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As a species, booksellers suffer few maladies specific to our profession. In fact, if asked to cite even one, most of us would probably draw a blank. However (and what better purpose does a newsletter serve than to alert its readers to these obscure facts?), the Bookologist can document two.
Most widespread, perhaps, is BBN, or common Book Buyer's Neck: an acute pain in the base of the neck caused by frequent tilting of the head to read titles on spines of books. No known cure, unfortunately, though it's been suggested that targeted massage is helpful in assuaging symptoms, especially if preceded by a tumbler of pinot noir, and of course repeated as necessary.
Another malady is BFS, or Biblio Fatigue Syndrome. Rarely diagnosed, let alone treated successfully, BFS typically infects book buyers who shop in competitive venues. Most are totally unaware they are carrying the disease. Symptoms may include an elevated pulse rate and/or furtive, darting eye movement, but the definitive indication of BFS is fatigue, the profound depth of which cannot be readily explained by a level of physical activity which, let's face it, resembles at best a brief session of English darts.
BFS is acutely epidemic at estate sales where competing book dealers are yanking books off shelves on either side of the victim with annoying bursts of triumph, such as "Yes!" or "I've been looking for this all my life!" or, worst of all, "Oh, my God!" At long last, causes of this deeply misunderstood disease will be explored in this issue's feature article on flashpoints - part II of our series on buying books for resale. A curative treatment will also be proposed. If you think we're kidding, think again.
Due to the length of this issue's feature article, the Bookologist's Glossary of Terms will resume in the May 7 issue, two weeks from today, with an examination of boards. Boards? Boards. Those stiff things that cover books. Did you know that they once actually were boards? Wood, we mean? In keeping with this, the featured repair, appearing in the same issue, will offer a straightforward solution for warped boards. Get your C-clamps and misting bottles ready.
Finally, this month's bookselling tip will address the controversial issue of posture namely, the position you assume when you price your books. If a difficult buyer characterizes the opening bid, Buy-It-Now, or reserve you've put on a book as obscene, do you assume the posture of the power dealer or that of a shrinking violet? How does posture affect your profits?
Get the real skinny here.
Craig Stark, Editor
Email: craig@bookologist.com
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