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Permalink Reply by thomas jess on April 2, 2014 at 3:41pm

What Barnes and Nobel should have done is tell pele, you want to leave? fine, but we hired security and they will not help you get out. Good luck getting through this crowd. You want to tell my the largest book store chain has no pull with the publisher? If he screwed B&N so bad, they should cancel all future signings with him and pull his book. Put a little pressure on the publisher and hit them right in the wallet. But instead, B&N would rather screw over its customers so they will get no future business from me.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Baldock on April 2, 2014 at 4:25pm

Shame this happened. My advice if your heart is set on obtaining a signature is get there early. There are plenty for sale on ebay. Those people get there first and all buy the max number of books (4) and slow up the lines. Send e.mails to barnes and noble and let them know how you feel. Keep an eye on their website for signed books, they have bobby orr,diane keaton, cee lo green, jason priestly and other signed books for reg price or less.

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Permalink Reply by thomas jess on April 2, 2014 at 4:38pm

Get there early? How early? 2,3,4 hrs? I was there 3 hrs early. They said there were some people who camped out through the night. I've been to many book signings. I know there's no guarantee of getting a book signed. My anger is based on the lack of communication barnes and noble gave out. Absolutely no warning, just pele has decided to leave, you can return books in this line here. Then a simple 'sorry' from the person behind the register, who had nothing to do with what happened. If I wanted to buy off of ebay, I would have bought off of ebay and saved myself a wasted day. The purpose was to see the man in person and obtain the signature in person so you know its real. Why should I buy off of ebay, when its those people who are buying a dozen books and holding up the line as you said.

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Permalink Reply by thomas jess on April 2, 2014 at 4:48pm

I'm not merely complaining or blowing off steam for myself. I had a few beers and still had fun in NY. I'm a Beckenbauer fan. But I felt horrible for the families that showed up and waited outside for 4 hrs as it got NY colder and colder. What do the parents tell their kids. "Pele was my hero, but he doesn't give a squat about his fans?" asking for an autograph is a sign of respect, but the man doesn't have enough respect for his fans to show up on time or make them happy?

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Permalink Reply by thomas jess on April 2, 2014 at 5:27pm

The man has millions of fans around the world so I don't think he really cares what a few disgruntled fans in NY think. But what good is a book without a publisher or distribution. Barnes and noble should stand up for its customers, not bow down to the celeb. I'm sure they weren't happy with all the returned books. pele might not care if he receives 1000 complaints, but I'm sure barnes and nobles would.

Permalink Reply by Rock G III on April 4, 2014 at 6:04am

3 hours is nothing when talking about a international superstar. Add the fact he played in NJ for a bit and you are standing in the city with thousands of people walking by and hopping in line when they hear Pele will be there and you have a lot of people. What should have been done was wristbands the night before and then only wristbands get signed.

I attend book signings all the time at this particular Barnes and Noble. And the reason I didn't attend this one is for a lack of better words I knew better with Pele's reputation and I also knew if I wanted a signature I would have to wait at least 8 hours. 

Sounds like a miscommunication as they never really have issues unless the signer has prior commitments and people expecting a guarantee thats not there. And honestly what should B&N do? They way they see it at least he signed for a bit, while not long at all at least he showed up. Its not like they are left with a pile of returned books those are sent back to the publisher. 

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Permalink Reply by Sidney Fields on April 4, 2014 at 1:40pm

On a global basis, no doubt Pele is one of the biggest, most widely-known stars there is.

But that doesn't excuse his behavior.

His publisher and Barnes & Noble certainly knew how many books there were (they sold out by about 4PM) and approximately how long it would take to sign them.  If he wasn't going to be there long enough to take care of everyone, then they should have sold fewer books, informed people in advance of the cutoff time or he simply should not have made the commitment to sign.

BUT...the debacle must be laid at Pele's feet. Had he arrived on time - or even as much as half an hour late - he very likely could have gotten the job done.

If he was going to be late, it's common sense that he should have notified Barnes and Noble and they should have notified the crowd.  It's a reasonable inference that he simply didn't care about the fans.  

Pele may be a bigger name globally, but some pretty big stars have done B & N signings and stayed until everyone was taken car of.  People such as Mike Tyson, Pete Townsend and Howard Stern.

Some ambassador for soccer.

And furthermore...when it comes to scoring, he's no Lionel Messi.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Rock G III on April 4, 2014 at 5:29pm

I agree with most of what you said. But even if came on time and left at the same time he did there was no way the line would be finished. So showing up a few hours before and expecting a autograph is unrealistic and should have been handled better no doubt. So honestly I think some of the people expected a guarantee that wasn't and never is there, no one told people to take off work or pull your kids from school so to throw blame around for that is silly. 

But I didnt see this coming without reason. I knew full well there was no way I was strolling up hours before and being guaranteed a signature. 

Permalink Reply by Mike White on January 20, 2015 at 12:32pm

3?

I've never gone to a high profile signing that I waited less than 5 hours for. And even then, I was nowhere near close to the front of the line & was fairly lucky to get my book signed.

If you had asked before the signing how early you should be there, I don't think anyone would have told you that 3 hours was a good number.

I personally would've suggested 6-7 minimum. In this case, even that probably wouldn't have gotten you a signed book.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Gregory on April 2, 2014 at 6:23pm

I met Pele when working in Qatar and he was there for the Aspetar Academy. He refused to sign anything and turned his back on me and my friend and waved at us to go away when we tried to just say hi. From my own personal experience he has no respect or time for any fans.

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Permalink Reply by Lucricia quimby on April 2, 2014 at 8:50pm

What an awful situation. B&N bookstore signings are generally restrictive In that you can only get the book the author is selling autographed but showing up so late and walking out after one hour leaving people standing waiting is so rude. They should have contingiousy plans to at least mail the buyer a signed book plate insert at a later date. Offering a refund doesn't cover the wait time and travel. Simply not cool.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Viola on April 4, 2014 at 5:24am

I wouldnt blame B&N all that much.  This sounds like Pele's doing.  He probably had a set time to leave as a lot of authors do, so coming late was already one strike against you.  I was at this store for the Mike Tyson signing.  There were 100's of people.   Mike signed until the books ran out.  Security is very tight at these signings.  It reminds of the Seinfeld soup nazi episode as you approach the signing table.  Mike was very cordial and even chatted a few seconds with me.  Id say Pele - BOO!

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