Anodyne
Sunday, October 17, 2004
 
Why are you posting at 5:24 am? (instant replay in bold)

Great big book sale (this year they advertised "120,000 books," which, based on previous years, is probably accurate) in Undisclosed Location (Fraser Valley) at 7am! (already underway when we arrived; probably 80,000-85,000 books, not counting kids' books and series romance)

The Pulpfiction All Stars: Chris B., Chris C., other Chris C. the bookscout, Chris C. the bookscout's friend (didn't show), Abe, Keith and Gavin from Book and Comic Emporium (slept in -- forcibly rousted from bed and packed into the car).

Hopefully the sight of so many intensely focused, hyper-caffeinated men at the head of the lineup will instantly put every less commited dealer off their game.

(This roll call all the more amazing considering that prompting used booksellers to do anything as a group before 9am is like herding cats)

Q: Why so much overkill?

A: Unnamed Local Competitor, who, for several years running, hired what seemed like every kid from the local high school, stuffed them all into fluorescent yellow t-shirts bearing his business' name, and parked them at the head of the line. Dealers arriving more than 5 minutes after the sale started were able to spot every good book in the sale -- stacked up in the 18-24 shopping carts up by the cash desk, wrapped up with yellow crime scene tape and a handwritten note reading, "[Unnamed Local Competitor] -- SOLD." (1 VW Jetta of books returned to Vancouver through pouring rain, old Smiths tunes accompanying us through showers and snow up on the Cheam Range).

- posted by cjb @ 5:24 AM


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