Received a deseret book catalogue - it turns me off

[MustardSeed]

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

[SteveO]

5 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

You’d rather Jeff Bezos do it?  He would if he saw the opening.

[Robert F. Smith]

20 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

Are you acquainted with Roman Catholic and Protestant bookstores?  If so, how do you feel about them?  Do they perform a needed service (aside from the anti-Mormon books and pamphlets they carry)?  How about those LDS authors who contribute all their profits to non-profit endeavors (I know of some of those)?

[mfbukowski]

25 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

Some of us are actually interested in learning more from General authorities etc.

I can't imagine why a person so obviously immersed in dreaming up gospel questions on this board would not also seek other sources.

It doesn't make sense.

[strappinglad]

I had a similar feeling when I looked at the catalog. The books are one thing , but I felt the jewelry and do-dads off-putting. A CTR coffee mug?? ( OK , I exaggerate !! )

[ttribe]

16 minutes ago, strappinglad said:

I had a similar feeling when I looked at the catalog. The books are one thing , but I felt the jewelry and do-dads off-putting. A CTR coffee mug?? ( OK , I exaggerate !! )

I think a CTR shot glass would be even better.

[rongo]

48 minutes ago, SteveO said:

You’d rather Jeff Bezos do it?  He would if he saw the opening.

I'm pretty sure you can get any Desert Book book on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. 

[CV75]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

I understand the initial reaction to the idea of selling the gospel theme for profit. But in these cases, the author/artist is paid for their interpretation and expression, not for the theme itself. They make no claim that the object or content brings salvation. The intent is that people find them “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” (but not inherently soul-saving) and pay the price to obtain them, for the various good-faith purposes of the author/artist.

I am open to examples of hacks who do it because there is money to be made in this niche, but I think they would be in a rare minority.

Edited April 7, 2021 by CV75

[Amulek]

29 minutes ago, rongo said:

I'm pretty sure you can get any Desert Book book on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. 

Deseret Book price matches Amazon, even when purchasing online - though for online purchases I believe you are limited to only one price matched item per order. 

 

[SteveO]

32 minutes ago, rongo said:

I'm pretty sure you can get any Desert Book book on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. 

I’m pretty sure you didn’t look...Joseph would’ve loved the royalties of a $16 paperback BoM...

[HappyJackWagon]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

I've complained about this before but since I'm annoyed by my last thread gone wild I'm giving myself a pass.  

Deseret book to me is an opportunity for people to profit off of The Gospel.  I don't see any way around that argument.  I get that there is demand, and that those who look for those things have a right to have them - but in my opinion its gross that people would be opportunistic and find ways to make money from peoples' faith.  

I realize I'm the odd man in this point of view but it bother me enough that I'm not insecure about my oddness - I do find that I regularly see a need to yell about something that it seems to be to be so obviously icky and yet so accepted, embraced, encouraged and endorsed. 

I understand the criticism and in some ways feel the same way with limits. For a church employee I find it off-putting. For an ecclesiastical leader of the church at the general level I feel it is more akin to priestcraft UNLESS they donate proceeds of sales back to the church or some other charitable organization.

However, writing is work and I don't begrudge the average LDS member writing and selling in DB. Some authors write fiction. Some create FHE help guides or come follow me aids for teaching youth etc. There has to be a way to get that content out there and sales are the way to do it. And to be honest, beyond a few BIG bestsellers at DB, no one is getting rich off of the content they produce. The likely exceptions are the high-profile leaders and perhaps a couple of the best-selling fiction authors.  I don't see it as opportunistic for the average member. If they have an idea that will be of benefit, they have to get it out there and noticed somehow.

[poptart]

1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said:

Are you acquainted with Roman Catholic and Protestant bookstores?  If so, how do you feel about them?  Do they perform a needed service (aside from the anti-Mormon books and pamphlets they carry)?  How about those LDS authors who contribute all their profits to non-profit endeavors (I know of some of those)?

This right here.  I bought a book from Word on Fire, good stuff but now my mailbox is spammed constantly.  Bishop Bannon is always selling something, be it a book or a video course of some kind.  Don't get me wrong, I love his work, he recently said he's had less trouble from the Richard Dawkins type athiests of a decade ago vs. the in your face American Catholics of today.  Still, geez it's starting to feel like I bought an internet indulgence from the new Johann Tetzel, cept this ones even more aggressive.  I'm not one to part with my shekels easily and am that close to blocking the emails, thing is his stuff is so pretty.  Think it's what keeps me interested in the Christian religion and with my foot in the church door, the shiny objects, cool books and bling.  Bet they design that stuff like that on purpose.

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by poptart

[The Nehor]

23 minutes ago, SteveO said:

I’m pretty sure you didn’t look...Joseph would’ve loved the royalties of a $16 paperback BoM...

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read this book?
It took a year to translate, please take a look
It's based on a novel by this Spaulding guy
And I need the sale
Cause I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

Edited April 7, 2021 by The Nehor

[Scott Lloyd]

I think I’m more perturbed by the consumers among us who let themselves get caught up in the marketing of commercial vendors (Deseret Book being only one among many) before they have made a reasonable effort to explore the quality material offered — for free or at cost — by the Church through such outlets as its website, the Gospel Library app, the Joseph Smith Papers website, the Distribution Center, etc. This is material that has undergone spiritual quality control for consistency with Church doctrine and teachings. 
 

That said, there are Deseret Book products from time to time of which I’m going to avail myself. 
 

For instance, I admire President  Dallin H. Oaks’s ministry, so I look forward to exploring President Oaks’s new biography written by Richard Turley. (The impish side of me is prompting me to seize every occasion I can to write “Oaks’s” as a way to annoy those who called me out on the other thread for choosing not to write the possessive as Oaks’. 

Edited April 7, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[poptart]

1 hour ago, strappinglad said:

I had a similar feeling when I looked at the catalog. The books are one thing , but I felt the jewelry and do-dads off-putting. A CTR coffee mug?? ( OK , I exaggerate !! )

>CTR coffee mug

>Jewelry

AUTO ROSARY - DENVER BRONCOS | Classic and Sports Team Catholic Rosary Beads (rosarycreations.com)

Feel better?

Have to ask, who here has seen Monty Pythons Meaning of life?  

[Scott Lloyd]

15 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read this book?
It took a year to translate, please take a look
It's based on a novel by this Spaulding guy
And I need the sale
Cause I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

At least you conformed to the proper poetic meter. Much of the time, doggerel does not. 

[Kenngo1969]

1 hour ago, rongo said:

I'm pretty sure you can get any Desert Book book on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. 

Nah.  I've actually shopped at, and bought from, DeseretBook.com on purpose even when I know I can get a better deal on Amazon.  Don't get me wrong: I don't agree with everything Deseret Book sells or does ("Gospel Kitsch"? ), but, on balance, I think Deseret Book is more deserving of my limited resources than Amazon is.

[Kenngo1969]

1 hour ago, ttribe said:

I think a CTR shot glass would be even better.

Choose The Right ... Bourbon?

"Got a little Captain [Moroni] in ya?"

 

Sigh.  Sometimes, I kill myself (purely figuratively speaking, of course)!

[Scott Lloyd]

1 hour ago, rongo said:

I'm pretty sure you can get any Desert Book book on Amazon, for a fraction of the price. 

I have no information on this, just a hunch, but I would think that as publisher as well as a retailer of its own products, Deseret Book would strive to not let its competitors undersell it. 

[The Nehor]

11 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

At least you conformed to the proper poetic meter. Much of the time, doggerel does not. 

My literature degree is finally paying off.  

[SteveO]

8 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

My literature degree is finally paying off.  

 

[Zeniff]

People profit by selling things only if enough other people buy those things by using something that provides a profit to the one selling that thing.  Otherwise the exchange could be at a loss to the seller or only to break even.

I often see things I am willing to trade my money for so that I will be able to have those things that are for sale.  A book conveying some knowledge I would like to have for say $25 could be a real bargain depending on how much I value that knowledge.

What I don't like much is to have multiple items of the same thing, like multiple copies of either the same book or books that have basically the same knowledge but were written by different people.  One source of that knowledge is all I really need.  Unless maybe I am planning to open a school with multiple students and I want to provide a separate book for each student.  Or maybe multiple children who did not want to share the one book.

 

[rongo]

6 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I have no information on this, just a hunch, but I would think that as publisher as well as a retailer of its own products, Deseret Book would strive to not let its competitors undersell it. 

To be honest, my only knowledge of Deseret Book is the sticker shock of physically seeing prices on the shelf. It didn't occur to me that the online store would be a lot cheaper than in-store, or that DB would price match Amazon. Is that a fact? With how low Amazon prices can be (especially if one is willing to buy used), I still wouldn't be surprised if Amazon goes lower than DB is willing to go in some cases, even on unused books. 

[Robert F. Smith]

42 minutes ago, poptart said:

This right here.  I bought a book from Word on Fire, good stuff but now my mailbox is spammed constantly.  Bishop Bannon is always selling something, be it a book or a video course of some kind.  Don't get me wrong, I love his work, he recently said he's had less trouble from the Richard Dawkins type athiests of a decade ago vs. the in your face American Catholics of today.  Still, geez it's starting to feel like I bought an internet indulgence from the new Johann Tetzel, cept this ones even more aggressive.  I'm not one to part with my shekels easily and am that close to blocking the emails, thing is his stuff is so pretty.  Think it's what keeps me interested in the Christian religion and with my foot in the church door, the shiny objects, cool books and bling.  Bet they design that stuff like that on purpose.

You meant Bishop Barron.  He is great.  I have even recommended on this board that he be a guest speaker at LDS Annual Conference some year.

[Zeniff]

15 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I have no information on this, just a hunch, but I would think that as publisher as well as a retailer of its own products, Deseret Book would strive to not let its competitors undersell it. 

Once upon a time we the Church used printed books and manuals for Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society meetings and although we could order them from the Church Distribution service many of us went to a Deseret bookstore to buy them.

So convenience is often a factor, as well as price.  And I would rather give my money to a service provider who is either a member or an extension of the Church than to someone with no association with the Church, such as Jeff Bezos.