him as a chaplain in Bloomington, Ill. named Kurt Messick, said he had found a bookstore that would let him purchase a copy at midnight on Monday. He gave the book generally good reviews, saying it compared favorably to past presidential autobiographies.
Other reviewers have been less kind. The New York Times' top reviewer called the book "sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull." in a column entitled "A Pastiche of a Presidency" that was forwarded widely around the Web after its publication last Sunday. The Times did provide the entire first chapter of the book for readers who still wanted a look, however.
For bargain hunters, the Web quickly gave a leg up to people seeking a few dollars off the hefty $35 street price. On Tuesday, Amazon was offering a 40 percent discount, pricing the book at $21, while Walmart.com was selling it for $18.90.
And Effin' Kerry is trying to convince as many dupes that its the worst economy since the Great Depression?
Never let it be said that RATS don't know how to waste huge amounts of money...
It just show how stupid liberals are. If they wait a month or so they will be able to buy a copy at any flea market or swap meet for five bucks.
This smells like a PR trick.
...from the 99-cent store.
Hey, I'd be willing to sell these dupes an autographed copy of Clinton's book....Only after they give me their 250-bucks will they discover it contains my autograph.
How much are they asking for one with a genuine stain?
How much for copies with DNA stains?
For a forged signature on a piece of complete fiction? ROFL
If Clinton was a genius he'd sign about 10,000 of the books and donate them to some charity, then claim the 2,500,000 credit on his taxes.
My, my, for $250 you could probably buy a Lewinsky.
Some of those "worshipers" would probably pay ten times that to personally have a go at Monica.
Did he wash his hands before he signed ?
I suggest some enterprising FReeper create a dummy ebay item to sell a Clinton book combined with a sink "reminiscent of that which Clinton finished himself in" - no false advertising involved, you can make a few books (just give any sink you can buy if there are takers) and it'll be mixed in with all the other entries and gross people out! ROFLMAO
What do they pay for stained ones?
Sorry I posted that because I could; and that is probably the most immoral….
I heard one autographed by Limbaugh would get $10,000.
He probably already has....donated them to ACLU or Planned Parenthood......
PR BS?
Some of those "worshipers" would probably pay ten times that to personally have a go at Monica.
I wonder if the $250 figure is an actual auctions price or the minimum price the seller is asking for.
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