Buy Signed Books?

AlishaS · May 18, 2011

So my question is this, would you buy a signed (by author) book just because it was signed?
Twice now in my local Chapters I've found books that are signed by the author. I'm sure if I looked maybe there would be more. Though the books didn't sound like my thing I really wanted to buy them just because they were signed. Hell I still want to go back and buy them because they were signed.

Now my second question is this... how exactly did the signed book copies make it all the way to my mediocre sized Chapters in the the Great White North? I would have thought they were fake but they have the Chapters sticker of approval, so the books have even been logged in the system as a signed copies.

Anyways just curious.

skylark · May 18, 2011

Maybe the authors did a booksigning there?

When my daughter was born, my boss's wife went to a local bookstore and got her a signed copy of Allan Ahlberg's Each Peach Pear Plum. So much nicer than a knitted hat

happywritermom · May 18, 2011

Lots of book stores sell copies signed by the authors. I wouldn't buy one only because it wouldn't mean anything to me. The signed books I have are signed by authors I know or have met.

VoireyLinger · May 18, 2011

I wouldn't get a book just because it was signed. I get them because I want the book and a signature is a bonus. Personally signed is better though.

As for how, some authors will sign books for sale and promotion. I've purchased signed books off the rack several times. According to the bookstore they came from the publisher that way.

Tasmin21 · May 18, 2011

I know lots of authors who do "drive-by" signings. As in, they're just passing through a place, stop at a book store, and sign whatever stock the store happens to have on hand. So that may be one way that the signed book found its way to your store.

Libbie · May 18, 2011

Depends on the author and the edition. I might.

I worked at a used book store for quite a while and we sold an awful lot of collectible stuff, including signed editions. There are definitely plenty of people out there willing to spend money on 'em.

As for how they got there, my money's on the drive-by signing.

shaldna · May 18, 2011

A lot of local shops, including easons, sell signed copies of books. they usually have a sticker on teh front. if it's a book i'm going to buy anyway, then I'll usually buy the signed copy. But I wouldn't necessarily hunt them out.

Becca_H · May 18, 2011

If I see a book with an autographed copy sticker, I tend to pick them up out of curiosity. I'm yet to buy one just because of it, though.

The signed copies I have are personalised to me from book signings. They're much more special than generic signed copies.

Some authors give their local indie bookstores signed books, which the store sells online at a premium. So I feel that generic signed copies aren't that great.

Jamesaritchie · May 18, 2011

If it's by the right writer, absolutely. I sure wish I had a first edition of Harry Potter signed by J. K. Rowling.

brainstorm77 · May 18, 2011

Only if I'm interested in the book.

absitinvidia · May 18, 2011

In defense of the drive-by signing: a publisher friend told me some 15 years ago that "a signed book is a sold book" since it can't be returned to the publisher.

cameron_chapman · May 18, 2011

absitinvidia said:
In defense of the drive-by signing: a publisher friend told me some 15 years ago that "a signed book is a sold book" since it can't be returned to the publisher.

This. Authors are smart to sign their books whenever they can, as it means the bookstore can't return them. That means they get more shelf time/exposure and the author will definitely get the royalty.

I've bought one signed book in my life, and it was by a local author (though I happened to find it in a bookstore 2 hours away). I planned on buying one of his books anyway, so I figured I might as well buy the signed copy. Of course, I probably could have just had him sign it since his wife was my husband's teacher in grade school...

ChaosTitan · May 18, 2011

absitinvidia said:
In defense of the drive-by signing: a publisher friend told me some 15 years ago that "a signed book is a sold book" since it can't be returned to the publisher.

Only if it's hardback or trade. MMP's aren't safe, because just the cover is stripped and returned.

Phaeal · May 18, 2011

I want a copy of the Bible signed by God.

AlishaS · May 18, 2011

Can someone explain to me why a signed book can't get returned to a publisher?

MaryMumsy · May 18, 2011

I bought a signed hardback off the remainder table at my Border's some time last year. It was a book I wanted anyway. The author had done a signing here in town earlier in the year, and presumably just signed the rest of the unsold stock.

MM

MJNL · May 18, 2011

Phaeal said:
I want a copy of the Bible signed by God.

Doesn't everyone?

In all seriousness, no, I wouldn't buy a book just because it's signed. If I love the author's work, or if it's a book I'm going to buy any way, I probably would pick the signed copy if I had a choice.

But really, I'd rather get a personalized signature from an author I've had some interaction with rather than just a random one I found on a shelf.

And I certainly wouldn't pay more for a signed copy.

artemis31386 · May 18, 2011

I wouldn't buy a book just because its signed. I would if I loved the author's work. But I'm with everyone who says they'd prefer it personalized. I mean I'd rather meet the author than just pick up a signed copy on the shelf.

Jamesaritchie · May 19, 2011

absitinvidia said:
In defense of the drive-by signing: a publisher friend told me some 15 years ago that "a signed book is a sold book" since it can't be returned to the publisher.

That's a myth. If this were really the case, no bookstore would ever allow writers to sign books that are on the racks. They couldn't return those books, and they'd be out a lot of money.

Susan Coffin · May 19, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
That's a myth. If this were really the case, no bookstore would ever allow writers to sign books that are on the racks. They couldn't return those books, and they'd be out a lot of money.

That's what I thought too. Bookstores do whatever they can to make money.

I would buy a signed book if it was by an author I loved to read.

kaitie · May 19, 2011

One of the Barnes and Nobles stores in Kansas always had signed books from a local romance author. She was definitely a drive-by signer. My friend worked in the store and explained it to me. The author would just come in every few months and ask if they had any of her books on the shelf and sign them, and then they got special stickers.

Karen Junker · May 19, 2011

I recently bought Poltergeist by Kat Richardson because it was a signed copy, I'd already read the book and knew I liked it.

Usually, the only books I buy are by people who have either spoken at one of my writing events or are going to speak at one in the future, or they are written by one of my many current or past crit partners and I am mentioned in the acknowledgements. I live in a tiny apartment and I don't have room for a lot of books.

RobJ · May 19, 2011

Phaeal said:
I want a copy of the Bible signed by God.

I heard it was (holy) ghostwritten.

timewaster · May 19, 2011

Jamesaritchie said:
If it's by the right writer, absolutely. I sure wish I had a first edition of Harry Potter signed by J. K. Rowling.

We are published by the same publisher and I met her early on at drinks' party before she was particularly famous, when she was just another children's writer. She signed my name badge with a dedication for my son who'd just read the first book and was a fan. I stuck the name badge in the book which was read by my other kids and got lost under beds and in the back of cupboards until it fell apart. Anyway I have no idea where it is now so I gained no advantage.

timewaster · May 19, 2011

MJNL said:
Doesn't everyone?

In all seriousness, no, I wouldn't buy a book just because it's signed. If I love the author's work, or if it's a book I'm going to buy any way, I probably would pick the signed copy if I had a choice.

But really, I'd rather get a personalized signature from an author I've had some interaction with rather than just a random one I found on a shelf.

And I certainly wouldn't pay more for a signed copy.

I don't think they charge more - it's just worth doing because bookshops sometimes display them more prominently. As another writer also pointed out to me bookshops can't return defaced stock...

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