| Author | Message | ||
     Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.216.127.61 |
I'm as chuffed as a chuffed thing. I went to Pool market yesterday and looked around the car boot area, only to find an entire box full of Norah Lofts novels and short story collections, some rare and an original trilogy box set intact. The stall chap rounded it to 3 quid the lot, my eyes nearly came out on stalks. The next question is, however, is it ethical to take advantage of a fellows lack of knowledge about the article he's selling to get a bargain? Should I have told him? I's too late now, they're already nestling in my drawer, but are they guilt free ;) | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
My opinion? In today's world of internets, how hard would it have been for him to spend two minutes looking things up? If he's too lazy, he assumes the risk of undercharging. What were you supposed to do? Say "Hey, this should cost more" so he could say "Alright, pay me double"? No, sorry. Not your job. You did nothing wrong; you paid what you were asked to pay. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.243.72 |
That's a difficult one, and I can see Simon's point. Unless you're very wealthy, you can't just offer booksellers additional cash because they somehow deserve it. Once I pointed out to a second-hand bookseller that the book I was buying would normally cost more than the low price charged – in one case (a NOT AT NIGHT series book from the 1930s, with dj, priced at £5) he said "I don't think as books, they're worth that much." From a literary viewpoint he may have had a point – but how many booksellers price according to taste? His shop's gone now, like most of the others. I once read a short story where a couple argue over whether to snap up a fabulously rare first edition being offered for a dollar in a charity fete by some sweet old biddy with poor eyesight. To save their relationship, the finder compromises and signs a cheque for roughly a quarter of the book's value (still a lot of money) – the fundraiser being overjoyed. But this is (a) not a professional bookseller and (b) a story whose main focus is the 'moral code' issue in the couple's relationship (both are male intellectuals from the Deep South). On the whole, I agree with Simon: booksellers who don't check the potential value of items know they will let the odd rarity slip through their hands, but they just don't have the time. Some charity shops hire experts to help them with pricing decisions, which is fair enough. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.243.72 |
Sorry, I mangled the structure of my third sentence. Hopefully the sense is clear. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
I wrote a tale about this very dilemma: 'It Can Also End At Home' in SANITY AND OTHER DELUSIONS. I hope the fate that befalls my fella doesn't befall you, Coral...  | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.243.72 |
Another relevant point, Coral, is that as a collector you invest no end of time and energy looking for good-value purchases, and thus shouldn't feel bad when you find one. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
Actually, now I think, my tale dealt with someone finding a seriously underpriced tome in a charity shop. Perhaps that makes a moral difference? | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.151.125.173 |
"I wrote a tale about this very dilemma: 'It Can Also End At Home' in SANITY AND OTHER DELUSIONS. I hope the fate that befalls my fella doesn't befall you, Coral... :-)" So you did Gary! And very good it was too. gcw | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
Thank you. Trying not to hijack the thread. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.5.14.48 |
The question is moot, because it is my opinion that if you're "fortunate" enough to live long enough, fair-value will be extracted, one way or another.... Pay now, or pay later. I usually try to pay now, because the interest'll kill you. | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.215.237.100 |
OMG, the interest is already killing me! Well, I think I can gloat over my purchases in good conscience then. It IS the sellers resposibility, isn't it? I dread to ask this, but what DID happen to your fella, Gary? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.8.175.44 |
Ramsey touches on this issue in The One Safe Place although he makes the bookseller such an unlikeable character you're glad to see him give away a pair of Lovecraft 1st editions for a fiver. (Detail may not be perfect but that's the gist of that part of the book) | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.167.124.163 |
I came across a first hardback edition of Ballard's Concrete Island at a Danish used bookstore some time back. It was in great condition etc, and I regularly buy books fom this guy. He was selling it for nothing. I actually told him it was probably a pretty expensive book now (I didn't know how much at that point). He checked it out onlne, smiled and sold it to me at his original price. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
>>>dread to ask this, but what DID happen to your fella, Gary? Well, if you buy the book... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
Let's just say that come the conclusion he had a few decidedly unsightly visitors . . . Some of them were still alive. Just. | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
Well done, Coral! And yes, they're guilt-free. Think of all the things you've been overcharged for in your life. It all evens out in the end. Karma 'n stuff. Enjoy your find! | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.215.237.100 |
You're not going to believe this, I've been to a sale at the Heart Foundation shop in town and bought two immaculate David Attenborough hardbacks for 50 pence apiece!!! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
As Niki say, it all comes around in the end. |