Charm school for booksellers

Book dealers... have a little tact, please, guys!

The life of a book-selling babe can be hard enough... the slings and arrows of outrageous Ebay, trying to master bulk upload on other sites with a totally disorganised inventory, juggling paid 'regular' employment with the real business of my business...

But please! Book dealers everywhere, aren't we all in this together? Right? Am I right?

I think I am, when I say, 'Guys... I don't care if you bought that mint condition boxed set of a classic 70s kids' adventure series for 85p at Save the Children. Honestly, I don't. I don't care if you're getting some juice out of the deal – why would you be selling it otherwise. I expect you to be making a profit, and if I make a profit too, hey, I win, you win, everybody goes home happy. Nice!

But, guys! Do I need to know that – especially if I'm paying you thirty-five quid for it? No, I don't! I know you're pocketing a profit, I can do without knowing that it's approximately 950% on your original investment. It's not that I even grudge you it – I just don't need to know, all right? Or does the sting of my knowledge make the jingle in your pockets sound all the sweeter?

Because I can't work out why else you would, for God's sweet sake, LEAVE THE STICKER ON! I mean, that's either slackness beyond all gods of Slack, or you just couldn't resist gloating, rubbing Deep Heat and a little chilli powder in the wound. Hey, slip cases have nice shiny surfaces, all you had to do was peel it right off and no damage to that lovely item. But no... you just had to let me know, you passive-aggressive old kidder, you.

Just joshing with you, guys. No hard feelings, eh?

By the way... I split it up and sold the lot. Current profit £50... and it's not all sold yet.

Feel better now? I do...