"Unfit for Command" failing to fly off the shelves...

[Richardo]

...at least according to highly anecdotal evidence based on activity at one B&N (the one I work at in NW Houston - a.k.a the 9th Circle of RW hell).

We got the book in yesterday and have sold way under 50 copies so far.

My theory: Regnery really screwed themselves by getting out the promotional tours in the last week or two, way ahead of the book's distribution schedule, which only got the books into the stores this past weekend. By the time the book got into the store, the debunking and adverse reaction from others like McCain and Tweety had already taken their toll. :D

Plus the $27.00 price tag (!) quashed at least two sales while I was on duty last night.

So in conclusion: BWA-HAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! :evilgrin:

[zappaman]

1. why is it number one at amazon?

I know there is some way that repugs fix the numbers, but not sure exactly how it's done. Are there major amounts of pre-orders that later get cancelled? Would love someone to explain exactly how this is rigged. Thanks.

[Richardo]

2. Bulk orders.

Check out next week's NYT Best Seller list. If the book has a dagger next to it (and most RW books do) that means some individuals or groups are buying 1000s of copies to distribute on talk shows, at fundraisers, etc etc.

As I said - this is based on one store in the middle of an RW-intensive area. No extrapolating to the national market! :spank:

[JHB]

3. Bulk sales

Persons and organizations with money to burn promoting conservative causes buy the book by the boxload, and pass it out free (or cheap) at events, donate it to libraries, etc.

It gives the appearance of high sales (thus raising the book's -- and the cause's -- profile) no matter how many (or few) copies people are actually buying normally.

[Atman]

4. There's no guesswork here

Use some common sense...we knew for sure the sales figures on Bill's book, Hillary's, all the recent best sellers. Fact is, when they are best sellers, the publisher and booksellers know it right away, and they proudly report the numbers. The fact that you have to dig and wait and see at all is pretty telling, imo, that this thing landed with a thud.

Also, think about this...the entire story is already pretty much out there. You've heard the entire thing on every talk show on the planet...what more is there to know? A bunch of pissed off old vets with ties to Karl Rove and the Texas GOP are helping do the party's bidding. Surprise surprise...oh, and it's $27. That's money already budgeted to Benny Hinn. Sorry.

[CatWoman]

5. I'll fly you off the shelves

[Richardo]

6. *I'll* do the thinnin' around here, Bobba...

...and don't you for-git-IT! :hi:

[JHB]

8. Si, Kweeksdraw!

n/t

[CatWoman]

13. ka-BONG!!!

[Newsjock]

7. In Sunnyvale, Calif...

... the local Borders Books had a gigantic display of the book at its main entrance. Only two titles were on display facing the entrance: the 9/11 report, and "Unfit for Command," and there were dozens of each.

Put me in such a foul mood that I ended up spending my $50 at a different bookstore. I've been meaning to write a letter to Borders, but haven't done so yet. I suspect it's probably not even a local decision on their part -- Regenery probably paid for the prime placement of the book, to artificially manufacture the perception that it's a popular book.

[qwlauren35]

9. At first...

I thought your comment was good news...

Until I saw the other responses.

Actually, the book doesn't have to sell to be effective. The title of the book is so damning that the contents are just icing on the cake. The fact that you can walk into a store and get visually bombarded with those words is a media disaster for Kerry. And the idea that conservative groups would pass out the books is equally awkward.

I don't expect even 0.1% of the people who see the book - or even buy the book - to read it. Somehow, I don't think it matters.

Those three simple words "Unfit for Command" are just going to be hard for Kerry to overcome.

[Scairp]

10. I disagree

Don't underestimate the average person on the street. I don't see this as a big problem for Kerry in the long run.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Is it unfit to read?

Just wondering.

[ObaMania]

17. Yes, according to Juan Williams on FAUX News last night.

.. I think he said it was unreadable.

[Richardo]

18. That's quite a statement coming from Juan "Please Like Me" Williams

Dude's the least confrontational "senior correspondent" I've ever heard. :eyes:

[Bunny]

12. Richardo, you are the funniest!

BWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH, indeed! :evilgrin:

[underpants]

14. What they need is to find themselves some of them "readers"

Then they'd be all set.

[Q3JR4]

15. Republicans can read? Could have fooled me... n/t

[Richardo]

16. Readers?

We don' need no stinkin' READERS!

We just need Richard Mellon Scaife to buy 50,000 copies of this book! ;)