Yesterday I went to the local Borders* book store to get "Unfit for Command". I was told by the cashier "we don't have it." He then asked another employee who said "No. We don't have it yet." He then yelled over to a man in a white shirt walking 30 some yards away and repeating the inquiry "When are we getting 'Unfit for Command'?" 3 times, this man who seemed to be in charge lamented that, "I wish I knew." I informed him that it was "# 1 on Amazon" he said, "Yah. Wish I had it. I'd be selling 'em." I asked if he knew when they might arrive. He said, "For some reason the publisher sent them all back east. We didn't get any here in California. I can't say when we'll get 'em."
I thanked him and left.
This morning my glasses broke. I went to Lens Crafters to get them repaired and on the way I stopped at Barnes and Noble, the store on Stevens Creek1. There I was told the same story almost word for word. The publisher had shipped them all back east. I proceeded to Lens Crafters at Westgate Mall2. They couldn't repair my glasses but recommended a repair shop, Optico on South Bascom (I recommend this place highly if you need to get your frames welded).
Anyhow, before leaving Westgate2 I stopped into the Barnes and Noble2 located there and received the same story again. The publisher had shipped them all back east. I thought to myself - how stupid the publisher was because everyone I spoke with said that they had many inquires for the book and wished they had some to sell. I figured well being such a big seller maybe they just ran out due to a limited 1st printing.
I left there and went to Optico to drop off my glasses (that pair is only used for the computer, lest you think I was driving while visually impaired). I left Optico and realized I was fairly close to The Pruneyard3 shopping center. I had an hour to kill before my glasses would be ready so I went there. When I pulled into the parking lot I noticed another Barnes and Noble3 book store. I went in to browse around (by the way, as in all of the other stores, I noticed stacks and stacks and rows and rows and piles and piles of "My Life by Bill Clinton").
I struck up a conversation with the lady at the information booth. I mentioned to her that everywhere I go I see mountains of "My Life" in stacks on the floor. She grinned when I commented on how well they must be selling. We chatted for a few more minutes I told her to have a nice day and as I turned to leave I asked, almost as an after thought, if she had any idea of when they would be getting in "Unfit for Command". She turned around and reached behind her somewhere turned back around towards me and handed me a copy. I was stunned - speechless. I thanked her and went to the front counter, got in line to wait to pay for it. I felt uneasy as I was standing there in line, I opened the book, took off my driving glasses and brought the book up to within inches of my nose (remember my reading glasses were in the repair shop) so I could read the cover liner. After about 30 seconds a lady behind the counter looked over at me (her facial expression got very "serious" when she saw what I was holding up - in front of God and everybody) she quickly called to a young kid said something to him as she pointed to me. He practically ran to a vacant cash register off to the far end of the counter and called me over. I don't know if I was getting the "bum's rush" or what, but as I left the store I think I did actually look up to make sure there was no black helicopters waiting. It was very surreal.
Tonight I checked FreeRepublic.com (as I do every evening) and noticed this thread. It got me thinking.
Just for kicks, I called the Barnes and Noble store on Stevens Creek1, who knows maybe that got their shipments in this afternoon and it was all just coincidental. I asked if they had "Unfit for Command". I was once again told how the publisher sent them all to the east coast. The person that answered said that he had had "...827 people ask for it today...".
I told him to send them all to The Pruneyard3 store because I just bought a copy there. When I pushed him for an answer as to why all three of their store where telling everybody this "east coast" story he sort of hemmed and hawed and thanked me for letting him know. He then hung up!
Make of this what you will - but I got mine!
Sorry for being so long winded - but it was a very strange day...
I gotta go read now...
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| 1 |
Barnes & Noble Booksellers Stevens Creek Blvd 3600 Stevens Creek Blvd San Jose, CA 95117 408-984-3495 |
9-11 Every Day |
| 2 | Barnes & Noble Booksellers Westgate 1600 Saratoga Avenue San Jose, CA 95129 408-370-0444 |
9-10 Every Day |
| 3 | Barnes & Noble Booksellers The Pruneyard 1875 S. Bascom Avenue, Ste 240 Campbell, CA 95008 408-559-8101 |
9-10 Every Day |
A FReeper with a mission is a marvel to behold. Your post at 105 is just what I was looking in posting the thread -- I hadn't been 'collecting' the accounts scattered all over FreeRepublic but there were just so many of them that it seemed something needed to be done to put it all together.
Amazing day - I'm glad your broken glasses resulted in purchase of the book and expose' of the pea-and-shell game.
Loved the footnotes, and the call back to B&N on Stevens Creek.