Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

I thought this deserves it's own thread.

tl;dr: Scientology had obtained the list of bookstores that report their sales to the New York Times & called Scientologists to have them buy specific books at those stores to game the New York Times Best Seller list.

According to Will, according to Moxon, the New York Times would not be pleased to know this and would prevent their books from getting on the Best seller list again if discovered.

willhaven720;1102926 said:

As I am now being followed (lol obvious OSA is obvious), I think it's a good time to let you know my real info.

My name is Will Fry.

I was recruited by Celebrity Centre Int but was transferred after the EPF to Bridge Publications Inc (BPI). Which, for those unfamiliar, is the publishing house for LRH's written works. At that time, they printed, sold and distributed his fiction works as well as his Scientology works. Though the organization was not considered part of the church, as it handled fiction works, it is a Sea Org operated business. It is structured as a management level org, just below Gold. We were also responsible in managing the sales of Hubbard's lectures and E-Meters under Gold.

I soon became posted as the "Sea Org Sales Manager" or "PAC Sales Manager." My job was to manage the book and A/V sales of the following churches...

AOLA
ASHO Day
ASHO Foundation
LA Day
LA Foundation
Celebrity Centre International

I was on post there from 1998-2000.

In that time, I helped put three LRH books on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

One of those books was "What is Scientology."

The other two were fiction.

1. "Ai! Pedrito!" (1998), which was co-written by Kevin J Anderson. He was paid to finish the short story of L Ron Hubbard.

and...

2. "A Very Strange Trip" (1999), which was co-written by Dave Wolverton. He was also paid to finish the short story of L Ron Hubbard."

When these books were released, I and other BPI sales managers were responsible for managing church staff under our authority to sell these books to public. We sold them as well. This was done in the churches themselves. The sales were made during work hours by staff members supposedly doing religious work. They were making a profit for BPI and Author Services Inc (ASI), who controls the rights to L Ron Hubbard fiction works and reigns in authority over BPI. Not to mention the profits of the two fiction writers mentioned above.

I will say it again...

I managed church staff members who were under orders to sell LRH co-authored fiction books to church members for a profit.

Needless to say, enough were sold. As their goal was to reach the NYT's bestsellers list.

Many of the books were sold in bulk. They were donated to be put into libraries by BPI.

The same thing was done at all orgs. It was part of the "Summer of Events" or "Maiden Voyage" event, where church officials released the books so the public would buy it after the event.

In 1998, for the release of "Ai! Pedrito!", I was put on a special project. There were three of us. One man worked for CMO West US. The other worked for Celebrity Centre International. We were each given a list of independent bookstores in various parts of America. We called Scientologists around the areas of the bookstores, then told them to go into that specific store to buy "Ai! Pedrito!".

And what was so special about these bookstores??

The list we were given were bookstores that directly reported sales every week to the New York Times. Somehow, someone from BPI or the Church of Scientology Management had gotten this list. All I knew was, we weren't supposed to have it.

How did I find out we weren't supposed to have it?

One day when I was doing my job. Calling public to go buy the book, I dialed the number of a very important figure to the Church... Their lawyer.

Ken Moxon.

He told me it would be very bad if someone found out we were doing this. And he wasn't going to buy the book at the store I wanted him to. After he hung up, I talked to my two co-workers. The man in charge of the operation said that's EXACTLY what we were supposed to be doing, per his orders from Management. He told me to call Ken back. I did, twice. Each time Ken insisted this would stop the book from reaching the bestsellers list if they found out about it. I was 17 at the time and too new to know who he was. But I sure found out. lol

The next day, the operation was shut down. I was put on post as the Sea Org Sales Manager and the other two got into a little trouble before going back to their posts. They had to do lower conditions. That was about it. After all, they were under orders. BPI does not take in a low level Sea Org member at Celebrity Centre Int and put him in charge of a BPI and CMO member. It was ordered to happen that way.

I'm told that, today, BPI no longer deals with fiction. Now they are just as much a part of the church as any other org. That was a smart move, if in fact they did this. Now they can get the same tax-benefits as the rest of the church. Now they don't have to worry about people witnessing what I witnessed and took part in directly.

So, who do we contact at the New York Times?

Anon123456 · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

yeah what he^ said.

_You_ · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

well it looks like we do. Any more evidence I can harpoon them with

Anon123456 · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

can any of you exes corroborate this shit?

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

I would also like to personally thank Ken Moxon for his wonderful advice on this issue. Thanks Kenny! (And try to keep your kids out of the Sea Org. It's sad to see them electrocute themselves.)

XenuLovesU · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

The New York Times > Member Center > Site Help > customer service: Information and Services Directory

# LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
E-mail to letters@nytimes.com.

# NEWS DEPARTMENT

The Editors
executive-editor@nytimes.com
managing-editor@nytimes.com

The Newsroom
news-tips@nytimes.com; thearts@nytimes.com; bizday@nytimes.com; foreign@nytimes.com; metro@nytimes.com; national@nytimes.com; sports@nytimes.com; washington@nytimes.com

# TO WRITE THE PUBLISHER OR PRESIDENT
Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Chairman & Publisher:
publisher@nytimes.com.

Scott H. Heekin-Canedy, President, General Manager
president@nytimes.com.

qwerty1234 · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Damn you copypasta'd the emails quicker than I could manage!

Do we have any other evidence of all this? Or do we harpoon with what little we have and hope for the best?

_You_ · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Message to Will Fry
This is the kind of info needed to prove visa fraud with regards to the human trafficking investigation. I started a thread titled US Homeland Security Investigation. I can't find the thread but a women named Katerina is investigating CoS for human trafficking. Her email is in one of the last comments on that thread. Please foward your statement to her. TY

_You_ · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Asking Ex Scientologists here:
Gaming of New York Times Best Seller list (can you verify?) - Ex Scientologist Message Board

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Historical listing of New York Times Best Seller list.
New York Times Best Seller List

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Confirmed "Ai! Pedrito!" (1998):

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MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

All books written by L. Ron Hubbard (the conman) except Dianetics they got on the New York Times Best Seller List:
site:hawes.com "Ron Hubbard" -1950 - Google Search

_You_ · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Here is the email to the person handling the trafficking investigation katerina.karousos@dhs.gov this would prove visa fraud as many sea org members from other countries are working at BPI as religious workers

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Confirmed "A Very Strange Trip" (1999)

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OTBT · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

_You_;1103149 said:

Message to Will Fry
This is the kind of info needed to prove visa fraud with regards to the human trafficking investigation. I started a thread titled US Homeland Security Investigation. I can't find the thread but a women named Katerina is investigating CoS for human trafficking. Her email is in one of the last comments on that thread. Please foward your statement to her. TY

_You_;1103187 said:

Here is the email to the person handling the trafficking investigation katerina.karousos@dhs.gov this would prove visa fraud as many sea org members from other countries are working at BPI as religious workers

Interesting, I wasn't aware of the US Homeland Security investigation.

This might help, USCIS official gov't dox, (Religious Worker Visa appeals decisions) concerning foreign Sea Org members working at Bridge publications:

http://www.exposescientology.com/visadox/050928_SEP282005_03C1101.pdf

http://www.exposescientology.com/visadox/060221_Feb212006_01C1101.pdf

MarlieK · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

It doesn't appear that the book "What is Scientology" made the New York Times Bestseller list in the years 1998, 1999 or 2000. Does anyone have any information on this?

DeathHamster · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

I'm told that, today, BPI no longer deals with fiction. Now they are just as much a part of the church as any other org. That was a smart move, if in fact they did this. Now they can get the same tax-benefits as the rest of the church. Now they don't have to worry about people witnessing what I witnessed and took part in directly.

The fiction stuff was moved over to Galaxy Press, which is a Doing Business As alias for Author Services Inc (ASI). ASI, is a for-profit which is (per the IRS agreement) wholly owned by religious non-profit Church of Spiritual Technology (weird vaults), which as the place where Hubbard's estate ended up (Author's Family Trust B), holds the copyrights and can yank the trademarks from RTC for a few bucks.

ASI/Galaxy Press is staffed by Sea Org, so it's just a game of shells and hats. ASI was the big money pipeline while Hubbard was alive (going back to at least 1962), and where Davie was running all of Scientology from for a few years until he shifted to RTC.

Theoretically (in moon-bat country), if CoS was in revolt and RTC was crumbling, Davie could arm the self-destruct, and jump into his CST escape pod, pull all copyright and trademark permissions from the existing Church of Scientology/RTC and (with loot hidden in the vaults) pop a new Church of American Science to take over while armies of lawyers battled to the death. If he managed to transfer ownership of all those buildings to the new organization, he'd level-up, for sure!

DeathHamster · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers June 28, 1990, Robert W. Welkos, Los Angeles Times

Another former Bridge employee, salesman Tom Fudge, said a supervisor once handed him a list of booksellers purportedly monitored by the New York Times. He said he was instructed to promise each one that Hubbard's books would "sell well" if they stocked more copies.

"I was told that they (Bridge) had Scientologists who would go out to specific stores and buy copies of the books," Fudge said.

An attorney who represents Bridge and Scientology denied that the publishing firm possessed a list of bookstores the New York Times uses to determine bestsellers.

"The list does not exist," insisted Boston lawyer Earle Cooley, who characterized the former employees as "disgruntled" and "antagonistic" toward Bridge and Scientology.

xenubarb · Dec 15, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Earl Cooley is dead.
That is all.

voiceless849 · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Anon123456;1103140 said:

can any of you exes corroborate this shit?

I can corroborate *some* of this post. TL;DR: The things alleged in this post seem authentic to me.

Details:

1) Staff were ordered to sell books, anytime possible. This was a problem for me, since I rarely saw any public. But the order was still standing.

2) Staff were paid profits on the books sold. What pissed me off is that the Book Store Office (whose job it was to sell books!) got the same compensation as I did. And the compensation was pretty rich, I think it was 15% of the sales volume, but don't quote me on it. So, while I made do with my $20/week of income, the Book Store Officer drove around in a nice Saab with black leather interior.

3) Bridge was located in the Pac Base, around the corner from the AO. I don't know if they printed stuff there, but it would be logical to have a "Pacific" book store sales position.

4) The culture of being on staff was such that having access to secret information would have been prized. Remember, that the staffers all themselves believe that they are privy to secret knowledge that makes them superior to everybody else.

Again, I say: the things alleged in this post seem authentic to me.

the anti · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

I saw some video awhile back talking about getting scientologist to buy new copies of whatever LRH books come out just to get it on the bestsellers list, anyone else remember seeing something like that?

realitybites · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

^ I remember reading about it a long time ago, probably in P.Cooper's book or another similar work.

_You_ · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

It is not gaming the best sellers list. It's simply fraud.
Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers -- latimes.com

LocalSP · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

_You_;1103889 said:

It is not gaming the best sellers list. It's simply fraud.
Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers -- latimes.com

Perhaps it's time to send a copy of this article to remind the New York Times of this blatant form of fraud.

FUCK · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

_You_;1103889 said:

It is not gaming the best sellers list. It's simply fraud.
Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers -- latimes.com

Trufax.

DeathHamster · Dec 16, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

What we need to do is implant them with the idea that they should buy up all the copies of critical books so that no one will read them.

_You_ · Dec 22, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

This may be old, but good news.

That LA Times report rocked my socks. I had no idea that the LA Times had some awesome comprehensive reports on the subject.

JohnnyRUClear · Dec 22, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

_You_;1107344 said:

This may be old, but good news.

That LA Times report rocked my socks. I had no idea that the LA Times had some awesome comprehensive reports on the subject.

Yes; epic win there. And yet, the cult (rick)rolled right along anyway. Nothing could be done about it, it seemed.

"Times" have changed.

lambear · Dec 22, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

May be relevant or not--as part of the LRHPPRO I was required to check out books at the library to make sure that they had a history of being read. Therefore, being ordered to buy books to make a stat look good is not unbelievable.

DeathHamster · Dec 22, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

lambear;1107475 said:

May be relevant or not--as part of the LRHPPRO I was required to check out books at the library to make sure that they had a history of being read. Therefore, being ordered to buy books to make a stat look good is not unbelievable.

Not just bought, but in some cases handed back in so they could be boxed up and shipped out again as new.

There were several reports of staff in bookstores opening up boxes and finding bookmarks for other chains already in the books.

genoramix · Dec 24, 2009

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

yummy sauce....man the harpoons!!!

willhaven720 · Jan 11, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Oh wow. I totally missed this thread. Thanks for the support, all!

Anonymous · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

We need to get our hands on that list the Scilons used. Chances are they still have it even though it is probably outdated.
Unfortunately operatives are scarce at this particular time that could have access to where this might be however I will see if we have someone who can discreetly look around.

the_cloak · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

So has God and everyone. How do you think Oprah got her start writing books? Used her show to whip up her fangrrls into a frenzy to buy up her book and boost it into "best selling" status.

Anonymous · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Started looking up Robert Welkos, the LA Times journalist who wrote the article mentioned above. He the LAT in 2008 and his last column is a reverie, starting with the time he interviewed Wyatt Earp. Hurp durp.

Welkos Wire signs off - LA Observed

Here's his article about being "fair gamed": Shudder into Silence, http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/harassed-and-abused-quill.htm

And look where he has JUST landed! http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/hollywood-film-fest-founder-launches-entertainment-news-site-12800

Published: January 11, 2010

Hollywood Film Festival founder has launched Hollywood News.com and hired veteran Los Angeles Times entertainment journalist Robert Welkos as executive editor.

"HollywoodNews.com is the one-stop place for the best entertainment and Hollywood-related content on the Web. We are the pulse of new Hollywood," de Abreu said in a statement.

Welkos said in a statement that the online destination "for both entertainment pros and fans" will offer "insightful and cutting-edge news with a perspective on the inside track of Hollywood.

The news site plans to cover awards, fashion, lifestyles, movies, music and television, as well as being on the red carpet for various events and conducting one-on-one in-depth interviews with celebrities. It also plans to employ "celebrity roving journalists" and "citizen journalists."

Anonymous · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Anonymous;1123005 said:

Here's his article about being "fair gamed": Shudder into Silence, LA Times writer, Robert Welkos describes "fair game" from Scientology

Yet again, someone's pet is attacked.

I would never know if the deliveries were just a mix-up or a sinister prank. Just as I have never known who made the dozens of hang-up telephone calls to my house; what caused my partner's dog to go into seizures on the day the Times published the secret teachings of Scientology; why a bogus assault complaint was filed with the Los Angeles Police Department against Sappell by a man whose address and name proved to be phony, or why car dealers we had never dealt with were making inquiries into our personal credit reports.

willhaven720 · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

the_cloak;1122994 said:

So has God and everyone. How do you think Oprah got her start writing books? Used her show to whip up her fangrrls into a frenzy to buy up her book and boost it into "best selling" status.

Oh.

I didn't realize that Oprah owned a church and paid slave labor wages to children for this.

My bad.

lingling · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

willhaven720;1123144 said:

Oh.

I didn't realize that Oprah owned a church and paid slave labor wages to children for this.

My bad.

Don't feel bad. Most people don't know about Oprah's evil mind control cult, the Church of Child Slave Labour. Only a few frothy xtian fundamentalists, and of course, alex jones, really know teh truth. It's supposed to be a book club, but really it's over 9000 people who are taking over the entire universe. trufax.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7liYfhRgXGk&feature=related"]YouTube- LOLPRAH: OVER 9000 PENISES![/ame]

willhaven720 · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

lingling;1123197 said:

Don't feel bad. Most people don't know about Oprah's evil mind control cult, the Church of Child Slave Labour. Only a few frothy xtian fundamentalists, and of course, alex jones, really know teh truth. It's supposed to be a book club, but really it's over 9000 people who are taking over the entire universe. trufax.

YouTube- LOLPRAH: OVER 9000 PENISES!

ZOMG SO EPIC!!!

grumpus · Jan 12, 2010

Re: Scientology has been Gaming the New York Times Best Seller list

Just watched your interview on youtube, Will. Great stuff, and congratulations on getting out!

There have been stories about this kind of manipulation of Elron's sale for quite awhile.

Here's one from the San Diego Union-Tribune in 1990:

San Diego Union - HUBBARD HOT-AUTHOR STATUS CALLED ILLUSION - April 1990

I bet Arnie Lerma could point out more off the top of his head, but his massive archives can be daunting to dig in. And I think he's on his honeymoon right now.

Operation Clambake Message Board :: View topic - CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. and Mrs. Lerma~~!!!!

Like others have said, I know I've read multiple reports of this over the years in reading up on Hubbard/Co$, but I can't recall all the sources. I don't remember ever seeing any hard evidence about it. Maybe in Gerry Armstrong court docs? Hmm... now I have to dig around some.

Anyway, I'm not sure manipulation of the list is a crime except for the stealing of the list itself, and they could have just bribed someone for it. I can see how it ties into the ecclesiastical fraud aspect, though. And perhaps Visa falsifications? Is that the angle?

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