One of the bains of this publisher's existence is RETURNS. Yesterday three boxes of books came back from Partners Book Distributors with credit return of $600. 80 to 90 precent of these returned books are "shopworn" as the contract calls it, but they are mostly beat up in shipping and handling. The translation of shopworn is: "unsellable."
Back in the '30s, publishers, in an effort to help bookstores stay open during the Great Depression, offered a guaranteed sale to bookstores, meaning they could return any book they didn't sell, for a full refund.
This is still going on seventy-some years later. It is the way the system is set up and I know, I know, complaining doesn't help, but a raw deal is a raw deal and my need for an uncomplicated transaction isn't met by this system. It's outdated and wasteful of resources and money.
Speaking of complicated, Partners also puts periodic "holds" on the checks they send to this publisher. Last check we got was supposed to be nearly 1,200 dollars and the amount on the check was just over 800 and change. This is called, "A 25% hold against future returns." So, in addition to the distributor receiving a 55% discount, they can arbitrarily hold back 25% when they wish. I don't recall that being stated in the contract. But, Oh Well. "Rules is rules." The bottom line is, we're selling books through the distribution system for 80% off and we're guaranteeing the sale.
That's a pretty good deal I'd say.
2 comments:
Remainders and returns, ugh. The bottom line is that your books were handled many times by people who neither read them, nor paid for them. And to add insult to injury, the company you have as a distributer for you products dictates the terms to you.
Moral, readers should buy direct from the publisher and that way the author and the publisher make a profit and can stay in business. I've bought many books from Savage Press and I can say their customer service is great.
Thanks Chris, we're trying to redefine the paradigm by selling via the web and direct to the consumer, so there is some hope. Thanks for the kind words.
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