rlg@desktalk.com (Richard L. Gralnik) (01/09/91)
Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Many thanks to all who responded to my RFI on Michael Padlipsky's book (including Mr. Padlipsky). The book received decidedly mixed reviews. Nevertheless, I am curious to check it out for myself if only out of historical/cultural interest. The story from Prentice-Hall - (800) 223-2336, don't be fooled when they answer the phone "Simon & Schuster" - is that the book costs $31.50. It is currently on back order, and has been since April 1990. I will probably call UCLA's used bookstore (note to MAP if you see this - my company is located in Torrance and is connected via ISI. Howdy neighbor!) to see if they have a copy available. Thanks again, Richard Gralnik (rlg@desktalk.com)
PADLIPSKY@A.ISI.EDU (Michael Padlipsky) (01/15/91)
Richard Gralnik
and other possibly interested parties
(but not, of course, jqj)--
I hope and trust it does not constitute Abuse of List to explain in
public why Simon&Schuster told you The Book was "on back order";
after all, this is a correction of inadvertantly misleading prior
material, Not A Solicitation To Buy.
At any rate, since I knew that either there was an error somewhere
or Simon&Schuster had hired an accountant from the movie industry,
based on having received royalties for only around half the number of
copies in the print run, I just spent what felt like all day on the
phone and learned a few interesting things:
1. When Simon&Schuster acquired Prentice-Hall, somebody gave 800
Information Simon&Schuster's number in Prentice-Hall's name, BUT
Prentice-Hall still does have its own 800 numbers. (Since it would
presumably be improper for me to post the latter, I suggest that IF
anybody happened to be trying to get The Book and couldn't find one of
the stores that still carry it, the thing to do would be to call the
advertized Prentice-Hall 800 number and if Simon&Schuster answers,
insist on being transferred to Prentice-Hall--or, if going
through a friendly bookstore, alert them to the necessity of talking
to Prentice-Hall, not Simon&Schuster.)
2. Simon&Schuster and Prentice-Hall "dual list" some titles;
Simon&Schuster personnel are SUPPOSED to refer people to Prentice-Hall
when Simon&Schuster shows THEY are out of stock for such titles,
since Prentice-Hall isn't necessarily out also--as they aren't w/r/t
The Book, as it happens.
3. Simon&Schuster's database is garbaged even w/r/t the binding that
corresponds to the ISBN (0-13-268111-0 is the paperback, not the
hardcover), as well as w/r/t availability.
4. Prentice-Hall apparently won't take personal orders over the
phone (just orders from stores that have accounts), and their Mail
Order department doesn't have an 800 number, but if you ask for Mail
Order's address when (well, IF and when) you get through to the
Prentice-Hall Customer Service 800 number, you should be able to get it.
(Again, I don't want to use the List for commercial benefit--however
pathetically small the royalties are--so won't post the address here,
though presumably I wouldn't have to be so punctilious as to decline
to respond to direct inquiries.)
5. Even Prentice-Hall thinks the hardcover's out of stock, which doesn't
correspond to the numbers I've seen so I might still be interested
in whether anybody on the List happens to know Art Buchwald's lawyer ...
but, then, they've raised prices so many times that I'd scarcely expect
anybody to spring for the hardcover anyway. (And please be aware that
I ALWAYS wanted them to price The Book for the "mass", rather than the
textbook, market--not for fear of later being kvetched at by those who
didn't pay proper attention to the subtitle and felt they'd not gotten
what they'd bargained for, but just because it would have been
gratifying to get to a second printing even if it made the royalties
bathetic rather than pathetic--but authors don't get to set prices.)
thanks for your interest,
thanks to those who were kind enough to post positive comments,
apologies--or, more accurately, regrets--for the FUs,
and
cheers to all,
map
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