The school that wouldn’t let kids buy books

 

I’m sure the situation will improve. But I’m taking a moment to vent my frustration here in my hotel room as I prepare for a second day teaching my Comic Art Masterclass at a school which doesn’t appear to want to let its kids buy my books. 

You see when I visit a school to do my classes, for which I get paid, I email them in advance to say I’ll be bringing my book (currently Richard The Third) and that the kids can buy signed copies, for just £7 as opposed to the £8.99 they cost on Amazon. Most schools do this, some can’t get their act together in time, especially when I’m only there for one day,and that’s a shame. But I get paid to do the classes so that’s fair. The deal is that I do my classes, the books are a bonus for me and the kids  

Only this school is different. They’ve booked me for four whole days, which is great. And for that I’ve made some concessions. Bigger concessions than maybe I should have. 

Firstly I’ve given them a discount. I’m doing each day for £25 less than my usual price. A fair discount for a four day booking but it does mean I’m £100 down at the end.

Then I’ve agreed to squeeze three classes into each day, rather than my usual two.  The class takes two hours to do properly, and I’ve agreed to do two morning classes in 90 minutes each. Again I’ve done this to secure the four day booking. It’s very hard work, they’re particularly noisy kids, but I agreed to it, teaching 50% more kids than normal, for 10% less money, in the knowledge that in consolation I’ll be able to sell books to 50% more kids.

Only the kids haven’t been told they can buy books and, on day one, I’ve made no sales

Then I remember the reply to my email a couple of weeks ago, where the office said (to the teacher who passed iron to me): “ unfortunately we get charged a transaction fee and can’t afford to take the hit on it. We can direct parents to amazon to purchase and bring on the day or ask him to bring in 20 copies on the day and children can purchase if they want?”

They can’t afford to take “the hit” on being paid via Parent Pay? I have never heard this before. I have told them I’ll happily reimburse any fees they get charged  

Anyhow, day two ahoy and I hope we can sort this out by the end of my four day run or I will be very angry at this situation 

There. I have vented. Now to school.