Re: Bestseller status

In <3op9ba$l9o@crl3.crl.com>, milne@crl.com (Andrew Milne) wrote:

: A little overwrought, aren't you? Can't stand the thought of all those : people improving their lives through Dianetics and Scientology.

Milne, you're full of shit. You read my entire post, where I specifically asked you the following questions:

1)How many copies of _Dianetics_ did Bridge Publications sell in the latest fiscal year?

2)How many of those copies were sold by orgs or through direct marketing?

3)How many of those copies were sold to book wholesalers and retailers?

4)And, how many of those sold to wholesalers and retailers were returned by them? This would include cover returns.

Four very simple questions. Surely the RTC (which manages the copyrights) would have the information from the royalty statements.

Instead I get you huffing and blowing about Time magazine and the LA Times saying you guys buy up copies of your books to pump up your sales. This is disputed by you. Fine.

But my questions have NOTHING to do with that. I want to know about sales of _Dianetics_. I'm a bookstore manager, and I know about returns, Milne. I suspect you guys print up reams of _Dianetics_, make deals with Daltons or Waldens to display them prominently for three months (with big discounts and a placement fee) and then at the end of the three months, the stores do a cover return of the 98% or so that they didn't sell.

Post the sales and returns figures, Milne. Prove to me that you guys are selling lots of _Dianetics_. I bet you aren't.

: You can of course keep Dianetics off your bookshelf if you wish.

_Dianetics_ is not germane to my business. I sell textbooks.

: I suspect the thought of people getting better makes : you physically sick, but that's your problem not mine.

Milne, you're sick. This is massive dead-agenting, something you guys engage in when you can't answer the question.

Besides, Milne, I have a perfectly good religious belief that answers my questions about the meaning of life and, indeed, it gives my life ultimate meaning--Christianity. Have you heard of it? I bet you have. You've been told it's an implant by your oh-so-precious Source, ElRon, who had this pathetic practice of badmouthing the competition, particularly if the OTVIII materials are to be believed.

: Dianetics recently sold its 17 millionth copy.

Sold to whom? A bookstore with full returns privileges? Or to an end customer? (How much you want to bet it's the former?)

Come on, Milne, tell us how many copies of _Dianetics_ were returned in the last fiscal year. Even the biggest bestsellers have returns. _Dianetics_ is no different. Tell us how many cover returns of _Dianetics_ you guys had from Ingram or B&T or whoever you happen to be fronting it through this month.

: And there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. People are just : going to get better, live better, be happier.

No thank you very much. Jesus saved my life, I don't need your venomous (look at "Veralena" Wallace!) ersatz attempts at salvation through lightening my pocketbook. And given the many testimonies and firsthand accounts published here of the totally despicable morals and ethics that your "Church" promotes, I'm going to do what I can to make sure that you guys are forced to conduct your business in a truly legal and aboveboard manner.

If you want to believe that Elron is the source of your salvation, that you're covered with BTs and Xenu is now in an electronic trap in a mountain (among other things), that's cool. But you've got to start telling the truth about your church's activities, or we'll just tell it for you.

And, yes, every time you talk about "17 million copies of _Dianetics_ sold", I'm going to be on you like a bad penny asking you how many of those copies were really sold, and how many ended up as cover returns.

====================Deana M. Holmes================================ mirele@xmission.com================ You can get anything you want== ===================================at Xenu's Restaurant============ ================Practicing encheferation since 1995================

-- ====================Deana M. Holmes================================ mirele@xmission.com================ Compiler of History of a.r.s == ========You can get anything you want at Xenu's Restaurant========= ================Practicing encheferation since 1995================