S.o.s.

[Amalthea]

In book terms, it stands for Strict on Sale. These are the highly anticipated books, usually by bestselling authors, and they have a solid date, before which we are NOT ALLOWED TO SELL THEM. This is basically to give every store a chance to get their copies in before the mad rush hits. There are huge fines associated with breaking the SOS date. Anyhow, SOS dates are almost ALWAYS Tuesday (exceptions being Harry Potter, which Jo can release any day she damn well feels like it, and the last book of the Series of Unfortunate Events which is being released this upcoming Friday the 13th) So, anyway, I got this today.

SC: I'm looking for the latest John Grisham book.
Me: You know, I think his latest actually comes out tomorrow. Let me check. ::checks computer:: Yes, his newest, "The Innocent Man" comes out tomorrow.
SC: So, will you for sure have it in tomorrow?
Me: Yes. We actually have it in already, but we're not allowed to sell it until tomorrow.
SC: You can't sell it to me today?
Me: (Hello! What did I just say?) No, I can't. There are huge fines associated with doing that.

I learned my lesson. A guy came up later asking about the Vince Flynn book that comes out tomorrow.

C: So, will you for sure have it in tomorrow?
Me: Yes. Yes we will.

[batmoody]

They do that with movies too. We'll get in a case of some movie, but we arent allowed to put it on the shelf until a certain date.

[Spiffy McMoron]

I learned my lesson. A guy came up later asking about the Vince Flynn book that comes out tomorrow.

C: So, will you for sure have it in tomorrow?
Me: Yes. Yes we will.

It's only a lie if they find out about it. Let's just keep it our little secret, hmm?

[Amalthea]

It's only a lie if they find out about it. Let's just keep it our little secret, hmm?

It wasn't a lie. We will have it in tomorrow. Cuz it's sitting in the back right now, waiting to be put out on display tomorrow. I just didn't inform him that we had it in today, not wanting a repeat of the previous incident.

Man, I really wanted to say to that lady:

"No, I can't sell it to you TODAY, because I just said we can't sell it until TOMORROW, and TODAY is not TOMORROW! DUH!"

[lordlundar]

They do that with movies too. We'll get in a case of some movie, but we arent allowed to put it on the shelf until a certain date.

Yup, and the law in Canada is that if it is sold before the release date, the active participants serve a period in jail for 6 months, and the company is fined $10,000 per copy. Good incentive to say no, huh?

I had a customer ask me to sell a copy a day early.

SC: Can I get it today instead of tommorow?
ME: I'm afraid not, the law prohibits it.
SC: Well, what's the penalty?
ME: 6 months in jail for all active participants, and a $10,000 fine to the company per copy.
SC: So?
ME: I will go to jail and lose my job.
SC: So? As long as I get my movie, why should I care?
ME: A) I am not going to ruin my life just because you're impatient, and B) I said all ACTIVE participants. This means you as well. Are you willing to ruin your life for a $20 movie?
SC: Well, they won't catch me, they'll only catch you.
ME: Get out.

[Spiffy McMoron]

SC: Well, they won't catch me, they'll only catch you.

Apparently, this dolt forgot that you have all of his information-including name, phone number, address, and possibly credit card number-on file, and that you would be MORE than willing to hand it over to the authorities if you were so inclined. In fact, the police would probably DEMAND it. Dumkopf.

[skeptic53]

ME: Get out.

"Door's to your left"

[Lulu]

ahh embargoed titles!! A fellow bookseller with whom to suffer So far this week, I've been asked to "slip a copy of Series of Unfortunate Events out early" on average 3 times a day. Get a GRIP people!! it's a BOOK, life as you know it will not come to an end if you do not have the thing in your hand before everyone else...good grief, if ya that desperate, go buy it from Amazon since they seem to be immune to the whole embargo issue and frequently break it with no consequences!

Let's not even discuss the hell of a new harry potter eh

[Jester]

ME: I will go to jail and lose my job.
SC: So? As long as I get my movie, why should I care?
ME: A) I am not going to ruin my life just because you're impatient, and B) I said all ACTIVE participants. This means you as well. Are you willing to ruin your life for a $20 movie?
SC: Well, they won't catch me, they'll only catch you.

This asstard is forgetting that he can't get said item without your cooperation. And one way I have found to definitely NOT get someone's cooperation in something illegal or underhanded is to make it clear to them that their fate matters not at all to you.

Not exactly Dale Carnegie-type persuasion this Real Man of Genius is using, is it?