tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post5710719880525801518..comments2024-03-24T20:54:42.846-04:00Comments on Spunk On A Stick's Tips: Book Returns: What they Mean For Publishers and AuthorsL. Diane Wolfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-85182451982244834392015-07-27T21:09:09.447-04:002015-07-27T21:09:09.447-04:00My husband and I have bought audio books before fo...My husband and I have bought audio books before for trips where we had to do long car rides. We listened to Nickel and Dimed on such a trip. It's not fiction though.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912167351889969855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-65544929759964977922015-07-26T02:06:19.256-04:002015-07-26T02:06:19.256-04:00Diane, there is so much waste in this business. Wh...Diane, there is so much waste in this business. When I sell my books by the beach I make a profit of about $4-5 per book. No returns. <br /><br />Returns are frustrating. It doesn't seem that difficult to better project what a bookstore can sell so the returns are not at such a high percentage. When I worked at GE, I was amazed at how accurately people could project quantity orders in advance with so little waste. It's not that hard if you hire the right people.Stephen Tremphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387553613827257304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-48296794914630342302015-07-23T17:47:32.652-04:002015-07-23T17:47:32.652-04:00Interesting and insightful post. Interesting and insightful post. Romance Reader https://www.blogger.com/profile/10633164931292182035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-72083726781881305582015-07-23T16:42:22.612-04:002015-07-23T16:42:22.612-04:00I might be naive, but I wince when I hear about bo...I might be naive, but I wince when I hear about books being trashed. It shouldn't happen, and there's the eco impact as well. I suppose they never know what books are going to take off. But some are slow burners and take longer to get good reviews and word of mouth. This policy must hamper that.Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-71287975708665000562015-07-23T11:03:03.170-04:002015-07-23T11:03:03.170-04:00I hate to think of all the books that are just des...I hate to think of all the books that are just destroyed. I hope they at least recycle them.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://wrotebyrote.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Wrote By Rote</a><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-87467726640734611672015-07-22T18:36:48.084-04:002015-07-22T18:36:48.084-04:00It seems an archaic process, with no winners reall...It seems an archaic process, with no winners really. I guess print on demand will increase. Tough times for all concerned. And thanks for your comments re Net Galley. I guess the cost is why it's mainly the big guys that are available. :-) Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-51666726536755944482015-07-22T16:31:06.683-04:002015-07-22T16:31:06.683-04:00waaaaah!
thats all i have to say about that. depre...waaaaah!<br />thats all i have to say about that. depressing reality.<br />but thanks for the infoTara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-84727378610195973392015-07-22T15:09:32.660-04:002015-07-22T15:09:32.660-04:00I knew of returns, but I didn't realize they w...I knew of returns, but I didn't realize they were quite so high. Really I think they should leave returns to the consumer, not the retailer. A consumer (customer) does have the right within a reasonable time to return a product. Retailers shouldn't be able to return products they purchase to sell unless said product is damaged in some way upon receiving it. Will they change their policies? Probably not. Maybe we'll see the rise of print on demand when it comes to bookstores in the future to remedy this situation.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-31533117139327192012015-07-22T14:31:58.863-04:002015-07-22T14:31:58.863-04:00It's so wasteful. Print on demand is the way t...It's so wasteful. Print on demand is the way to go. There are vending machines that will do that in stores. M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-83233831445455792552015-07-21T17:20:30.691-04:002015-07-21T17:20:30.691-04:00Sheesh, that is a high number. Like many others, ...Sheesh, that is a high number. Like many others, I didn't know how high it was. It's really sad that so many are destroyed. Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17323788304469008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-4219498462289990322015-07-21T13:21:11.046-04:002015-07-21T13:21:11.046-04:00I have heard about this, and it is awful. Too bad ...I have heard about this, and it is awful. Too bad the paperbacks couldn't be donated somewhere. "Amazon returns ebooks." What does that mean? Does Amazon pay the publisher to distribute a certain number of ebooks just like paper ones? Tamara Narayanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03725262301091012950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-45218537423835093542015-07-21T07:35:24.490-04:002015-07-21T07:35:24.490-04:00I had no idea the number was that high. Everyone h...I had no idea the number was that high. Everyone has been saying artists don't get the respect and money they deserve for the work they do--art is ripped off, books are pirated and returned, and music is pirated as well. I would say ebooks are a good solution, but then you had a recent post about how they're so easy to return on Amazon within days. This is all bad news for authors. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-48398900504920122582015-07-21T06:55:10.101-04:002015-07-21T06:55:10.101-04:00Ultimately, the publisher would save so much money...Ultimately, the publisher would save so much money if the returns system were eliminated. Or if they toyed with POD. But the industry (retail and publisher end) is so set in its ways. Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-72096722853576945552015-07-21T03:12:31.656-04:002015-07-21T03:12:31.656-04:00Hi Diane - I certainly hadn't taken those poin...Hi Diane - I certainly hadn't taken those points on board ... interesting and interesting to know it's nearly 90 years old - I can see the dilemma ... but have no idea what could be done about it - food for thought here .. thanks - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-77955274952138463242015-07-21T00:56:52.753-04:002015-07-21T00:56:52.753-04:00Wow this is sobering information. I had no idea......Wow this is sobering information. I had no idea...<br /><br />Publishers should stand firm. We are talking almost a century ago this was put into place. It is time for a change!Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-64397639511564736012015-07-20T22:55:33.998-04:002015-07-20T22:55:33.998-04:00I don't know whether it's possible or not,...I don't know whether it's possible or not, but I think returns should not be allowed. People ought to make up their minds which books they want to read and buy them. Then give them to friends or relatives or libraries for their sales, or like me have a houseful of books that I sometimes read again. That's my 2 cents worth. :)Beverly Stowe McClurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176195451841801819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-40159552263859425512015-07-20T22:42:33.557-04:002015-07-20T22:42:33.557-04:00And again, I'm glad I'm not a writer. I di...And again, I'm glad I'm not a writer. I didn't know this happened. I knew paperbacks had their covers ripped off but not why. Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-20212120789727068442015-07-20T21:57:52.033-04:002015-07-20T21:57:52.033-04:00I'd heard about this but didn't realize th...I'd heard about this but didn't realize the percentage was so high. I would hope things would change, but don't know what a good alternative might be. Thanks for the info!Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-72365526025958342822015-07-20T21:56:06.003-04:002015-07-20T21:56:06.003-04:00Thank you, Diane-for telling it like it is. Gosh, ...Thank you, Diane-for telling it like it is. Gosh, I had no idea. This is so sad. I have only returned one book-a garden type one. I bought it for my mom and she already had it. So, I returned it and bought her a gift card. <br /><br />Ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070952447277684613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-78820799813895394102015-07-20T16:54:34.043-04:002015-07-20T16:54:34.043-04:00Wow, all that is kind of scary to read about. It s...Wow, all that is kind of scary to read about. It sounds like some serious change is needed. I wonder if the introduction of ebooks has any effect.J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-81936650763005332082015-07-20T14:54:30.351-04:002015-07-20T14:54:30.351-04:00Ann, they do play that game so well, too.
Tyrean,...Ann, they do play that game so well, too.<br /><br />Tyrean, sad for her, but at least she's not adding to the problem.<br /><br />Nicki, I think they run over them with a forklift.<br /><br />Karen, that's why I tell people to doing signings other places besides a bookstore.<br /><br />Robyn, it would take the big five publishers saying no to returns, and not sure that would ever happen.<br /><br />Sarah, I know, it's such a waste.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-53947958527277039602015-07-20T14:50:09.048-04:002015-07-20T14:50:09.048-04:00That's a sobering thought considering how much...That's a sobering thought considering how much work goes into them L.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-83036722761930670052015-07-20T14:42:50.591-04:002015-07-20T14:42:50.591-04:00No wonder Amazon has gotten to be about the only p...No wonder Amazon has gotten to be about the only place to buy books. Once listed at their site, at least the book is not "returned". Doesn't seem fair to charge the author for the poor marketing of a book store.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-69690179523570531872015-07-20T12:42:11.774-04:002015-07-20T12:42:11.774-04:00I think the industry must change, and I think it c...I think the industry must change, and I think it could, if there was an economic incentive to do so. <br /><br />My point remains this: Why should the author (or the publisher, for that matter) be held responsible for a bookseller over-ordering?)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11634512.post-23313734298868196252015-07-20T11:57:08.596-04:002015-07-20T11:57:08.596-04:00Thirty percent is a scary number! I used to work i...Thirty percent is a scary number! I used to work in a bookstore and occasionally had to pull the books from the shelves to be returned. I hated how they just ripped the covers off the mass market books!Sarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.com