I saw the strangest thing on Twitter yesterday. An author (for the life of me, I can't remember who! 
) went to a bookstore to sign her newest release. Out of eleven copies, the manager only let her sign four. Why?
Because, according to the manager, some readers don't like to buy signed books. 
Huh? Seriously??? So out of eleven people who will buy those books SEVEN would prefer unsigned books? And who prefers an unsigned book over a signed one?
I'm having trouble with this, because I honestly can't figure out why an unsigned book would be preferable over a signed one.
So…what about you? If you have a choice, do you take the signed copy or the unsigned one? And is there any reason you'd ever prefer an unsigned book?
That is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard. Why on earth would you buy an unsigned book if you have the option of having it autographed? Beats the heck outta me. I love getting autographed books. I’ve never had the pleasure of attending any book conventions but whenever I’ve won a book and the author offers to autograph it…I’m in total heaven. It’s just such a special treat to accompany the book.
I don’t get it either.
What? That’s crazy! I could understand if the manager asked the author to leave one or two unsigned, but 7? Yikes.
I agree that is truly bizarre. At BN they have a little sticker on any leftover copies that are signed, I always look for those first for authors I know have visited the store but I’ve missed.
It’s like saying, nah, I’ll take the Chevy when you are offered a Porshe. Don’t get it.
That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Well, ok, maybe not the most ridiculous thing but it’s up there lol. I LOVE my signed books and even have a special shelf for them LOL. I don’t get why that manager wouldn’t want all the books signed.
Makes no sense to me either. The only time I’d turn down a signed book is if it was considerably more expensive than the unsigned version.
I wonder if he thought they weren’t returnable if they were signed? I’d think he’d have a better chance of selling them! Silly man.
If I had to guess, the bookstore wants the rest of the books clean in case they need to be returned. You can’t return a signed book.
I can see some people not wanting to purchase an already signed book for various reasons. You have some pretty anal people out there who, when they buy a book, would only choose one that’s in “perfect condition”. Buying one with the author’s signature would mar that perfection.
Weird, yes. But different strokes for different folks.
Also, there are fans out there who would probably like to obtain the signature themselves, via meeting the author. It could seem like buying a book that’s already signed is kind of cheating somehow. Plus, there’s no story to go along with how the book got signed, which is part of the experience of getting a signed book.
So while I would choose a signed book over an unsigned one any day, there is a strange breed of people out there who obviously wouldn’t.
Weirdos…:oP
This is just so weird, but Michelle, you might have a point. He might have thought you can’t returned signed books.
Leigh…are there some places that have that policy, do you think? Because most stores can return signed books — they send in the cover flats and trash the part of the book that’s signed, so the publisher never knows if the book was signed or not.
This is weird!
I could see leaving maybe one or two unsigned, but at every store I’ve visited, the general understanding was: signed books sell better.
That manager was probably shooting himself in the foot.
That’s very strange. My thinking would be: Signed copies = more customers coming into the store to buy said signed copies.
Bizarre indeed!
Karra, you’ve got some good points there. I guess I’d take an unsigned copy if I KNEW the author would sign it for me later. And there probably are some strange people out there who don’t want the book “marred.”
But it still seems odd to keep the majority of them unsigned, because really, how many of those kinds of people are out there?
Meljean, exactly. One or two. But seven? Bizarre!
Most people prefer signed books because they’re more collectible. I’ve never heard of someone who didn’t want a book signed. Ever. Not in the 9 years I’ve been selling books.
If it was a mass market, they just strip those anyway when they return them. As long as the front cover isn’t where the author signs, it doesn’t affect anything.
I’d take the signed book every single time. In fact, I’d be a little upset if I hadn’t been able to get to the signing but got to the store a bit later to find out there were unsigned copies but no signed copies available.
I’m also not a book purist. Highlighting, dogeared pages, cracked spines…they’re all fine by me. So what’s the harm in a little ink on the title page?
I like signed copies just fine. The only time I avoid a signed book is if I’m buying an extra copy for my keeper shelf and it’s already personalized in someone else’s name.
I would definitely take a signed copy… heck, I’m happy when I find a signed a book to someone else at the used book store, hehe
I saw that on Twitter as well but can’t remember who said it. Someone responded back that the bookstore could be planning to strip them to send back and maybe that’s why they didn’t want them signed. How depressing is that?
Whenever I see that gold sticker on a book saying it’s autographed, it’s like I found a little prize on the bookshelf. And you know, if I had to choose between two different books, one signed and one not, I’d choose the signed book. They’re special and, as a reader, it makes me feel a little closer to the author. That he/she is a real person and cares about me as a fan.
That’s just plain stupid. We all love signed books.
Hey Larissa… It was me!! LOL. And it was really weird. I’ve been driving around to a lot of local bookstores signing stock lately and I’ve never run into this response before. And yeah, another author was kind enough (?) to inform me that it was likely due to future stripping of the cover — however, this didn’t make any sense b/c I’m not signing the covers (the stickers at these locations are fully removable). And the manager didn’t even see who I was and what book it was, he simply sent word with the bookseller who went to grab the autographed stickers. Weird, indeed!
Ack, Michelle. I love your books. That guy was just clueless or maybe that’s his own preference, because I think the vast majority of readers love signed copies.
The only time I chose a non-signed copy of a book when both were available was when the last remaining signed book was too dog-eared. I have a thing about my books looking perfect. I always pull them from the bottom of the pile too–those ones haven’t been fingered as much. Is that weird?
I’m not sure what I would prefer. I’ve never gotten a book that is signed. I usually can’t make it to either the location that the author is at to get a copy or it is in a location that I can actually make it to, then the timing is off.
Not sure why he wouldn’t want you to sign the books but I have to say that it’s strange that you went to a location that only had 11 books. When another author who’s name I won’t mention here did have a signing near me, she requested that people preorder the book from the bookdealer in town who was sponsoring it and they had a spot on the order where you could state if you were going to pick up up at the store or at the signing (being held elsewhere). I know for a fact that there were at least 100 signed copies sold.
This wasn’t an actual signing, it was just a drop-in to sign stock. If it was a real signing they would have had more copies. I believe this location originally had 20 copies, so they had sold 9 since early October.
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To date I’ve had two readers ask me not to sign a giveaway book of mine that they’ve won, no reason given, but I didn’t have a problem with it. Readers should have what they want, and if they prefer an unmarked book that’s fine.
Generally I don’t flat-sign books for anyone but my mom in order to keep them off eBay, but even that doesn’t work all the time. One guy who did some work for my parents tried charging an exorbitant amount on eBay for a flat-signed book she had given him for free, and even stated that he had worked for my parents in the listing.
Then there was an editor’s struggling, wannabe writer son who tried to auction a set of signed books I sent him for free at the editor’s request and my expense. I don’t mind my signed books being resold if people are in financial straits, but the editor’s son even tried to sell the personal letter of encouragement I sent him, which I thought was pretty squicky. Fortunately once I e-mailed the listing to the editor in question, the listing was taken down. I don’t think the editor ever got over the embarrassment, though.
Personally I prefer signed books, especially from authors I collect. It’s nice to have that extra touch (although I admit, I usually save the signed copy for the collection and buy an unsigned copy for reading purposes, so I don’t mess up the autographed book. So a signed book usually = two purchases.)
OMG YES I want it signed! What an idiot!
Hi Larissa :)
I would take a signed novel over an unsigned one.
I don’t know why anyone would not want an autographed book.
Strange.
Thank you for sharing!
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
Um, yeah. Signed is ALWAYS best! Good grief.
Just plain weird. I love signed books! The only exception is when I already have the book signed. Then I will go out hunting for an unsigned copy for rereads and general abuse that I put my books through.
Did you see Mary Janice Davidson’s blog awhile back? A Borders refused to allow her to sign ANY of their books.
http://maryjanicedavidson.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-get-big-fu-from-fairfield-ct-borders.html
I don’t think the managers know what the heck they are doing. And even if I knew I might get the book signed in person, what’s wrong with two signatures lol.
I’d take a signed book anyday. I think the book store worker just wanted to give the author a hard time and wanted to be difficult…rather than a reader preferring an unsigned book.
I would take it signed, even if I knew I would have the chance to meet the author later. Then I would ask for it to be personalized. I mean if you’re willing, why not??
It’s so cool to get a signed book. That poor demented manager.
First I want to say that I think it is weird that the manager asked her to sign so few books.
Maybe I can shed some light on why some readers would not like a signed copy. I’m a heavy reader. I buy a lot of books. However, I don’t keep them all. I have in the past, after reading books, resold them to make some money back. I didn’t make much but the little I did make helped me to buy more new books. At the rate I read, I can’t afford to keep buying brand new books. Currently I’m swapping books online.
It’s been my experience that I can’t sell a book that is addressed and signed to me. Neither can I swap it. So for those reasons, I do not choose a signed copy. However, I do not turn down a signed copy from a favorite author or if I’ve won a book. I would never ask the author to not sign it. That’s a little bit too rude.
Hope this has helped.
P.S. I also donate books to the library some times and I can’t donate the book if it is signed.
Larissa, like somebody replied earlier, I am sure there are some people out there who would prefer to have it personally autographed, so that it means something. But honestly, why not buy an already signed copy just in case you do never get the chance to get it personally signed? To me, it just seems like that bookstore manager is depriving fans of the chance to have more signed. Like others have said, leaving THAT many unsigned is just perplexing, one or two is more understandable….
I wished I owned a signed copy. Don’t even have one in my collection :-( But even if I did I couldn’t just put it aside and not touch it. I love my books and like going back to reread some of my favorite parts. If I saw 2 copies of a book I wanted and one was signed and the other wasn’t you bet your butt I would buy the signed one!
I would prefer a signed copy. However, I’ve never seen a signed copy at a store. Maybe I haven’t looked hard enough. I’m going a signed copy quest.
Stacy
Sign me up for a signed book any day! I even have a math book that I had signed by an author because it was the only thing I had, and was a very poor college kid at the time. (I must admit.. it does look rather odd sitting on my bookshelf, but I love it none the less!) :D
I will always prefer a signed copy of any book! LOL- I have no idea why anyone would want an unsigned book! I think it is such a huge privilege to be able to own a signed copy of a book!