[pct-l] Guide Book Gouging

[Slow Comfort]

I bought the data book from PCTA 3 monts ago at the start of my
planning stage.  I just got the first two available books in the mail
from the PCTA (50 bucks) I would have ordered the Washington book also
if it had been available.  I'm not kickin, and though I haven't had
that much interaction with them yet, the little that I have had has
been exemplary.  As to the cost of the books, in my estimation well
worth the cost considering the incredible amount of detailed
information included.  Of course I'm assuming it is still relevant,
but if there was a problem there, I'm sure I would have come across
some kind of noise about it.  As for me, I appreciate their presence.

On 1/11/07, Paul Mitchell <paul at bluebrain.ca> wrote:
> Perhaps you think it's gouging because you think a business just arbitrarily
> decides a price?
>
> Let's remember that the PCTA doesn't exist to generate revenue and isn't as
> efficient and streamlined a money making machine as Amazon.  Their expenses
> are higher, their costs for the books themselves are likely higher, their
> revenue streams are very limited, they don't sell in high volume and
> therefore can't afford to only make a dollar per sale, and they likely don't
> have a team of accountants to help them find tax loopholes.
>
> PCTA - a non-profit organization that exists to support the trail
> AMAZON - a corporation that exists exclusively to benefit it's stockholders
>
> Like it or not, we vote with every dollar we spend, and sometimes with the
> dollars we don't spend.
>
> Too bad we don't even fully comprehend what it is we're voting for, because
> the actual cost of those low prices is more significant than we might
> imagine.
>
> Paul
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net
> [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]On Behalf Of stillroaming
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:30 PM
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Guide Book Gouging
>
>
> You're absolutely right. The trail can use all the funding it can get, from
> any source. I hear ya! :)
>
> However, given normal availability of guidebooks, charging 40% more for
> items over other sources reeks of gouging. If this type of gouging is
> justified under the guise of 'the best interest of the trail', it wouldn't
> be suprising if these tactics painted less than a rosy picture of the PCTA
> and had an opposite affect.
>
> Folks will donate to the trail or the bureaucracy running it if they choose.
> The enthusiasm of folks headed out onto the trail for a months long or day
> long adventure is not a signal for the unscrupulous trail pimps to stick
> their hands in our pockets. Folks who *think* buying from the PCTA is best
> because, well, it's the PCTA would be mistaken.
>
> Scott Parks
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Batchelor" <billbatch at cox.net>
> To: "'stillroaming'" <pct at delnorteresort.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 4:41 PM
> Subject: RE: [pct-l] Guide Book Question ...
>
>
> > Someone mentioned this before, but if you can handle the few extra bucks
> > and
> > the PCTA.ORG site has them in stock - it would be good for the trail
> > dollars
> > to buy them from the PCTA site.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> > On Behalf Of stillroaming
> > Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 8:58 AM
> > To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: [pct-l] Guide Book Question ...
> >
> > Purchase your guidebooks as soon as you like.
> >
> > The books are updated every few years, with addendums made available at
> > the
> > Wilderness Press website annually.
> >
> > 2 or 3 months ago a rep (not Ben) from Wilderness Press stated that the
> > next
> > revision, a major overhaul, will not be available till 2008. So, no sense
> > in
> > waiting to buy.
> >
> > Also, if you buy from amazon.com you'll save about $30 over buying them at
> > the PCTA. Read this article for the details:
> > http://postholer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=107
> >
> > Hope that helps,
> > Scott
> >
> >> For those of you who have been out there for a while     ...how often are
> >> the PCT Guidebooks revised  ?   Next question    ...how far in advance of
> >> your hike does it make sense purchasing a set of the Guidebooks ??
> >
> >  Thanks in advance,
> >
> >  'Slogger
> > ------------------------------------
> > Trails : http://Postholer.Com
> > Journals : http://Postholer.Com/journal
> >
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