Laughing Cavalier

I stand by what I said as it was what I was told by staff at the wholesalers. I know small independent outlets paid far more per unit, but the likes of HMV were paying approx £4 per disc, sometimes even less. I saw the paperwork. No shop sells anything at a loss. This is how at summer sale time HMV can sell DVD's for £5 - £7 (previously £20) and still make a profit. I know for a fact that boxsets are slightly better value as the markups are far smaller. A 7 disc boxset is typically marked up by around 250% or 300%. How do you think internet retailers can sell large boxsets for £55 and make a profit when HMV charge £85 for the same item?

So if a fan CAN'T get to a Collectormania/Comic Con/whatever, it's basically tough poo poo if they would like a signed picture? In a word, yes. If you don't go to cons to get signatures from source, you have to pay well over the odds unless you know an eBay dealer you trust. It's always been the case. I just don't go near autograph shops. I've seen so many fakes brazenly being sold in some places, I could've reported them to the law and had them shut down for fraud. Most autograph shop owners don't know where there stock comes from as they get it from third party dealers. This one will make you laugh. A shop at Lakeside had two signed Tom Cruise photos on display next to each other. They both had totally different signatures on them. Three years ago, the infamous GT Recollections at Bluewater that Victoria Beckham had her legal spat with were selling terribly scribbled Patrick Stewart signatures that had come from Slanted Fedora in the US for £125. At the time you could get them from SF for about £35. I bought my signed Patrick Stewart in GT Recollections back in 1999 for £85. Having since obtained his sig in person, I'm not at all sure it's genuine. Just not sure how these shops stay in business with the prices they charge. I've never seen people buy much in them.

Just out of intrest, how much mark up do you think shops put on the goods they sell? For normal non-sale prices, I happen to know the DVD markups of the likes of HMV and Virgin are around 400%. I worked for a short time at a DVD wholesalers and was given this info on the quiet. You may all wish to ponder that 400% next time you buy a movie in one of their outlets.

It's a statement is ever made, it'll be tucked away in an irrelevent thread just at the Kilmer no show statement was. Showmasters probably won't pin it as they don't want us to find it and read it.

HOW is it 'clearly the case' that SM impose the no photo's ban? I've personally seen one of the agents INSIST on the banning of cameras around their client. If the guests gets a cut of each autogtraph sold, then it's just as much in THEIR interest to get through as many as possible. A reliable source told me that Showmasters pay their guests up front.

The no photos rule is entirely orchestrated by SM, not the guest. This is clearly the case as the likes of Brent Spiner had no posed photos at LFCC, yet was more than happy to pose at Collectormania. SM usually only put the no photos rule on the guests charging £20 as they want to make as much money as possible out of the cash cows. However, if next to no people go to the event it makes the whole thing pointless and just pisses people off. As Mulgrew etc had open queues at LFCC3, the photo ban was of no benefit to anyone. I doubt Mulgrew asked for the sign to be put up.

Wouldn't this idea mean letting the punters within 6ft of the signing table? It ain't happening now, it ain't gonna happen for a chair.

Lane Smith who played Perry Mason recently passed away.

Bump!

The rudest episode of a kids tv show you've ever seen. All comments are welcome.

Don't think there were ever any official photos of her in Starfleet uniform. Shame cos it made her look damn hot! You'll just have to make your own from a screencap.

Probably Jazz. Loved that 80's Porsche, and he was just sooooooooooo cool in robot form.

I thought she was filming a new show in the States.

Title speaks for itself. He'd make a cool and slightly unusual guest.

Where's the yawn emote when you need it?

Fave guest: Casey Biggs/ Alexander Siddig / Michael Ironside / Dwight Schultz / Burt Reynolds / Brent Spiner / Alice Krige (soz, equal 7 way tie ) Worst guest: William Shatner by a mile First guest: Casey Biggs Hottest guest: Kristanna Loken / Marina Sirtis Most unexpected: Burt Reynolds / Partrick Stewart