F&SF Forum » The Process of Writing

1. BrianJackson
   Member

   Thanks Laura,

   I'd like the disc, I just don't know why it's so expensive, or why it's not in print right now. It seems illogical.

   I would change the plastic case the minute it got here. At the end of the day I'm paying all the money for two little sheets of paper and a 10 cent plastic disc. I can't see spending damn near $40 (after shipping costs) for that. It's just not worth it. I'll bet before too long, some seller in Oklahoma or something will agree with me and post a copy of this CD for a reasonable price.

   I'll buy *that* one, and sidestep being gouged. And shame on you for gouging, actually. You know that disc isn't worth what you're charging, you're just milking it for everything at the expense of true fans of the music, whereas you only see the disc as a commodity; value determined by the marketplace.

   Well, if more buyers like myself keep their money in their wallets, the prices will drop. That's the way it works.

   Brian Jackson

   Posted 1 month ago #

2. myshortname
   Member

   what on earth is this post about and why is it here? david :)

   Posted 1 month ago #

3. BrianJackson
   Member

   Personal mystique?

   Posted 1 month ago #

4. tiger
   Member

   definitely not

   Posted 1 month ago #

5. BrianJackson
   Member

   The Process of Writing?

   Posted 1 month ago #

6. vantheo
   Member

   I don't get it what are you trying to say :D

   Posted 4 weeks ago #

7. JohnWThiel
   Member

   Isn't the title heading a name, used out in the country?

   Posted 4 weeks ago #

8. BrianJackson
   Member

   This is a letter I wrote as reply to an online merchant who was trying to pass off a used copy of James Brown's "Get on the Good Foot" (1972 double LP set on 1 CD) for $29.99, and who had kindly offered to let the disc go for a discounted $26.99

   I got the disc for $6.99 the next day, $9.97 including shipping costs. Perfect shape. So I bet on myself and I won, like always.

   I consider it right up there with "The Payback", and "Hell". Does anyone else have it? It's a wild ride of a double album from a guy previously known for 20 years primarily as a *singles* artist. It's not as tight as "The Payback" and it's loose and weird like a Zappa album. He takes the basic highs/lows of his Star Time show and redoes them in the studio, he lets an aged Hank Ballard rap with slurred voice all over an instrumental that declares it James Brown's World. Then in another song he makes Ballard shout that James is Soul Brother Number 1. It seems like an exercize in besting a former rival. I dunno, I am still taking it in, but I highly recommend it at a reasonable price. It's fascinating.

   Posted 4 weeks ago #

9. econtheory
   Member

   Hey, Brian. This may be a bit rambling so forgive me if this post seems a tad disjointed but... prices are set by the market, not individual, w/ the exception of monopolies of course. Your example shows this. You weren't willing to pay $26 and simply waiting a few days allowed you to get it for $10. (I must assume that this is an uncommon cd though as $26 seems quite high for most cds) This also seems to indicate that the market clearing price for this cd is also less than $26, as that one did not sell. I have a friend who made a great remark about collectibles while we were out shopping once. He said to me, "you know I think some of the guys on the web just have their books, comics, cds jacked up so high because they really do not want to sell them, but this way, they can show their wives/girlfriends they are actually online for sale, and if the items do actually sell, they get plenty of money out of it so they don't feel bad about it, and may even have made enough to rebuy the item and still make a profit." I had to laugh, as he really seemed to identify why some online items are just ridiculously overpriced. Also the other great thing about the internet is most items show up eventually. I needed 1 final book to complete my SFBC 50th Anniversary collection; Asimov's "The End of Eternity." The first time/s I looked all I could find were ex-library copies which I definately did not want. But a few weeks diligence paid off. About 3 weeks later I picked up an excellent as new very fine copy for little more that the ex-library copies were priced at.

   Posted 3 weeks ago #

10. BrianJackson
    Member

    Good post, econtheory. I totally agree with your buddy's observation

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

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