Democrats Cozy Up to Wall Street While Shunning Corporate Cash

[NurseJackie]

37. So, when the "best seller" status is artificially raised... it results in more sales?

So, when the "best seller" status is artificially raised... it results in more sales? And that benefits the legislator as well. How fortunate for him (or her) that things work out that way.

I remember reading that this was an unethical technique that was used by the Church of Scientology to make it appear as though "Dianetics" was a national bestseller. --- Before things were highly computerized and trackable, the "church" would buy in bulk from a few key retailers/distributors who reported their sales to the NYT staff. The NYT then used that data to estimate which books were selling well nationally.

Only, "Dianetics" was NOT selling well nationally. It was selling well at THOSE key outlets... and the NYT incorrectly assumed that the church's strategic and unethical purchases meant the title was performing well nationally.

And then, for the wholesale purchases, the church would return the title in bulk... and maybe they'd pay a small "restocking fee". But, the wholesalers did not report the number of RETURNED units to the NYT Bestseller staff. They only reported the "sold" units.