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WBraun
climber
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Well Chessler ....
This thread just might be a blessing in disguise for you?
It's a small reflection of your true self and maybe you learned something about yourself form the reactions here?
Seems to be a huge obsession with money?
But that's business = all about money .... the bottom line?
No wonder I'm such a terrible business man .....
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Is there a photo of the cat-bite trick?
In public domain?
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Google "Chesslier Cat."
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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I've never dealt with Chessler, and only know the stories, similar as this thread), which pop up from time to time. I do feel that business is business, but there is more to doing good business than maximizing profit on every transaction. I was able to maximize quite well, on a pair of vintage Celluloid buttons which I bought for $7. I ran 11 inches of commercial grade elastic cording through the shanks, tied an overhand knot, and then tied another in the center, to create this hair accessory:
Then I shot images, edited and, similar to Chessler, posted to my eBoutique, Talisman Studios, which you may find here: http://www.TalismanShops.com
A week later, the item sold, for the listed price of $22, plus shipping. Of course, the gross of $15 was whittled down a bit, but it was still a tidy profit.
I have a different style than Chessler - I would NEVER argue with a client, or potential one, with such aggressive pompousity, as I see going on here. Wen someone buys from me, they get a personal emailed confirmation of the order, and then another on shipping, which includes the tracking number. Usually the entire process is handle within 24 hours, though in cases like now, where I will be in JTNP for the next several days, confirmation may be delayed if a purchase is made today. But I make sure to be in touch within 48 hours, or "hang a sign on the shop window" stating why I will be delayed, and when to expect my return. They never have to wonder what the status is on the items they purchased.
And as of yet, I have 100% satisfied customers. Of course I am miniscule, compared to Chessler, but I gotta say dude - imagine how many MORE of your clients would BE happy and satisfied if you just acted a bit more differently! Negative experiences taint the goods. Clients who had negative interactions during the transaction can never fully enjoy the items they purchased, as they will always have that burr under the saddle memory of the bad experience. With Online marketing communication and follow through is KEY!
At any rate - what started me on this post was the following:
Who the hell pays that much to somebody who is not famous? Being known to rock climbers is not famous.
In the world of your customers, he surely is famous! And it is in extremely poor style to diminish the value of the signature write as a person, as you do in this case.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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bookie seems to be his own worst enemy.
He challenges me to state if I have raised anything and when I do he changes the subject.
It is really difficult to assess whether bookie took advantage without knowing how many signatures he extracted and how much he will mark up items accordingly, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for him to be forthright.
If he has deigned to make his entrance to the taco for the purpose of alienating potential customers then he is doing a bang up job.
Just look how endearing his last email to me was (at least I can only hope it is the last):
There are millions of people dying like Layton is. What makes him special, so special that I should give him anything, or Hillary, or RR, or the others I have paid to sign books? Remember, I offered Layton money before he was sick, he took it only because he needs money now. That was his decision.
Profit is the only way I can generate money to spend it. You can be altruistic if you choose and if are rich, but since you are acting so hostile I doubt if caring for others is in you.
It is arrogant and pretentious to tell somebody else to whom they should contribute money, or to what cause. And even more arrogant in America to say there is something wrong with making a profit, in the same breath where you acknowledge that I did give the man $5250. I was not donating money to him, you idiot! I was paying him a stipend for work done! Not because he needs it, but because my customers will buy it.
How dare you tell me to go on doing what I do, but forgo profit? You sound like an imbecile! Would you ever say that to Yvon, to RR, to the guy who fixes your plumbing?
Have you ever seen a rich bookseller? Or rich anybody with book in his job description except for Stephen King? I mean it when I said you are not "hurting" me, if that is your goal. You are painting yourself as a little man who was hurt because you were left out of my deal with Layton, so you could not claim credit for it.
And what is this bullshit that you could have wheedled more money out of me? How the hell do you know, or care, what I make, spend, earn or give away? I don't even ask my friends how much they make. NOBODY DOES! It's just f*#king rude and you know it, so that was your intent, to be rude. I have gotten personal e-mails from people who see that you are over the edge. Better to shut up now, for your own good.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Although it's been maybe over 30 years since I've tied in with Bill, he's a good dude, and so I have to link it again in case anyone is searching for a special book.
http://jpmountainbooks.com/tempindex.html
Chessler. Have you ever heard the phrase "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"? It applies to the internet as well. I will say as a corollary, that although it's true that you'd do much better with rotten meat than honey or vinegar, I don't think the rotten meat would work well on the internet. Although you can keep trying. So, stick with the honey. Still wishing you the best. Seriously here, I'm glad you exist to help make old classics expensive treasures that will then become valuable and coddled, instead of tossed in the trash as worthless garbage. Maybe the rest of the board should consider this idea. Ie, by monetizing and helping to make old things valuable, they become "keepers" and not just more effluent and trash.
regards!
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 8, 2012 - 05:51pm PT
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jpmountainbooks
A GREAT businessman who understands customer service!
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rand0M aXiS
Trad climber
Beserkeley
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Thanks for the link to jpmountainbooks. I'll never buy another book from this arrogant pissant!!!
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rick d
climber
ol pueblo, az
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One comment, signatures of authors or other famous climbers only have value if the owner of the book sits down and gets an autograph from the climber/writer in person.
Someday the world will learn that having Kor or Eastwood's signature on a book that you bought off someone else means squat. You have to meet them face to face, ask for their initials, and ideal drink at least 2 beers with each one.
Thanks to the 30+ folks that signed and wrote all over my Phoenix Rock book, most are still here but a couple have passed away.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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My bet is that locker would prefer something from the Blue period.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Back in the 60s and 70s, Dawsons Bookstore in LA was a wonderful source but sadly no longer.
Thanks for the tip on jpmountain books.
Another great source is Top of the World Books with a specialty on mountaineering and polar exploration.
http://topworldbooks.com
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DanaB
climber
CT
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Wow. That email that Ron put in his last post is beyond belief. The attitudes, feelings, and opinions that man expressed were very, very distasteful. I'm sure he could care less, but I'll never buy anything from him again.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Meh. If he's got something I gotta have, he's still my go to guy. One of these days when I'm feeling fiscally reckless I'm gonna buy Ascent magazine #2.
Unless, that is, one of you guys have a copy you want to part with.
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bookie
climber
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Did I say I fired my employees? A small mis-statement of a verb. The point is that selling books is no longer a viable occupation in America. Did you all miss that? I could not afford employees anymore.
I think my statements are much more literate than most of the comments here. Just the length, and depth of facts, and spilling of the truth, should tell you that I use words carefully. But I also use sarcasm, irony and humor. When I said I fired my employees, it was part of a sentence that described how my business imploded the month of 9/11. Get over it.
Am I pissing off my customers in this thread? No, my critics on supertopo are just the chattering class, as Tami Knight was kind enough to remind me. I have sold $5,000 of books (and manila ropes) since this thread started, so I am doing all right now, thank you.
Am I hot tempered? Sure. But look at Olevesky's fake photo along with his posts. What does that tell you about the man? He even criticized my photo! Because I chose a snapshot where I am smiling and still had my hair. He started this feud, with unfounded statements about me. Nothing he said about me, or what I do, or what happened with Kor, or what I paid, or what I made, is true. Nothing. He made it all up. How could he know anything, he never asked me. If I am making so much money, how is that that I am the only bookseller in America still making money?
Am I concerned about money? No more than all of you. This thread had 20+ posts, critical of my prices and choice of products to sell before I chimed in. I didn't bring this up. This is thread is about what I sell and for how much. How should I respond? Apologize to people who insulted me out of the blue? If people started buying books from me again, I wouldn't have to sell manila ropes, ice axes and signed pitons.
I sell pitons, and have sold piton hammers, and other obsolete gear. How should I know what some super topo climbing maven will find offense with? I think the ropes are cool actually, and so do my customers.
Was I wrong in this Kor business? I have been thinking about this all day, why am I so upset about being criticized for being so "cheap with him." A few hours ago I realized what it is. I did not raise the price on one book that Kor signed for me after he signed them, except maybe three copies of his own books that nobody had yet signed.
Kor had told me in letters (we used to write letters to each other before the internet) that he never signs books for people. So since 20 other climbers had written in the book, and they are mostly available, I asked some of them to sign Kor's book instead. So when Kor finally signed my books, they were already priced too high to go higher. I made not extra one cent on Kor signing Kor's books!
Except for those three books, he signed books like 50 Classic Climbs that already had other signatures. Every time I get another signature, I don't go back and raise the price. Check my website, for 50 Cl Climbs, I even give away the first signature for free if there is only one, now the 1 signature copies have Royal, they used to be Bridwell or Denny.
And also, I explained that I get signatures in books, and always have, to enhance the ability to sell them. Because it is obvious that selling a normal book at full price is impossible in America anymore. I am not in the philanthropy business, although personally my wife and I donate to charities when we want to. I never said I was giving charity to Kor or anybody else, others did. It was payment for services. I did not give him money because he needs dialysis, there are millions of people on dialysis without insurance like Layton. I gave him money because he is written about in books, and I sell books. And I first called him 15 years ago, just ask him.
My mistake was paying him to sign books at all, as I made NO money on it, except for the pitons. Which he actually got a kick out of, and I can actually sell (after I get another person to sign the other side, and also I have to buy and clean up the darn things in the first place.)
And I will cheerfully pay Kor another $2000 today if he will sit down with me and sign some more pitons for me. Serious offer, I already talked to him in Colorado and he turned me down, don't know why. Ask him for me please.
Michael
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Bwahahaha.
Weld-it re-emerges a Chessler fan! Hey bookie do you even know what that means?
Oh, and my "fake photo" was explained long ago but for your benefit; it is Pacino saying, "Every time I'm out they pull me back in."
Get it?
It isn't a dating site.
Russ really isn't Vince Schlomo. LOL
Just got off the phone with Shorty.
We're talking about a sailing trip.
He doesn't want to hear about the stuff you said, but I guess you're gonna go bug him anyway.
Pitons, huh?
I'm qualified to show you how to place those,....
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Bob ....(BVB American Legend...that Bob..)..I have Ascent 2.....I'll mail it to you;.....it's not signed, it's sort of beat, and it has one little section cut out of it somewhere....but you can have it......post your address and I'll put it in the mail..........and thanks for the friendship and visits together over the years.....(er...decades...).....todd gordon
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Todd and Bob--two of the most amazing dudes anywhere.
Some good comes from this thread! Cool!
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RDB
Social climber
wa
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Man, what a freakin train wreck this one is.
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WBraun
climber
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The point is that selling books is no longer a viable occupation in America.
I think you mean "printed bound books" as "books" seem to be going digital?
No?
how is that that I am the only bookseller in America still making money?
Is this true? You're the only guy making money selling "printed bound books" not the digital versions?
Are the digital version books making money?
Or is this whole thing going down the tubes?
This is a weird thread, LOL
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