Kay Withers -----Original Message----- From: Bob Francis <darby@visi.net> To: KYHARRIS-L@rootsweb.com <KYHARRIS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, June 25, 1999 1:27 PM Subject: [KYHARRIS-L] Perrin Project--a few thoughts >To one and all, > >I am at a bit of a dilemma and need your help in deciding what to do. I >feel obligated to send a Perrin Book Project update to the group in >spite of the very vocal objection of one individual. His tone and >wording was ugly, ugly, ugly! Believe it or not, I'm a rather sensitive >fellow who doesn't do all that well when lamblasted. However, I do >understand the fellow's genuine concern that our genealogy groups remain >"non-commercial;" i.e., no selling of books for the sake of making a >profit. > >Now, many of you know me well by now (though we may never have met in >person) and understand that my motives for introducing this project were >as white as the driven snow. I never intended, nor will I ever intend, >to make a profit off of the group for the sake of making a profit. I >took on this project because I wanted the Perrin book to come back into >circulation. My reason for wanting the book back into circulation was >practical and pragmatic. I tried purchasing the book through >out-of-print booksellers and was told that the going price for the book >was $395.00. Recently, one of our group was able to get an offer at >$325.00--still WAY too expensive for the average buyer. I reasoned at >the time that perhaps I could find a way to bring the book back into >print at a reasonable price. I worked with a local book store owner in >Paris, Kentucky, with the hopes that we could bring the book back into >print through her. She called me after a couple of months and said that >she would have to charge at least $65 for the book, not counting >shipping costs and sales tax. She then offered to bow out of the deal >and let me contact the publisher directly. We both reasoned that since >I was not in the bookselling business, I could offer the book at a much >cheaper rate. As it turned out, she was right. I guess I could have >charged $65 for the book and reaped a nice profit from it, but making >money was not my purpose for having the book published. > >The publisher was willing to do a reprint, however, his deal was that I >had to purchase the books upfront. This meant that I had to pay the >full amount for the books, including shipping, before he would even >begin to print them. The cost was $6290.00 for 250 books. Now, that's >a lot of money! At this juncture, I turned to you, my fellow >genealogists, and asked if you were interested in helping make this >dream an actuality--and you overwhelmingly responded YES. It was then >and only then that I proceeded ahead. I did so NOT TO MAKE MONEY but to >bring this great classic back into publication. > >Now, did I make a profit on it? Yep. I did. I guess our fellow would >have been happier if I took a loss on it? Perhaps losing my shirt would >somehow make me a less greedy fellow? What he is not taking into >consideration is the time and energy that I have put into this project, >not to mention the many long hours I have to look forward to when the >shipment arrives. I will be up to my ears in Perrin books that I will >have to box, label, and ship. I have had to buy supplies, sit down >every night for a couple of hours at a stretch writing out mailing >labels, not to mention maintaining the order list and making sure >everything is accurate and everyone taken care of. > >So, tell me fellow genealogist, should I post the Perrin update to our >lists or should you write to me to find out where you stand on the >order? Help me out here, because frankly, I'm at a loss. I know what >my friend Bill McCray and some others will say--Bob, don't worry about >it! But sadly, it's in my nature to be liked and loved. > >Well, that's all folks. I would suggest that you respond to me >privately because I know what happens in these situations. Folks >sometimes go on a "flame-out" campaign. I don't want the fellow who >sent the nasty gram to receive, in turn, nasty grams from any of you. >That only purpetuates ugliness. Always, and at every moment, be kind >and considerate. > >Thanks for your time. > >Bob > >The "nasty-gram" in all its ugly glory: > >> From: Donald L. Furnish <donlfurnish@copper.net> >> To: Jo Thiessen <jog1@ix.netcom.com> >> Cc: Bob Francis <darby@visi.net> >> Subject: Francis & Perrins >> Date: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 1:45 AM >> >> Ms. Thiessen, >> I would hope that Bob Francis has abused his privileges enough by now. > >> Isn't his role at this site to help maintain the info instead of >selling >> it or has the Harrison-L gone commercial? >> I need the info that is, or should I say was, available at this site, >> but I do not need to see his Perrin sales or anything about it again. >> I do not think that the charter for the Gen Web includes this or his >way >> of getting and maintaining the site info. >> TWENTY-THREE messages are twenty-two too many! >> He has his own web site, WHY ISN'T HE USING IT??? >> >> Don Furnish >> Whose GGGGrandfather came to Harrison Co. in 1784. >> > >