DiscountGate

Dear Nicholas

I am disappointed that you lack the wherewithal to even enter the bargaining process, which is a generic feature of the secondhand trade worldwide. The price requested for a secondhand item is not absolute, and should be susceptible to some negotiation in the spirit of maintaining a mutual satisfying relation between the merchant and his customer. Nevertheless, I would still like to purchase the Poetry and Life anthology. Is it possible to email me banking details such that I can transfer direct to your account? Please let me know a.s.a.p.

F.

P.S If you have reconsidered pricing of the ietm, please also indicate

Dear F,

Likewise, I am disapointed that you feel it neccessary to behave in a rude and patronising manner, and and am suprised (though not especially so) that you believe such an approach would cause me to reconsider offering you a discount. Despite what you assert, there is no tradition in the world of second hand bookselling of offering a discount to all those who ask - the only such tradition is that of offering a ten percent discount to our colleagues in the trade. With respect, I am certain I am more familiar with the traditions of bookselling than you are.

We do not allow a margin for offering discounts to customers without reason; in order for us to do so, and to budget for the time consuming bargaining process you cherish so, we would have to increase our prices, which would simply penalize the overwhelming majority of customers who do not ask for discounts.

Direct deposit details follow. I would appreciate it if you could let us know when a deposit has been made, so we can get the book off to you. Likewise, if you would prefer not to continue with the order, I would appreciate being advised of that also.

Yes, I'm arguing with the customers again, always a sign that everything is not right in my world. Still, nobody questions my wherewithal and gets away with it. DiscountGate errupted over the question of whether F should pay $20 or $22.50 for an anthology of Catholic poetry that I bought six months ago from the much-missed Cronstalk dollar shelf. F eventually bought the book anyway, despite my insults - unfortunately, without any further whining. A shame; I could have gone a few more rounds.

I seem to be a little miserable lately, particularly today; angry at nothing in particular and having difficulty finding meaning in anything much I do with my days. The Newcastle Young Writers' Festival is on; I would have liked to have gone; a lot of my friends are going, and it would have been fun. Unfortunately work prevents me.

I am re-reading Elizabeth Wurtzel's terribly entertaining memoir of Ritalin addiction, More Now Again, which has the effect on me that it has on everyone - namely, it makes me want to go out and snort Ritalin. Simultaneously, I continue to consider the possibility of planning a potential effort to one day think about whether or not I'm going to quit smoking sometime soon. I think... maybe. The plans for next year involve not spending much money, which is my main motivation - that and the way my lungs don't seem to be well-equipped for smoking. There are people who've been smoking two packs a day for thirty years who cough less than I do, it's sort of embarassing.

I have the Karate Kid I, II and III on DVD to watch tonight. Unfortunately lacking The Next Karate Kid - my second-favourite installment, with Hillary Swank as a new, female pupil for the wise old Mr Miyagi.

Ah, crap, the neighbours are arguing again - this is getting ridiculous. Last week he locked her in the apartment and she had to climb over my balcony to escape. Their arguing stamina is truly extraordinary, and despite my intimate familiarity with their disputes over who has whose keys, who paid for the pot, who slept with who, etc, I'm still not sure who is at fault.I wouldn't want to be dating either of them, that's for sure.

I know this is a pointless, whiny post, but at least it's something new to read, on the off-chance you're like me and constantly frustrated by the lack of anything new to read on the internet and spend your time clicking reload on various sites, waiting for something different to appear. OK, off to watch Karate Kid movies. I can't imagine why I feel my life is devoid of meaning. At least I'm going out tomorrow night, and yes Tim trivia on Monday would be fun. Maybe Mr Miyagi will have some homilie that will strike a chord with me, help get me out of my rut.

posted by Nicholas @ 8:23 PM