For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers
I recently contacted 5 local bookstores and 3 have agreed to sell some of my books. One of them will take the book on consignment. Has anyone had any problems with this type of agreement...is there any other way? The other two stores are owned by friends so there isn't an issue.
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Permalink Reply by albertasequeira on Thanks for the tips, John.
Permalink Reply by Alice DiNizo on Hi, John
Your advice on publishing is highly valuable. I am not known as a writer, might never be, but to avoid publishers who want to sell you a package is incredibly good advice. Yes, CreateSpace's do it yourself is a good deal. Thanks!!
The problem I have right now is that there is a potential for a consignment agreement which arose out of being selected for a book signing. Unfortunately owing to a huge miscommunication and internal politics I was dropped. However, when I went into the bookstore to pick up my books the manager allowed that they would be consigning in a couple of months and I could bring them back in. Their policy was fairly specific, and any unsold inventory will get sold somewhere else.
Permalink Reply by albertasequeira on I have never had a problem with books left at bookstores on consignment. I had a problem with "me!"
Make sure you keep excellent records on where you left them, with whom, get a "signed" copy back that they were left, the amount of books, the price, their discount and your precentage with royalty; have all this on the paper they give you with the books left. Don't allow too much time to go by without checking back with what is left on the shelves. I'd say at least once a month.
That wasn't my problem. I got comfortable thinking the manager or owner kept good records on what had sold in sales. I'd come in after leaving five books and saw I sold two. Then they would want six more. The other title might have sold four and they wanted only two more. I'd leave without marking down the ones sold and the ones left. I might have left four on one title, three on the other, and then six on the next.
What I do now to make it easy, is to leave 5 books of one title (the same with multiple titles) and don't get a check for one title until all five books are sold. If they want more, I leave the same amount of "only" five more. The store owner loves this idea. Looking at the stock we know we started with five books and there is no confusion on how many sold. If I sold two of the other title, I don't collect until they are all gone and I don't leave any until they are. It's easy to get confused when you have more than one or two titles left on consignment.
Keep a good relationship with the owner or manager. Going by their store for an errand? stop by just to say "hello."
Permalink Reply by Alice DiNizo on Hi,
Thanks for your words of wisdom. I will call the bookstore that has my books today.
Have a good weekend, Alice D
Permalink Reply by Reno Lovison on good advice
Permalink Reply by albertasequeira on Another think to keep in mind. Make copies of all the checks you get from the bookstore and bring them when you check on the other books so the manager doesn't say, "I thought we paid you for the last batch?" (when it's a new batch your looking to be paid for) or "Didn't we pay you for the last two?" Get ALL signatures that you left NEW books and that this is not the old batch. Serously, it doesn't sound like much to get books on consignment, but suddenly, you find the manager has no idea of what sold, and when you got paid. If you're not on top of it with "paperwork and signatures" you will lose money. It's happened to me and it was my fault of not keeping records.
Here's something to do when your book looks "too old" to stock. Lower your list price. It may or may not work depending on when the book was released, how long it has been "on the shelf" and other factors. In other words, ignore what the big 6 do because by now they don't know what they are doing. Lowering the list price creates the opportunity to sell more books because it becomes more affordable to the average reader. The bookstore is less likely to discount any further.
See, when I sell them, I don't lose more than the production cost, which amounts to very little per copy. When you consign them to a bookstore, they will take their cut and pay you the rest. This means your cost of production is covered and you receive the net. If they discount the price themselves they still have to pay you something. Working toward "breaking even" is the best way to get your books to readers in the interim even if you don't realize a huge profit.
The next week or so will be crucial to learning whether any of my books will pick up sales.
Permalink Reply by John Kremer on If you want to contact some great independent local booksellers, check out http://www.bookmarket.com/top700.htm
John Kremer
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