Hi Tweets,

Tully Hamill writes:

>On a book prowl of Vancouver yesterday, the Duthies on Georgia and on Robson
>each had signs: 'While they last...'
>
>The 3 volume set of Birds of British Columbia is now $150 cdn. (reg. $220).
>Single volumes are $60.
>
>At each bookstore a couple of sets were in view.

In selling this set--a must-have set for regional understanding, BTW---its
marketing has changed from asking full retail price and getting it due to
the scarcity of the first two volumes in the original press run, to become a
little like selling bins and scopes: no one in his or her right mind
charging full retail but discounting, sometimes quite deeply, to move them.
The set, and individual volumes have gone from full retail to
deeply-discounted partly because they printed a big press run of Vol 3, and
reprinted Vols 1 & 2 in equally-adequate numbers.

Consider, though, that everyone who would run to buy it because they would
actually use it, or knew of the reputations of its authors or the scope and
detail of their work has done so well before now, and any new sales are
coming from those responding to the marketing, mostly newer birders, the
informally interested (in what all the fuss has been about), and those
buying it on the strength of word-of-mouth recommendation. This is why,
after the initial sales peak when it first arrives on the market, the sales
curve has --quite naturally-- flattened to the point where retailers need to
discount them to get the books out of the store.

Accordingly, I'd suggest phoning aroud to all the retail, second-hand (which
sell it as a hard-cover remainder) bookstores, Book Warehouse-type discount
bookstores and general discount stores like Costco and London Drugs in
Vancouver BC: I've seen it cheaper both as the set and its components. You
may even consider haggling a bit, just for fun.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)