Official book collectors thread

I really cannot understand a business that doesn't contact people who have expressed an interest in their product. Surely that is the most basic business sense? Why even have the option if you're not going to bother doing anything? I registered interest in the Phil Hill book back in 2007 (I think) and never had a single mail from them. When it was eventually available I had to find out from other sources. Pathetic!

 

Same here as well.

Marcel Massini

 

Just received the below reply from fchatter and COO of Girardo & Co. Ltd., Mr. Marcus Willis:

QUOTE:
"Don’t worry, we still have you on the list!
The book is not available at the moment. In Paris we will launch the book for pre-orders, detailing what it is etc.
We will at that time have a few printed copies to show.
I will be sure to show you the book in detail on our stand at Retromobile, and look forward to your comments."

Marcel Massini

 

Well great, but isn't that exactly the kind of thing they could be putting in an email to all those who registered interest?

 

So true, seems some get updated information and a personal viewing invitation and others (seems most) get left in the dark.

 

I absolutely hate crap like this.... four different covers !!!

It annoys me for two reasons.

Firstly because I don't have unlimited shelf space so to have four copies of the same magazine is ridiculous and secondly they know a lot of Ferrari collectors who have been buying Yearbooks and TOFM will want all four covers to keep the collection complete so will be forced to buy them all.

Meanwhile TOFM is one of the most expensive magazines out there in the marketplace.

Just a money grab - no other way to view it.

P.S and to be honest I didn't think 2022 was such a year to celebrate for Ferrari, certainly in their F1 performance.

 

I got that reply today after I had contacted Marcus Willis (of Girardo) once again today.

Marcel Massini

 

2022 will be the year I stop collecting yearbooks. I will certainly try to get Racing Activities next year with Ferrari's return to prototype racing. But I won't try to keep my collection complete anymore.

 

I don't believe in collecting covers. If any magazine comes out with multiple covers, I just pick the one I like the most (if I have the choice) and go with it. In the case of the TOFM yearbook, I buy that at my Ferrari dealer, so I may just have to buy whichever cover they receive, but I'm most interested in the inside content anyway.

 

They really should give that for free to their customers. TOFM is basically publicity!

 

They do - or at least they did - for some duration (I don't remember, maybe one year) when one buys a new car.

 

It actually is the selling F dealer that must pay for the mag that he must "forward" to his client. TOFM is not paid by the factory, they do charge the dealer.

Marcel Massini

 

So as a funny coincidence I dropped into my local Rolex AD today to wish them a Merry Christmas and they gave me the latest copy of The Rolex Magazine.

If you're not familiar with the publication it's in a similar vane to TOFM- articles on new products, a feature story on a specific range of Rolex, stories of owners, some technical information and some non related watch content. So as I said, very similar content to TOFM but Rolex focused.

It's around pages 145 thick and although has no glossy cover and the paper quality is 3/4 that of the Ferrari publication it is given to any owner, or for that matter anyone who asks, for FREE !! And so it should be as 80% of the content is Rolex related self promotion.

Compare that to the high price Ferrari charge for their magazine which is essentially the same concept at TRM.

( ...oh and ten issues in, Rolex have only ever done one cover per issue !! )


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An early present to myself.....a sale at David Bull Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Now we’re talking, that’s serious stuff!

 

Those David Bull prices are pretty good. I just received "The Porsche Book" three volume set and the Jessie Alexander "Inside The Archives" publishers edition. Both were well discounted.

 

Ha, I made the same purchases. Bigger than I had realized. Well packed, quick shipping in the US.

 

I have these on the way too. Plus Inside Archives & Champion Racing.

 

I ordered the GSX-R and 1098-1198 Publisher's editions - it's just a pity that to France the shipment costs as much as the books

 

Indeed, the shipping costs killed my intended order, especially since also EU import duties would have to be paid on top. Too bad, but some great deals there for U.S. residents!

 

In France VAT on books is 5.5% (it's supposed to apply, I will see) but there should be no custom duties for values up to 151 euros.

 

In Germany, I think it should be 7%, but the calculation is done by the courier company (mostly DHL) and I have been charged all kinds of percentages, sometimes way too low (ok with me), sometimes way too high (not so ok with me), but always with an additional service charge of another €6 added for this calculation. Some other courier companies charged even more than €10 on top. For books from the U.K., nowadays I order many through Hortons, as they pay the EU taxes and have very low shipping prices too.

 

In Switzerland courier companies such as Fedex and/or DHL etc and even the regular Swiss Post charge between Swiss Francs CHF 25 and CHF 35 as their additional service charge. Completely insane.
And just this morning I was once again forced to fill in a four (!!) page German customs declaration to export from Germany and import to Switzerland 3 period black white photos I purchased last weekend online at auction in Germany. One of the questions on the form was "From which century are the goods you are importing?". Another stupid question on the customs declaration was "Are the goods you are importing numbered individually or not?". This world is so crazy. Must have been some EU idiot in Brussels that created this nonsense.

Marcel Massini

 

I assume your multi-page customs declaration was a Swiss one and not one made by the EU?

 

GERMAN (which I believe is part of the EU? Switzerland is not, fortunately!).

Marcel Massini