Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion The high cost of writing a book

Recently we have been discussing the price of signs, globes and pumps. Mostly the discussions are on, how much people are paying for these items.
Since I collect literature, which I use to write books, I watch eBay, since this seems to be the main sourse of literature.
Well, here is the reason my revision, which I am working on, may be the last book on pumps I will be able write.
I was willing to pay about $35.00 for this brochure, it contained 5 pictures I could use (thats $7.00 per picture), here is what it went for: 6598016258
This item I would have paid about $50.00 for, here is what it went for: 7209411378
This brochure probably had a few pictures in it I didn't have, but I couldn't afford to pay this much for just a few pictures: 7207790965
I already had the catalog and I valued it about $50.00.: 7204843597
I am not complaining about not being able to purchase these items, everyone is entitled to pay what they want for them, but when you pay $224.00 for a 12 page brochure that is hard to display, maybe that sign isn't that high a price.
Jack Sim, Author, Gas Pump Identification book.

Have you ever considered contacting the winning bidders and asking them to allow you to publish the pics in the brochures. They might let you have scans of the brochures for free. Just a thought.

Jack,

You might also consider selling the ones that you've already scanned to finance the purchase of ones that you don't have...

Wes

Jack, I would have to agree with you on the prices of literature. I love old Gulf literature and for the most part I am able to find it for reasonable prices. But whenever anyone views my collection they walk right by the rack of literature and head for the signs, cans and pumps. So when collectors are willing to pay $200 plus for a small brochure maybe those signs, cans and pumps are priced right!

As far as I know, ebay won't let you contact the buyer.
Someone also suggested I contact the seller and ask for a copy before he ships it to the buyer, but since I wouldn't want this to happen to me, I refrain from asking someone to do it for me.
Jack Sim

As a buyer, I've been contacted many times by people from this forum and others. That’s how I ended up with two Wayne 40A's instead of just one. Ebay may not like it, but it happens all the time.

The people from this forum have saved me a ton of money on fakes. Thanks You!

Brian

Go to the auction page, click on the high bidders ID. On the members profile page click on the contact member link. It will ask for your password. Just tell him who you are and what its for. Good luck.

Why not buy them on ebay...use what you need and re-sell them again on ebay..

hi jack... maybe i'm missing something here.. please enlighten me if i am...its my take that you are complaining about the cost of literature that you will eventually compile into a book... yet you complain about the "profit margin" that the seller of such literature is making. BUT... you would like to see profits from your book ???... so... what makes you better than them ????..sorry gas pump guru.. i just don't get it....so... please don't take this out of context.. but... what am i missing.. if you feel that you would rather email me your answer.... well... my email works... you know the drill...

Lighten up Bro.

i did jim... lets hear from jack

I agree with JimT... Lighten up please. Jack's post is informative.. I did not realize that the literature some people collect commands the prices he has brought to our attention. I appreciate the knowledge I have received from Jack's post and I am empathetic to his particular situation as an author and a contributor to this hobby. Thanks Jack for your efforts and your contribution to the hobby.

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Frank

[This message has been edited by FrankSargent (edited 01-24-2006).]

[This message has been edited by FrankSargent (edited 01-24-2006).]

in no way was my question meant to be condecending... i asked a question.. thats it... no lines in the sand here.. just a question... i am not disputing jacks input to this site... just a damn question... don't read between the lines... its pretty clear to me...

WOW.............

Great book Jack. I actually looked through my copy last night. I write articles for a small soda publication and sometimes get info the same way, or have to spend alot of time researching, but it's all fun.

Keep up the good work, and keep on enjoying it!!!

A collector once told me..

You cant own everything at once!!...

But you can own ALMOST EVERYTHING once, IF you do it right..

I don't see where Jack is complaining AGAINST the seller [seller probly would have been just as happy with $25], but at the buyers that don't have a money problem [buy at ANY COST].

Ask anyone that has wrote a book, they would have made more $'s working @ McDonalds for MINIMUM WAGE !

I don't see where Jack made any complaints against the profits made by these sellers or about his profits at all.

I think he's just letting us know that literature prices are high.

Perfectly fine in my book to grumble at the general state of things

Wes

My post is just what it is, I just wanted to show what literature is selling for. If you just want one piece you can pay anything for it, but when you are trying to get as much as possible, you can't spend more than what the images in that piece will add to the book.
For instance, the five Erie pictures would look good in my book as I don't have pictures that nice in there. Assuming I paid the $225.00 for the brochure. That is $45.00 per picture for the book. If I had to pay that much for every picture in the book (and I am now up to 2000 images) that would be $9000 I would have paid for the images. Add in the cost of labor it took to write the book (I spent just about everyday for 6 months writing the first one) and you are working for nothing.
I receive $2.00 royality from each book sold, and in the last three years the book has sold just over 8000 copies, so I made $16,000 spread over three years.
Now add in the time I spend on the phone when people call me asking if a certain pump should have a door below the nozzle holder, or many other questions. I suggest they purchase a copy of the original literature that explains the features of the pump, but most just want me to spend my time telling them the answer, rather than purchasing the literature.
As most of you know, I usually spend a reasonable amount of time on the phone when called, but it does keep me from doing the other things I need to do to recoupe my money, such as selling items on ebay.
This isn't why I really posted the original information. I just wanted to let you know what a writer is up against when trying to purchase information for a book.
Jack Sim

Jack-Please keep writing books as your book has saved me from way over paying many times! As there are so many great people on this site that probably have the pics you need, maybe you should post what you need and people can scan images and send them to you? that way everyone could be proud that in a small way they contributed to the making of the gas pump bible.

I LOANED Jack several original brouchers & pictures for the 1st pump book, and got them back in same condition as sent.

Would do it again, IF I had something he could use.
db

I agree with Dick. I would loan Jack anything I had ( although I have no literature ) but I wear the pages out of my Gas Pump Guide. Brady

Jack. Your work is invaluable. I would be willing to pay more for your book with updated prices and new/additional items init. I am not made of $$$, but the money I have saved on pumps because of your book...I would be willing to spend some back with you. That goes for other updates on price guides. for me, especially books on Texaco. For those of you who produce books...hats off to you.

Tom Likes Texaco

I remember years ago bidding against Jack on some pump literature from a little known Michigan pump company...the bidding went back and forth and I eventually lost.Jack didnt know me from adam,but he found my email sent me note that he was writing a book about pumps and copied the literature he won and sent it to me.Good guy doing great work.

Bobby