TAJ Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 We have been to a few events at the Cheltenham Literature festival - many famous faces and signing their latest books. Do you think it is acceptable that people then sell these on within 24 hours to make a profit? I went to a talk by J K Rowling where she talked about and read from her new book, The Casual Vacancy. Afterwards she signed copies (1st editons of her 1st adult novel). The rules were one copy signed per event ticket, only the new book and no personal dedications, but there were familes buying 4 copies of the same book and getting one signed each - surely 1 household doesn't need 4 copies of the same book? If you look on Ebay people are already selling these books for £100s, just 24 hours later. So the author gives her time to sign things for her 'fans' and there are people buying a book for £20, getting it signed and selling it straight on for £300-£400. I just think it is wrong - as an author they could have signed and sold them themselves, or signed them for a charity auction. I think this is why people are less inclined to give autographs, etc these days. There were people complaining because she wouldn't sign their copies of Harry Potter (an email was sent saying this would be the case a week before the event) - someone walking back to the car park was complaining that 'it was nothing for her to do' (sign his book) and it would be worth thousands if it was signed! What do you think of these practices? Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Hmmm, it's a bit sharp and greedy isn't it? Especially if numbers of the book are limited and others aren't able to get one as families are snaffling them. I find it greedy and acquisitive myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I don't like that people do this. I felt it was greedy when people were putting their Olympic torches on ebay for many thousands. Only a few were donating the money, or part of, to charity.The majority were keeping it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 Another session I was at the day before (same literature festival) the author said at the end he had left 30 copies of an earlier book at the front if anyone wanted them (for free). With a room of 120 people I was amazed at the guy who took 3 copies! He didn't feel the least bit guilty and was walking around with them in a stack in his hand, whilst many people were disappointed to leave without a copy - how can they do it and not realise it is wrong? tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Greed & money...etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 It doesn't surprise me. Some people are like that and I don't think it's anything new, the internet is just a new market to fleece other people. They're a bit like black marketeers during the war time, people still even sell other people to get their hands on some money. Also authors aren't there being nice, they're also there to make money out of the public. It's their job, J.K.Rowling is no fool. Like most celebs she's quite happy to sell her soul to the media when she has something to sell. Those are my views, cynical and grumpy. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Greedy, but not illegal, or surprising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 If people are daft enough to pay that much for a signed copy when they are being given away so freely, more fool them. No doubt there will be many more book signings and I don't think the price is going to hold up. Yes it's greedy, but that's life - I wouldn't do it, you wouldn't do it, but if there's a market out there then people will take advantage of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Well,I am not so sure. You have to speculate to accumulate & all that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I can't get too excited about it, although I wouldn't do it myself. I'm sure that the authors know exactly what goes on and, if they are happy to sign their books in that knowledge, then so be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 It seems a bit greedy to me.. ...but I can see that from the other side of things it generates buzz and publicity about the author, just the fact that the books are being sold on for so much. It also creates a market. I guess there is nothing to stop the author (through another person) also arranging for signed copies to be sold on Ebay etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I hate greed Who are these people paying hundreds? It will be a long time before they can make a profit themselves so presumably they are just doing it to have a piece of celebrity, which is also sad, books are written to be read not collected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 A bit like those folks on our Freegle who I caught out collecting free stuff and ebaying it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I think it's greedy & should be limited to one per person. Then if you want to sell it a few years down the line ( buy as an investment) - fair enough. It's wrong & quite insulting for the author. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 I feel the same way when you see people on programmes like Flog It when they say that they bought a particular item from a charity shop only recently, suspecting that it was valuable. They then sell it for hundreds and keep all the money for themselves. I would feel morally obliged to give most of it back to the charity. On the plus side, my YD worked in a charity shop for a while and a lovely gentleman used to come in and look through her new stock and point out pieces that he thought she should take to the local auction rooms for a valuation. Sadly there were no real treasures. Greed does horrible things to people. I do think the people paying hundreds for a recently signed book by a living author are perhaps a bit deluded ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Whats the reason for the "no personal dedications, " rule ? If she included the name of the recipient, wouldn't that lower its value to a 3rd party and cut down on this sort of thing ?? H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Because it would take the author much longer to sign each book,therefore maybe she wouldn't have time to do them all. But I agree,it would be a means to an end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 It's horses for courses IMHO, when hardback books cost ~£20 in the first place, there's greed on both sides of the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
