[John Whitworth]

I thought I might alert you to the fact tha you can buy a copy of my poetry book 'Tennis and Sex and Death' for £189. I wonder if any of you have an inkling how Amazon arrive at a price like that.

[Ed Shacklee]

It's like what Lucy Van Pelt said about the $5 dollar sign on her lemonade stand: you only need to sell one. If I understand the business model correctly, they're figuring there's a Whitworth fanatic out there -- or a soulless collector -- who doesn't have it yet. By the way, I'd be willing to part with my not-so-gently used copy for £172 plus shipping, if you give me a couple of days to photocopy some of the poems.

Ed

[Roger Slater]

Amazon sells on behalf of many independent sellers who can set their own prices, and often do so with crude computer formulas based on how long the book has been out of print, etc. It's quite silly, of course, and I imagine if you contacted the vendor you could negotiate something less reflective of the book's infinite appeal.

[Jean L. Kreiling]

John--

The title of course! It must have set into motion some complicated algorithm that recognized its brilliance!

I just received my copy of Girlie Gangs from them, at a much lower price, and I dove right in--well rewarded with salty refreshment. Had to stop temporarily at "Faith Zone" to savor its wisdom and craft . . .

Best,
Jean

[John Whitworth]

Shhh! Jean don't you tell 'em. If it wasn't for the shipping I'd buy my copies at Amazon and not from my publisher.

I have a copy of Tennis and Sex and Death and I expect my daughter has one somewhere too. It's interesting to think why THAT book is in much shorter supply (like there's 1) than any other one. It was my first from Peterloo. Perhaps the sainted Harry Chambers did a very short print run until he found out what an excellent chap I was. Yes, that must be it.

[Ed Shacklee]

It might be an autographed copy, or Amazon might be a bunch of heartless pirates. There's a copy in Ireland, listed at being a 1st edition in 'very good' condition, which is going for a mere $25, plus shipping ($11 or so to the States) at ABE Books, here. It's well worth the price.

Ed

[John Whitworth]

First Edition? They are all first editions. And I rather think the autographed copies outnumber the virgin ones. What the hell is it doing in Ireland? Must be the one I gave to Seamus Heaney. Or the other one I gave to the Taoiseach (Teasock), whoever he was

[Tim Murphy]

Jeff Bezos' Amazon engages in a pricing strategy intended to eliminate every publisher and competing bookstore in the world. I've served as a financial consultant to several publishers, and I've seen how that bastard uses his muscle to crush competition. Order your Thanksgiving turkey from him with guaranteed next day delivery, and buy his common stock, not his stock of books.

[Janice D. Soderling]

What! and put all the independent turkey sellers out of business!!!

(Yust a yoke, Tim.)

[Ann Drysdale]

I am disappointed by all the "independent" booksellers on eBay whose items are then mysteriously delivered direct from Amazon. Sheesh - who can you trust nowadays?

Although my subsequent publishers hold copies, I am the sole stockholder for all my Peterloo volumes and if anyone orders one in a bookshop, the shop goes to Nielsen Bookdata, who send the order through to me. I am required to give a discount that is greater than the author discount when I purchased them and I have to pay the shipping to the shop. It therefore costs me money. No yoke.