Thanksfor the $70 Autograph Mr. Crouse!
 

A few years back John came to my hometown of Bolton Landing on Lake George, NY. He was visiting for the Lake George Donzi Classic Clubs Spring Dust Off Regatta. He was staying with a guy that lives a few houses away. I ran into them at a local waterside restaurant and my neighbor introduced me to Mr. Crouse. We had a nice chat for a few minutes and my neighbor said that John would be autographing copies of his book that he brought along for members of the club. I said I thought that was very nice of him. He asked me if I would like him to autograph a copy me. I said that would be very nice, Thank You. So he goes out to his car, gets a copy, signs it and says you owe me $70.00!

When someone makes a gesture and says would you like for me to autograph a copy I do not see that as saying, would you like to buy a copy of my book and I will autograph it for you. A rather CLASSLESS move on his part in my humble opinion. I just thought it was VERY INTERESTING. The $70 is irrelevant but it is the PRINCIPLE of the matter. Needless to say I took the high road and paid him. Cash. I wonder if he declared it as income because I never got a receipt? LOL! To me this just detracts from his respectability.

Happy Holidays all. Oh, BTW Mr. Crouse, do you ask for reimbursement for gifts to your family during the holidays?

Shane :o

Shane if that story is true then he is a schmuck. If anything he should have charged you the amount of the book and not his 50 dollar autograph...Was the book any good??

SC,

The story is 100% TRUE! I bet he will not reply to this post it is so true! And yest he is a SCHMUCK!

Actually the book is very informative! No story or plot, just alot of excerpts and facts. Very interesting and lots of photos too!

Shane :cool:

Shane turn him into the IRS. :D :D

Do I hear a collective OSO " BOO " !! :( :(

:confused: :confused: :( :(

Shane What is the cover price? I think that he charges that much for it, so he was autographing it for free. You did not expect to get something for free do ya. It does involve boats, so shouldn't it have cost you 1000 bucks!!! :p :p :p

IF I get a reward I will donate it to teh STM Club and sign Mean Dean's name to it! :p :p Audiogeek, yeah you are probably right, I guess i got off CHEAP! :rolleyes:

Shane :cool:

ttt :D

Reminds me of a guy that invited my wife and I to dinner and then told us our share for the lobsters was $xx.xx. We couldn't believe it but my wife worked with his wife and wouldn't let me do the scene thing. Thats OK though because I knew the boss was having a fling with his wife and he didn't.BTW, the dinner was at their home.

[ 12-19-2001: Message edited by: bucky ]

Think I would've shoved 2 fingers down my throat and gave him the lobster back!

Seventy bucks? and I thought I got ripped
when I bought his Searace crapola about 11 years ago for sixty bucks ..... Isnt he like
70 years old now? ..one step in the grave...lol

Re: Shane's tall tale re: being charged for my book SEARACE...

Fact. He was among several others who came up to purchase my book SEARACE after I'd made a talk at a Lake Geroge, NY restuarant as the guest of the Donzi Classic Club.

I asked him if he wanted me to sign it and he said yes, and I did. I then asked him for money for the book which he paid withnout comment.

Now two years later I read a OSO post from him, that implied that I was supposed to
be making him a gift of my 680 page, six pound work!

Some read into his post that I charged him the $69.95 for my autograph!

I hope for the public's welfare, Shane uses transportation and doesn't smoke in bed!

JOHN CROUSE
Crouse Publications

PS - I now write SEATALK, a monthly column that tells it like it is...the last issue taking a hard look at the leadership of the rented version of the APBA's offshore division by the overly ambitious barrister Michael Allweiss. Send me an e-mail at [email protected] and I will send up a comp copy.This one is COMP Shane!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by john crouse:
[QB]Re: Shane's tall tale re: being charged for my book SEARACE...

I hope for the public's welfare, Shane uses transportation and doesn't smoke in bed!

JOHN CROUSE
Crouse Publications

If you were this person would you come here and say this or would you just say "hey Shane,you bought a book not a autograph"

Now if I were to have to reply to this it would be just plain rude....


:p

Hey John,
I heard through the grape vine that you had some words about Mr.APBA. Some things were said that were very uncalled for. Sir you are getting ready to WEAR IT!!!!!!

Have a GREAT NEW YEAR!!!!

DOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek:

Oh Oops I just pointed a finger and laughed didn't I??...........Sorry... :p

Two years ago I met Mr. Crouse and purchased Searace and asked him to sign it. He did so willingly. I spent the next two hours talking raceboat history with him,that alone was worth the price of the book. Since owning the book, it has spent more time on "loan" then I've had it. If anyone can show me a better book on offshore racing, I'll bye it site unseen.
I do agree that some of what he said is harsh, however, show some respect to your elders.
PS would the OSO only member in Beachwood NJ please return my book-You've had it for 5 months!

Nobody is stating that john's book isn't the best book written on offshore racing. What is being disputed is that you should not critisize anyone unless you can do a better job. Or at least try to.

Shane your up.

John's book is without doubt the best ever wtitten on the sport we all love. No one else ever stepped up to undertake such a project. Love him or hate him,look at his book, it speaks for itself.

i actually can't believe that shane made this post after "airing" his viewpoint in a previous post. the man IS NOT in the charity business, he writes for his living!

Come on Shane, I know you arent out snowmobiling with that 1.5 inches we got up here last night !!!

I ordered Mr. Crouse's book a couple of years ago and he never asked me if I wanted it autographed but when it arrived it was autographed, also I have called Mr. Crouse on a couple of occasions and talked about the boats and persons in the book and he always was cordial and informative.

Where can I buy a book!?
jb

It's only fair and equitable for someone that creates a product, a service, a work of art, or literature, etc., to be compensated for his work. It's called commerce, free trade, whatever. It's one of those things that separates our form of society from many others that have a far lower standard of living that what we think we "deserve" here in the United States.

Shane, are you one of those guys that thinks he "deserves" something for nothing? Let me ask you, do you work for free? Let's say you sell boats for a living, or better yet, you own a boat manufacturing company. You're pretty successful and you go there by being a fair and honest businessman. You and I meet at a bar and we talk about boats for awhile and you suggest I come out and see some of what your company builds, especially that double whammy 100mph twin engined cat that you just developed. You're a good salesman obviously because you've got a good solid business. You ask me if I'd like to have one of your boats. I say yes, thank you very much and drive off in it. Tell me Shane, am I obligated to pay you for the boat? Because you insisted that I pay for the boat does that give me the right to come back some years later and call you a schmuck?

[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: JohnJan ]

MrOffshore

Try this
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1401823900

klaw

Damnit Trout.......you beat me here again....... :mad: :mad: :rolleyes:

Good to see you son is responsible enough to get along with out you Troutley. You post ho :p :p :p :p

Excuse my ignorants....Who is Mr. Crouse? I take it he wrote this book but whats his history? I guess I need to buy this book.

Tank

Dad......is that you???????? :confused:

JohnJan - thanks! That is how i see it, but shane keeps going on about it..actually, he made this post "after" he discussed this EXACT topic before in another post...he just won't let go!

OKay People,

John Crouse YOU ARE WRONG! I never heard you speak at any dinner! You were at the same restaurant as I the NIGHT BEFORE YOUR BIG SPEACH and you were with a the President of the Donzi club who lives down the street from me. So before you state FACTS about my tall tale GET YOURS RIGHT! I am not in nor did I attend the Donzi function. I stopped by the table you were sitting at with Mr. Hodgkinson to be cordial and say hello. So please, before you bash me or any other person, get the FACTS STRAIGHT! I did not bring it up here until you came on here BASHING Mr. Alweis be his actions right, wrong, or in different. People here know I will lend a helping a hand to anyone and in the process make many sacrifices to help others. Just ask the NUMEROUS members that I have helped here. I did not bring up until you came on here with a holier than thou attitude. If you were such a fine journalist you would have reported what happened in an objective manner. But instead you were EXTREMELY opinionated and lashed out. Not professional journalism at all. You see, I do not need to be professional here as I am not a journalist nor do I profess to be. When I am at my job I am extrememly professional. Many board members are my clients and I am certain they can attest to such. As I stated earlier in this thread the manner in which you presented the opportunity was not such that it was intended for purchase. As I mentioned earlier, had it been positioned differently the outcome and my opinion of you would have possibly been more favorable as well. You see, I would simply have chalked it up to experience and left it at that, but I felt that in the manner in which you BASHED others here that I needed to show that you ain't all that and a bag chips Mr. Crouse. In fact, in many ways your actions resemble those, albeit on a much smaller scale, you were lashing out against. As far as I am concerned we are beating a dead horse by continuing this thread any further and it will certainly not lead to any productive ending. Whether you agree with me or you agree with Mr. Crouse, it really doesn't matter anymore. Continuing this discussion will serve no useful purpose to any of us as it is obvious that we will never agree. So I say, let us agree to disagree and let those bystanders form their own opinions.

Shane :(

[ 01-01-2002: Message edited by: Shane ]

I have my opinion :D :D :D

And what might that be? :confused: :p

Shane,
Your X-mas Present went out today, sorry for the delay, but I went boating with "Cord and Mrs. Cord" over the holidays, so it got out late.
MD

Thanks dude, I appreciate it! Looking forward to receiving it!

Shane :D

Crouse is just one of a very limited number of people out there who is not willing to provide falacio for Mike A on command....

Good for you John, I applaud your courage...

GR

highbidder,

As I ststed had you read this thread thoroughly, you would see that it was not about him kissing up to or even agreeing mith Alweiss, it was first his tone and lack of integrity with regard to the method by which he attempted to make his point known, and secondly, had he acted more professionally I would have not even brought it up. But as he said he just wanted everyone to know, well, then, I too wanted to people to see the real Mr. Crouse.

This has NOTHING to do with Alweiss, but it has EVERYTHING to do with Crouse and his attitude. had he been more gentlemenlike I would not have even brought it up. i just wanted to show teh members of OSO it was nothing more than the pot calling the kettle black.

Shane

Well highbidder, i waited 24 hours to respond to your comment...not sure it will help.

I like most people, and i especially like people that work hard to be successful. I really, really like affable, hardworking and dedicated people helping me showcase a sport i enjoy a lot. And beyond that, they give me an opportunity to participate in that sport in a way that is organized, fair and as safe as it can be.

Now by your standards, respect and friendship shown to Mike A. or anyone else that meets my criterion, is "sucking up" or worse. By your standards, one apparently has to be careful showing respect for success, or by some convoluted thinking, you are branded a "suck up."

Incredible as it may seem to you, people are to smart to buy into that nonsense. Count me very strongly as someone who sucks up to Mike A., John C. or anyone else who slaves at a for-profit or not-for-profit endeavor as an entrepreneur or employee.

I don't like "slackers" and i especially don't like people who would impugn a great majority of us on a bulletin board with careless comments. Why don't you come to a race and say those things to the teams. It would be a great way to improve the gene pool.

Ted Z.

Ted,

Being from the same hometown it is no wonder your words are so well thought out and so well articulated. Thanks for your insight my friend. You have the uncanny ability to say so much in so few words. Truly an art form!

Bravo! Hope to see on the lake this summer.

Shane :cool: