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MBrevard · 17 Apr 2003, 07:28

Hi, guys! I've been thinking and thinking about this problem all day, since Meat's earlier posts.

I sent him a PM, but he hasn't had the chance to get it yet. So, I have unanswered questions.

If you read my post earlier today, I ordered extra singles from HMV UK online. They accepted my order, but when I clicked on the button to check on it, I was given the information that they had not gotten the product from the supplier yet.

I have a very strong feeling, since Meat was as adamant as he was today about getting the singles bought up, that both Presales and Orders that cannot be filled due to lack of product will NOT be counted! And that makes sense, if we think about it. On these orders, no money has yet changed hands even though credit card info has been taken. And since that's the case, there has been no actual sale. Does that make sense?

So, continuing to buy from these sellers who WILL have them soon--probably the 21st, since that's what we're hearing most--will NOT help Meat right now. Next week, they'll help him tremendously. I would imagine that because of all these extra sales, plus being rated #8 on Amazon's presale list, is going to send the numbers through the roof next week!!! But that's not what he needs right now in order to "enter in the Top Ten," which is what he wants to do so desperately (and most likely needs to do, with still no contract signed over here in the States--that's just a guess, but it makes sense).

Calling the big chains and companies who SHOULD be carrying it, to see if they are, IS important--not to pester them to get it ordered, really (we can do that NEXT week if they STILL don't have it

) but we need to know if ANY of the stores in their chain MIGHT have it now or if their online websites might also have it available.

What we need to do for Meat, from the way I am understanding it, is to buy up EVERY AVAILABLE CHSIB SINGLE IN THE COUNTRY and do it RIGHT NOW! And we have precious little time to do it in.

Does anyone out there know exactly what the cut-off is for a week's numbers? Is it Friday at 5 pm or 11:59 p.m.? Is it Saturday or Sunday?? We need to know what the timeframe is that we have to work with. There's SO much I don't know about how all this works, but want to...! And this is all complicated by the fact that it's Good Friday and some shops may close early...And some of the people who could normally help us here may not be available.

So we need to get organized. We need a plan to be able to work as a team. Working individually will help, certainly, but it won't get the major job done that is needed to truly help Meat. It's a large task we're taking on.

I've worked up a basic plan that I'd like to propose, and I'd like to get everyone's opinions on it. It's the middle of the night in the UK; only 9 p.m. here in California. We should try to get this all worked out, if we can, before the shops open in the morning. It is my great sadness never to have visited the UK, so could someone tell me when, typically, stores do open there? Is it 8 or 9 or 10?? And also, how late are shops usually open during the day? In other words, how much time do we have to work here? Perhaps it varies too much to say, but please give us all an idea--those of us who are outside the country.

Let me lay out my plan, so you can see what you think of it:

Based on what I've been reading from your posts, the smaller shops, in smaller areas are more likely to be carrying the CD single. Most of the bigger sellers just don't seem to have it. And some of those who do, won't ship outside the country, leaving those of us out here unable to help.

What we need is for everyone in the UK, who has the ability--and the time--to mark off as wide an area as possible, and call EVERY seller within that area to see if they have the CD. If they find someone who does, and they can purchase it, great! They should do it. If they find someone who does and they cannot go out and get it, for whatever reason, they should bring the information here to a new thread on the forum, so that either someone else in the UK can go and get it--or order it by phone. Or those of us outside the country can call and order it, IF the shop will ship overseas. If they will not ship, then perhaps it would be possible for us to buy the singles and have the person making the phone calls pick them up and then ship them to us. Either way, money changes hands and CDs get sold!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I called the Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street, since I had heard they did have copies for sale. But I was told they do not ship here--and that their website does not ship overseas, either. But if I had had someone there who would have been willing to pick them up and ship them to me, I would have happily bought what I could from this store.

You see. We'll have teamwork. Everyone plays an important part, and no one gets left out.

People phoning a certain area should send a message to the forum indicating what section of the country they are taking, so that we would not be overlapping--doing the same job more than once. If, yesterday, you already made calls in an area near you, post that, so, once again, we won't duplicate our efforts. (If any chain stores were involved in your calling and your found out that no store in that chain will have it, please post that quickly, so they can be avoided.)

Mariella (or anyone else who wants to do this job): If you are willing to make the phone calls to the larger chains, whose phone numbers were given here, and ask them if they are carrying it; if ANY of their stores are carrying it THIS WEEK, that would be a tremendous help. If they aren't carrying it, we can just cross them off the list for now. No need for anyone making phone calls around the country to call any of their stores. That will save some time. If they DO have it--somewhere in the chain--then, again, that will save some time. The stores in that chain should be called first. So, we need a clear posting of what each of these companies have to say, and everyone will know how to proceed.

And I guess that would work for those who are calling around the UK, as well. If YOU are dealing with a chain of stores, and find out they don't have it yet; ask if it is likely the other stores in that chain would not carry it, as well. Then come and post their answer here. So everyone will know to either avoid these stores or phone them quickly.

When you find shops that DO have them, and are unable to get them yourselves, come back here quickly and bring the following information:

Name of Shop
Address of Shop
Phone number
How many CDs available
Price of CDs
Whether they will ship outside UK
And if not, are you willing to pick them up and ship them to whoever does purchase them (if outside the country)

I know this is a huge task, friends. But Meat doesn't often ask for our help. We have to do the best we can. And I think, if you all like this plan and believe it's feasible, we can make it work. It will take close and constant communication, though, on everyone's part. So, you should post as often as you can with what you have found out in your area--especially if you DO find CDs in a certain place. Then, the rest of us out here, either in the UK or outside it, can work toward buying up what CDs we are able to.

That's my basic plan. I'm sure it can be improved upon. But I'd love your comments on it and if this is doable--if there are enough of us here to make it work. We really need enough people in the UK who are willing to make these calls--whether they can buy the CDs or not. We've got to find a way of locating all those that are available--and we must do it in the next day, day-and-a-half, or two, depending on when exactly the deadline is for making the Top Ten.

Meat, dear heart, if you're out there and reading this, please consider contacting Geri at the OIFC. I don't want to cause any problems or bad feelings between the various groups. I'm just thinking that the number of fans in the other group is large and they, too, could be set upon to help with this huge and difficult task. Geri now has the ability to send a quick email to everyone on her list that is connected to the net. And they can then join us in trying to help you. It cannot be a matter of 'groups' right now; we ALL must pull together, as your fans, if we're going to make this happen.

So, what do you think, guys? Is this plan workable? Can you improve upon it? Let's talk about it for the next several hours, but we do really need to have the plan, whatever it is, in place, before the shops begin to open in the UK.

Please write and share your thoughts. And if you want to be a part of this, then, say so and what you are able/willing to do to help!

I am a great believer in the power of people, especially those who are motivated. I believe that motivated people can accomplish anything they set their minds to. And of course, there is no greater example of that, than the person we all come here to be with every day!!!

Thanks, as always, for listening.

Love and peace to each of you!

17 Apr 2003, 07:28	#76
MBrevard Super Loafer Join Date: 06.02.2003 Location: Deceased Posts: 761	Hi, guys! I've been thinking and thinking about this problem all day, since Meat's earlier posts. I sent him a PM, but he hasn't had the chance to get it yet. So, I have unanswered questions. If you read my post earlier today, I ordered extra singles from HMV UK online. They accepted my order, but when I clicked on the button to check on it, I was given the information that they had not gotten the product from the supplier yet. I have a very strong feeling, since Meat was as adamant as he was today about getting the singles bought up, that both Presales and Orders that cannot be filled due to lack of product will NOT be counted! And that makes sense, if we think about it. On these orders, no money has yet changed hands even though credit card info has been taken. And since that's the case, there has been no actual sale. Does that make sense? So, continuing to buy from these sellers who WILL have them soon--probably the 21st, since that's what we're hearing most--will NOT help Meat right now. Next week, they'll help him tremendously. I would imagine that because of all these extra sales, plus being rated #8 on Amazon's presale list, is going to send the numbers through the roof next week!!! But that's not what he needs right now in order to "enter in the Top Ten," which is what he wants to do so desperately (and most likely needs to do, with still no contract signed over here in the States--that's just a guess, but it makes sense). Calling the big chains and companies who SHOULD be carrying it, to see if they are, IS important--not to pester them to get it ordered, really (we can do that NEXT week if they STILL don't have it ) but we need to know if ANY of the stores in their chain MIGHT have it now or if their online websites might also have it available. What we need to do for Meat, from the way I am understanding it, is to buy up EVERY AVAILABLE CHSIB SINGLE IN THE COUNTRY and do it RIGHT NOW! And we have precious little time to do it in. Does anyone out there know exactly what the cut-off is for a week's numbers? Is it Friday at 5 pm or 11:59 p.m.? Is it Saturday or Sunday?? We need to know what the timeframe is that we have to work with. There's SO much I don't know about how all this works, but want to...! And this is all complicated by the fact that it's Good Friday and some shops may close early...And some of the people who could normally help us here may not be available. So we need to get organized. We need a plan to be able to work as a team. Working individually will help, certainly, but it won't get the major job done that is needed to truly help Meat. It's a large task we're taking on. I've worked up a basic plan that I'd like to propose, and I'd like to get everyone's opinions on it. It's the middle of the night in the UK; only 9 p.m. here in California. We should try to get this all worked out, if we can, before the shops open in the morning. It is my great sadness never to have visited the UK, so could someone tell me when, typically, stores do open there? Is it 8 or 9 or 10?? And also, how late are shops usually open during the day? In other words, how much time do we have to work here? Perhaps it varies too much to say, but please give us all an idea--those of us who are outside the country. Let me lay out my plan, so you can see what you think of it: Based on what I've been reading from your posts, the smaller shops, in smaller areas are more likely to be carrying the CD single. Most of the bigger sellers just don't seem to have it. And some of those who do, won't ship outside the country, leaving those of us out here unable to help. What we need is for everyone in the UK, who has the ability--and the time--to mark off as wide an area as possible, and call EVERY seller within that area to see if they have the CD. If they find someone who does, and they can purchase it, great! They should do it. If they find someone who does and they cannot go out and get it, for whatever reason, they should bring the information here to a new thread on the forum, so that either someone else in the UK can go and get it--or order it by phone. Or those of us outside the country can call and order it, IF the shop will ship overseas. If they will not ship, then perhaps it would be possible for us to buy the singles and have the person making the phone calls pick them up and then ship them to us. Either way, money changes hands and CDs get sold! I mentioned in an earlier post that I called the Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street, since I had heard they did have copies for sale. But I was told they do not ship here--and that their website does not ship overseas, either. But if I had had someone there who would have been willing to pick them up and ship them to me, I would have happily bought what I could from this store. You see. We'll have teamwork. Everyone plays an important part, and no one gets left out. People phoning a certain area should send a message to the forum indicating what section of the country they are taking, so that we would not be overlapping--doing the same job more than once. If, yesterday, you already made calls in an area near you, post that, so, once again, we won't duplicate our efforts. (If any chain stores were involved in your calling and your found out that no store in that chain will have it, please post that quickly, so they can be avoided.) Mariella (or anyone else who wants to do this job): If you are willing to make the phone calls to the larger chains, whose phone numbers were given here, and ask them if they are carrying it; if ANY of their stores are carrying it THIS WEEK, that would be a tremendous help. If they aren't carrying it, we can just cross them off the list for now. No need for anyone making phone calls around the country to call any of their stores. That will save some time. If they DO have it--somewhere in the chain--then, again, that will save some time. The stores in that chain should be called first. So, we need a clear posting of what each of these companies have to say, and everyone will know how to proceed. And I guess that would work for those who are calling around the UK, as well. If YOU are dealing with a chain of stores, and find out they don't have it yet; ask if it is likely the other stores in that chain would not carry it, as well. Then come and post their answer here. So everyone will know to either avoid these stores or phone them quickly. When you find shops that DO have them, and are unable to get them yourselves, come back here quickly and bring the following information: Name of Shop Address of Shop Phone number How many CDs available Price of CDs Whether they will ship outside UK And if not, are you willing to pick them up and ship them to whoever does purchase them (if outside the country) I know this is a huge task, friends. But Meat doesn't often ask for our help. We have to do the best we can. And I think, if you all like this plan and believe it's feasible, we can make it work. It will take close and constant communication, though, on everyone's part. So, you should post as often as you can with what you have found out in your area--especially if you DO find CDs in a certain place. Then, the rest of us out here, either in the UK or outside it, can work toward buying up what CDs we are able to. That's my basic plan. I'm sure it can be improved upon. But I'd love your comments on it and if this is doable--if there are enough of us here to make it work. We really need enough people in the UK who are willing to make these calls--whether they can buy the CDs or not. We've got to find a way of locating all those that are available--and we must do it in the next day, day-and-a-half, or two, depending on when exactly the deadline is for making the Top Ten. Meat, dear heart, if you're out there and reading this, please consider contacting Geri at the OIFC. I don't want to cause any problems or bad feelings between the various groups. I'm just thinking that the number of fans in the other group is large and they, too, could be set upon to help with this huge and difficult task. Geri now has the ability to send a quick email to everyone on her list that is connected to the net. And they can then join us in trying to help you. It cannot be a matter of 'groups' right now; we ALL must pull together, as your fans, if we're going to make this happen. So, what do you think, guys? Is this plan workable? Can you improve upon it? Let's talk about it for the next several hours, but we do really need to have the plan, whatever it is, in place, before the shops begin to open in the UK. Please write and share your thoughts. And if you want to be a part of this, then, say so and what you are able/willing to do to help! I am a great believer in the power of people, especially those who are motivated. I believe that motivated people can accomplish anything they set their minds to. And of course, there is no greater example of that, than the person we all come here to be with every day!!! Thanks, as always, for listening. Love and peace to each of you!