Jam Sessions – Dutch Auction
Now over!
Many thanks to all who participated, and we hope you enjoy the book.
We still have some copies of the deluxe version available, with the signed photograph in presentation box, but the opportunity to just buy the book is now gone.
In early 2021 we published a beautiful 12 x 12 inch limited edition coffee table book, Jam Sessions:Photographs by Martyn Goddard. It was a project that came out of the lockdown, when Martyn spent time going through his archive, in the process uncovering a collection of images—many previously unpublished—from his eight sessions with The Jam from 1977 to 1980: photographs which needed to see the light of day.
Jam Sessions is a limited edition book, just 350 signed and numbered copies, each in a presentation box with a signed limited edition photograph suitable for framing. If you haven’t seen it, it is a beautiful package – and you can read all about it here. We have copies in stock and ready to ship.
Here’s a question though. What about if you want to buy just the limited edition book—without the photograph and presentation box? Historically, we haven’t catered for this, and had intended all the copies to be sold with the photograph and box. Martyn and I have been discussing how we can do something for fans who would rather just buy one of the limited edition books by itself, without the bells and whistles.
When I last visited the warehouse I saw that we had enough copies left to be able to do something special and interesting in the run up to Christmas, and so we are going to run a Dutch auction, starting Saturday 5 November 2022—for people who just want to buy the book by itself. We see it like this. These books are just sitting in our warehouse. What’s the point in that when they could be in the hands of people who would really enjoy them? There’s no point. We want them all to find a new home, and have a great mechanism to achieve this.
And let’s clarify one thing at the outset—these aren’t new books outside the original 350 copies – these are signed and numbered limited editions from the run of 350, just re-purposed to be sold without the box and photograph. Each time a book is sold by itself, it just means there is one less deluxe package available.
What’s a Dutch Auction ?
A Dutch auction is a brilliant concept. With a Dutch auction, the price of the book reduces over a period of time until they are all sold, letting potential buyers make their own decisions about what price they think is fair. Given we are in some challenging times economically, this mechanism really makes sense.
Here’s the important thing. The Dutch auction only applies to purchases of the limited edition book by itself—ie without the special box and accompanying signed limited edition photograph. If you would like to purchase that deluxe version, they are still available, and this is the link. The prices for that deluxe set is fixed and will not reduce.
More on the mechanics
To kick things off with the Dutch auction, we have set a starting price for the book by itself, without the photograph and box. If you believe that the launch price is a fair price for the signed limited edition book, then you simply buy it for this price. You can see the latest price in the link in the button below. If the link is active, then the auction is still running. Then each week, at 9.00am UK time on Saturday morning, the price will reduce by £5. After two weeks, the price will have reduced by £ 10. After five weeks the price will be down by £25. And so on—you get the picture.
At any point, when you believe the price is right for you, you just make your purchase. That’s the price you choose to pay. Other people could have paid more, if they decided that an earlier, higher price was right for them—and they didn’t want to risk missing out. Some people could pay less, if there are books left when the next reduction happens. The Dutch auction mechanic means that if you really want the book, but your budget is below the launch price, then there is at least a chance that you can buy the book at your target price. You just have to wait a few weeks and take your chance that there are still some left at the point that the price that works for you. That’s the element of jeopardy that a Dutch auction introduces—you need to bear in mind that if you wait too long, you might miss out completely. How many books are we offering this way? That’s our little secret!
If you are interested in purchasing the book, just click on the link below for the latest price. If the link is active, then you will be able to bag one for yourself.
UPDATE – the Dutch auction is now closed
