Give me that new book before the release date!

[greensinestro]

I remembered this from the early 1990's, back when John Grisham was becoming very popular. I was in a Waldenbooks on a Monday and this old man was complaining about getting the new Grisham book at the time. I think it was "The Chamber", but can't actually remember. He was literally "beating up" this woman, stating she was incompetent and knew she had copies of the new Grisham book in the back. It went something like this:

SC: You know who
BSL: Bookstore Lady

SC: Don't you tell me it won't be released until tomorrow. I know you have copies in the back, and I am the customer that is always right, demanding you get me that book now.

BSL: We don't have copies of this book until tomorrow. Even if we did, we would not be allowed to sell them until the release date.

SC: That's a lie. I demand you get me that book right now. I am not coming back tomorrow.

BSL: (With her sweet smile and voice) That's fine, sir. But, by copyright laws and rules, that book will not be available for purchase until tomorrow, so you will not find it at other bookstores in the area. Plus, other stores could get fined if they put the book out a day early for purchase.

SC: Oh, I will. The owner of the store up the road is a good neighbor of mine

Now, I'm thinking to myself, why the hell aren't you at that store if this is a good neighbor of yours? The most likely reason is because he fights with this neighbor, or he wanted to intimidate BSL. I can't imagine if this man does the same thing at music stores, or video stores.

[AnaKhouri]

Most people are understanding about street dates but we occasionally get those ass clowns who think they can bribe you or intimidate you into giving it to them before hand. I don't get to take the new Harry Potter or whatever home before the street date, so you definitely don't get to!

Had one guy offer me $20 to give him HP7 a couple days before the release date. I told him $20 didn't cut it. He asked what would and I told him he would have to pay my salary until I am 62 and can retire, since by giving him the book I would be fired and probably blacklisted from every other bookstore in town. He would also have to pay the tens of thousands of dollars that my store would be fined if anyone learned they sold the HP7 book before the street date.

That shut him up right quick.

[Demonoid Phenomenon]

All of that fuss over a Grisham book?
I guess somebody has to buy the things.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

We're getting the same bullshit over the Wii Fit game, which comes out in a week or so.

[powerboy]

To be honest, one of my friends got a book before the street date. But she had met the author, I forgot how and where. And he gave her his book signed and everything.

[Becks]

Wow, that SC hit all the buzzwords, didn't he?

[crazylegs]

Wow, that SC hit all the buzzwords, didn't he?

Do you reckon we could come up with a bingo card with certain buzz words, enter them onto the site and see if raps gives us a prize?

[Becks]

Oooooh, good idea!!!

[Casino Jockey]

i was in a gamestore when a guy offered the staff $100 above retail for a copy of GTA IV.. this was i think 3 days before release... i had my hand on my wallett cos i would have paid it as well

they said no and he left tho

[PepperElf]

so no asking for the new Odd Thomas book before may 20th then? jk!

[greensinestro]

so no asking for the new Odd Thomas book before may 20th then? jk!

I would have to say "no" to that. I read the first one anyhow and still am trying to figure out exactly what I read.

[PepperElf]

i know... just kidding. i'm going to order it or see if it's avail on itunes after the release date. the guy reading the book has a good voice that i can really imagine as being Oddie's voice.

[Seenoevil]

WHAT?! There's another Odd Thomas book coming out soon!! /booklust


On-topic: If he didn't want to come back he should have just pre-ordered the book and had it delivered on the release date.

[freaktard]

On-topic: If he didn't want to come back he should have just pre-ordered the book and had it delivered on the release date.

Yes, that would have made sense. Which is the whole problem, of course!

[rerant]

I don't get to take the new Harry Potter or whatever home before the street date, so you definitely don't get to!

The funny thing is, at least here, after the first three books I've never seen a bookstore sell out of Harry Potter books or movies.
All of them had pre-sales with a deposit where they'd hold the book for you, which I took advantage of, but none of them ever actually ran out of books.
So what the hell did people go so crazy for? It's not like the story changes if you get it the day of or the day before the release.


Although I shouldn't talk, because all my HP books and movies were bought on release dates. But I wouldn't bribe someone to get it a few hours sooner.
Laaaaame.