I read quite a few blogs first thing in the morning, and this blog today (11/7/08) thoroughly explains this insane practice. No wonder the industry is in a world of hurt. This is the most backward practice I've heard of in modern times.
1) I would never consider returning a book after its read, but it seems that many people do just that. My question is why would the Big Chain Stores (BCS) even consider returning the customer's money if the book is obviously used?
Pass the book to other potential readers, greedy puss!
--Sell it at a used book store, donate it to the library, send it to soldier overseas, take it to the local women's shelter, or to the local prison.
2) I know its a crapshoot as to how well a book will sell in the stores, so don't order so many! Yeah, yeah, easy to say, but in Oklahoma they can't give TWILIGHT books away! Methinks someone over-guesstimated that one! Make it go into more print runs. If the big pubs aren't doing their magic with computers, they need to get with the program. It can't be that hard.
3) Though the print pubs don't want to face reality, it is stupid to have huge print runs. Yes, you need to get the book out there, but with computer technology being what it is, POD (Print on Demand) is the way the world is going. True, I love walking in my local B&N and fondling new book, but many times they don't have want I want. Either they don't have the author on the shelf or the particular book I need. Yes, I could have them order it, but then I would have to come back to pick up the book. Why wouldn't order it online and have the dang book delivered to my home?!
Over the years I've received numerous rejections for my manuscripts, and many seasoned authors stress that its simply business. The pubs want a sure thing to make money. And I'm okay with that--took my six years to get it--but I get it.
If it is all about making money, why are the pubs perpetuating this crazy practice of allowing books to be returned? They claim that if the BCS don't have the books visible, then they won't make money. The times are changing, computers are king, and this way of thinking needs to go the way of the dodo bird.
What are your thoughts on this practice?
I think much smaller print runs are going to be one major result of all this. I think what B&N announced a few months ago was about that point exactly -- they're no longer going to do the book-returns thing, so they're only going to order exactly as many copies as they know will sell. They're minimizing financial risk for themselves, but who does that screw? 1) The publisher, 2) new authors who don't have a big name to sell their books, and 3) readers. And B&N is a huge part of the industry, so the fact that they've changed their practice in that way worries me. I'm worried that brand-new authors with no track record won't even get out the door. And our advances are going to be shrinking across the board, too. :(
ReplyDeleteWell, it has to get better sometime, right? -- the economy, the publishing and book-selling businesses, etc. Somehow it will adjust. Let's hope sooner than later.