JMS Book Tour/Con Appearances 2019

[Looney]

So now you know what annoys me.

[Jan]

Something cut off your post, I think, Looney. What is it that annoys you? Enquiring minds...

ETA: Just clicked on the link. HOLY COW! That's a heck of a price cut! ($12.93 for the hardcover)

[Looney]

Here is something that annoys me, but for all of you who didn't pre-order the book and get it when it was released you already have a chance to get it severely discounted.

[Jan]

Looks like JMS's appearance at the Cartoon Art Museum has now been rescheduled for Nov. 16, from 6:30 - 9: 00 PM

https://www.cartoonart.org/calendar/...el-straczynski

[Looney]

Hmmmm.... I wonder who thinks they command $15,000.00. I can't believe anyone from B5 gets that much except maybe JMS. At least not anymore.

[Jan]

If that were all it took I think you would have done it by now. LOL On a serious note, how does one learn how much "appearance fees" are? I assume you contact their agent. And how does one learn who people's agents are? LOL (These are actually serious questions that don't specifically involve JMS. I've been involved with events in the past that I've thought about this issue.)

Quite often celebs have convention or booking managers. I know that Julie Caitlyn Brown was once the agent for quite a number of folks through her Illumina Productions company. Once upon a time (2012) before I knew about the Phoenix reunion con I briefly considered looking into throwing a small con and contacted her. The range I was given was $5,000-$15,000 plus flight, per diem and car service for out of town (non-LA) cons. Guarantees of income for sales of autographs/photos might or might not figue as part of those fees. ETA: I don't know if any of this applies to JMS who, I've always had the impression may handle his own bookings. I asked him once the best way for cons to contact him and he commented how easy it is to reach him so I tend to think if they contacted the email on the many posts archived here, it would reach him.

[Looney]

I guess you should contact him and make him an offer. I imagine first class airfare and meals and an appearance fee would be all it takes (NOTE: I have NO idea what JMS' requirements for appearing would be, lest anybody think I'd be speaking for him...) It would be convenient - you'd be the one to post all the news and upcoming things instead of me!

If that were all it took I think you would have done it by now. LOL On a serious note, how does one learn how much "appearance fees" are? I assume you contact their agent. And how does one learn who people's agents are? LOL (These are actually serious questions that don't specifically involve JMS. I've been involved with events in the past that I've thought about this issue.)

[Jan]

BACK ON TOPIC. You know it is great that he does SDCC every year, but why can't he just come stay with me for a week and we'll chat about stuff. I'm and interesting guy, right? (Not a fan of this emoji)

I guess you should contact him and make him an offer. I imagine first class airfare and meals and an appearance fee would be all it takes (NOTE: I have NO idea what JMS' requirements for appearing would be, lest anybody think I'd be speaking for him...) It would be convenient - you'd be the one to post all the news and upcoming things instead of me!

[Looney]

(And just because it started here, I saw yesterday that the "Special Rep" I spoke to also lied and did not put in a request for a refund on my original order so this time I used the CHAT option and was given a full refund on the second order instead. Thus ends the story, though the CHAT person did try to get me to purchase it AGAIN and guaranteed I would get it undamaged. I said absolutely not.)

BACK ON TOPIC. You know it is great that he does SDCC every year, but why can't he just come stay with me for a week and we'll chat about stuff. I'm and interesting guy, right? (Not a fan of this emoji)

[Jan]

Looks like we're going into 2020 already! Hmmm...I'm beginning to think that JMS likes San Diego!

https://www.sdcomicfest.org/special-guests/

[Looney]

No, they don't ALLOW their CSR to lie. They give the CSR approved scripts. They're not allowed to deviate. Which is why trying to get the rep in trouble is out of line. Feel free to keep asking for supervisors until you get somebody who might be able to help but otherwise understand that it's in no way the fault of the CSR or somebody trying to 'get you'. Whether it's how the world *should* work or not, that's the unfortunate reality.

Sorry you misunderstood or I wasn't clear enough. When the second damaged replacement arrived the person I spoke to supposedly transferred me to a supervisor or special rep who was supposed to handle the situation because I had already received 2 damaged replacements. The person I was transferred to told me I could no longer get a replacement and that I had to re-order the item. She then made me re-order the item while we were on the phone so the order number would be put in her system for tracking. She told me the order was flagged. She said she would personally be tracking it through every stage to make sure it was handled properly and securely so I received an undamaged item. That is the person I want to report. When the first damaged replacement arrived a regular CSR said she was sending a note to the warehouse, but as you say she was following a script and has zero control over what the people in the warehouse do. The Supervisor or Special Rep acted like they had control over the situation and therefore they deserve to be called out for lying.

[Jan]

No, they don't ALLOW their CSR to lie. They give the CSR approved scripts. They're not allowed to deviate. Which is why trying to get the rep in trouble is out of line. Feel free to keep asking for supervisors until you get somebody who might be able to help but otherwise understand that it's in no way the fault of the CSR or somebody trying to 'get you'. Whether it's how the world *should* work or not, that's the unfortunate reality.

[Looney]

Exactly! I figured everybody pretty much knew that. And I generally react poorly to the 'I'll have your job!" crowd in those cases also. Go punch a pillow if you're frustrated but don't take it out on the service people.

That is ridiculous. No one should ever accept a Customer Service Rep LYING to them because the Rep has no control over the situation. That is an absolutely ridiculous statement and should never be how the world works. "Go punch a pillow" because they can't get me the thing I gave them money for without breaking it because they don't won't give me any chance to make it right and they allow their Customer Service Reps to lie about it?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Jan]

...it often isn't there fault, they're following a script and have very little contorl over what they are allowed say,

Exactly! I figured everybody pretty much knew that. And I generally react poorly to the 'I'll have your job!" crowd in those cases also. Go punch a pillow if you're frustrated but don't take it out on the service people.

[phazedout]

On the flip side, i've honestly had nothing but positive results form amazon's customer service. In one case I'd paid 110$ for a complete buffy dvd box set. When I opened season 5 about a month later to play "once more with feeling" for a friend, it turned out the disc was dmaaged and it wouldnt' play.
So I contacted zmzon.com and explained. they asked me to ship it back, is aid shipping back the whole thign would cost more than what I'd paid for it, could they ship me another s05. Nope, sold as a complete package, they shipped me another full 7 season box set.
Another time the rasbpberry Pi they sent me was lost by postii. They aske dme to reorder and pick expidited shipping. they refunded orignal order and shipping costs and it arrived within 24 hours, form germany.
I guess looney, YMMV and speaking as the schmuck on the end fo the phone for IT support, it often isn't there fault, they're following a script and have very little contorl over what they are allowed say, I know, a marte of mine did cusotmer telephone support for continental USA for IBM for 3 years and got in trouble for staying too long on the phone as he was actually FIXING cusotmers problems not just getting them off the phone as fast as possible. Them's the breaks