Comments on: Bookstore Distribution—Self Publishing Dream come true or The Emperor’s New Clothes? http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/ A Monthly Newsletter for the Small Press and Independent Self-Publisher || Published by RJ Communications The Print Buyers' Alternative Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:44:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: dave st.john http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-39707 dave st.john Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:52:09 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-39707 Now that was a great article. I've never heard returns described so well or so bleakly. I am one of the many of those gored by B&T and haven't dealt with them for ten years. Dirty me once... Kudos on telling it like it is. I sell our titles only on a nonreturnable basis now. Now that was a great article. I’ve never heard returns described so well or so bleakly. I am one of the many of those gored by B&T and haven’t dealt with them for ten years. Dirty me once… Kudos on telling it like it is. I sell our titles only on a nonreturnable basis now.

]]> By: Laneen Haniah http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-36878 Laneen Haniah Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:52:39 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-36878 Dodie, Atlas Books, also known by Bookmasters, Inc. has been a nightmare for me too. From start to finish they suck in every way. This article is discouraging because over the last week I have been saying to myself that after the winter sells rush ends that I am closing my account with Atlas and finding a new distributor, but it seems that is not the way to go! What's a small publisher to do?!! I have 7 small children and am just to fulfill my dream to work from home by publishing my books and those of my clients, but I don't have the time to dedicate to pushing sales myself... sigh. Hey Dodie, was your sales rep Carol Bowersock. That is mine and man is she NICE! You are right about that, laugh, problem is her niceness doesn't transcend into the rest of the company. They are completely, and I do mean COMPLETELY INCOMPITENT.!!! Laneen Haniah www.victoriouslyfree.org Dodie,

Atlas Books, also known by Bookmasters, Inc. has been a nightmare for me too. From start to finish they suck in every way. This article is discouraging because over the last week I have been saying to myself that after the winter sells rush ends that I am closing my account with Atlas and finding a new distributor, but it seems that is not the way to go! What’s a small publisher to do?!! I have 7 small children and am just to fulfill my dream to work from home by publishing my books and those of my clients, but I don’t have the time to dedicate to pushing sales myself… sigh.

Hey Dodie, was your sales rep Carol Bowersock. That is mine and man is she NICE! You are right about that, laugh, problem is her niceness doesn’t transcend into the rest of the company. They are completely, and I do mean COMPLETELY INCOMPITENT.!!!

Laneen Haniah
http://www.victoriouslyfree.org

]]> By: Maura Moynihan Berzman http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-34763 Maura Moynihan Berzman Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:55:08 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-34763 I'm so happy I read this article today. I recently published my children's picture in August 2008. I'm setting up many Author visits at libraries in Florida. I also sent my book to the Barnes & Nobles small press dept. They told me I can't do Author visits until I get accepted by them. I will find out in five weeks. My home is my current distributor. Will B&N ask me to disribute with someone else when I'm accepted. Your article was a real eye opener. What would you advise on the children's picture book? Maura Moynihan (Murphy Bear's Tennis Lesson) I’m so happy I read this article today. I recently published my children’s picture in August 2008. I’m setting up many Author visits at libraries in Florida. I also sent my book to the Barnes & Nobles small press dept. They told me I can’t do Author
visits until I get accepted by them. I will find out in five weeks.

My home is my current distributor. Will B&N ask me to disribute with someone else when I’m accepted. Your article was a real eye opener. What would you advise on the children’s picture book?

Maura Moynihan (Murphy Bear’s Tennis Lesson)

]]> By: Donna Barr http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-34747 Donna Barr Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:40:26 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-34747 I would LOVE to use B&T -- but after about 20 books shipped, tracked by UPS and delivered, and then their claim they never got them and refusal to pay -- I just couldn't use them any more. I think the right hand does not know what the left foot is doing. Something big-time is wrong with that company. It may be that the antique distribution systems are just dying, and we're wading through the bacterial toxins. So it's time for more end-runs around the gatekeepers. Hit http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2008/09/dumping-distributors-naked-peacock.html to see an EXTREMELY simplified diagram for using POD and a "distributor" site that does no more than take and forward orders to -- for example -- Lulu, and takes a small fee for doing it. This is very basic, but it's a job opportunity sitting there -- small at first, but it can grow. I know somebody out there has the site-building chops to do this. Contacting the POD authors on this site would build a retailer and customer base. I would LOVE to use B&T — but after about 20 books shipped, tracked by UPS and delivered, and then their claim they never got them and refusal to pay — I just couldn’t use them any more.

I think the right hand does not know what the left foot is doing. Something big-time is wrong with that company. It may be that the antique distribution systems are just dying, and we’re wading through the bacterial toxins.

So it’s time for more end-runs around the gatekeepers.

Hit http://donnabarr.blogspot.com/2008/09/dumping-distributors-naked-peacock.html to see an EXTREMELY simplified diagram for using POD and a “distributor” site that does no more than take and forward orders to — for example — Lulu, and takes a small fee for doing it.

This is very basic, but it’s a job opportunity sitting there — small at first, but it can grow. I know somebody out there has the site-building chops to do this.

Contacting the POD authors on this site would build a retailer and customer base.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-34106 Rebecca Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:25:56 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-34106 Ron, It appears that B&T has undergone some sort of restructuring affecting the department handling small press (i.e., inventory management to B&T warehouses) at the beginning of September. Since then, I have been unable to identify, contact or otherwise speak with the person now handling my account (and, of course, the warehouse that will be supplying books to my upcoming book signings is at zero). Have you heard anything about this from other independent publishers? Thanks, Rebecca Hale Green Vase Publishing Ron,

It appears that B&T has undergone some sort of restructuring affecting the department handling small press (i.e., inventory management to B&T warehouses) at the beginning of September. Since then, I have been unable to identify, contact or otherwise speak with the person now handling my account (and, of course, the warehouse that will be supplying books to my upcoming book signings is at zero). Have you heard anything about this from other independent publishers?

Thanks,

Rebecca Hale
Green Vase Publishing

]]> By: Denise http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-31815 Denise Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:03:55 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-31815 My concerns about publishing through 'the industry' are confirmed through your article. The responses from your other readers is another source of validation. Thanks to all of you! I will proceed on the path I trust... my own. My concerns about publishing through ‘the industry’ are confirmed through your article. The responses from your other readers is another source of validation. Thanks to all of you! I will proceed on the path I trust… my own.

]]> By: Dar Hosta http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-31790 Dar Hosta Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:52:58 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-31790 Returns. When I give talks on independent publishing, everyone wants to know how to get into the chains, because I have been there--and I have lived the return nightmare and it was terrible, costly, and heartbreaking and it took a full year to be finally over with after changing to no return. But everyone thinks the chains, who require open returns, are the holy grail and that, if they get there, they've become successful. Compounding the problems of returns outlined here, the returned books frequently come back too scuffed or dented to ever be sold again as "new." Additionally, the chains do not move inventory to and from their stores. A store that sells orders more from BT rather than getting inventory from another store while the other store sends back returns. Finally, once you are in the chain stores, your book has about a half-inch of spine space to call out to potential buyers. What most people don't realize is that those books that are face out aren't there because some nice, book-loving salesperson thought they were great. That's paid real estate. I once paid $3,000 for my title to be face out in nationwide stores for a month, with sales that increased for that month but returned to normal after my promotion was over. So I tell people, always, be careful what you wish for. That $20 bill for the book is the way to go. Now I sell all my books directly to my customers and I am happier and better off profit-wise. The strength of the successful independent publisher has always been his/her niche market. Returns. When I give talks on independent publishing, everyone wants to know how to get into the chains, because I have been there–and I have lived the return nightmare and it was terrible, costly, and heartbreaking and it took a full year to be finally over with after changing to no return. But everyone thinks the chains, who require open returns, are the holy grail and that, if they get there, they’ve become successful. Compounding the problems of returns outlined here, the returned books frequently come back too scuffed or dented to ever be sold again as “new.” Additionally, the chains do not move inventory to and from their stores. A store that sells orders more from BT rather than getting inventory from another store while the other store sends back returns. Finally, once you are in the chain stores, your book has about a half-inch of spine space to call out to potential buyers. What most people don’t realize is that those books that are face out aren’t there because some nice, book-loving salesperson thought they were great. That’s paid real estate. I once paid $3,000 for my title to be face out in nationwide stores for a month, with sales that increased for that month but returned to normal after my promotion was over. So I tell people, always, be careful what you wish for.

That $20 bill for the book is the way to go. Now I sell all my books directly to my customers and I am happier and better off profit-wise. The strength of the successful independent publisher has always been his/her niche market.

]]> By: Vivian Zabel http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-30420 Vivian Zabel Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:06:30 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-30420 A while back, Ron, you put out information about getting hardback children's books in color without going overseas. I'm needing to find printing sources that don't charge more to print than we can sell the books for. Vivian Hi, Check out http://www.rjcom.com/childrens/. Thanks Ron A while back, Ron, you put out information about getting hardback children’s books in color without going overseas.

I’m needing to find printing sources that don’t charge more to print than we can sell the books for.

Vivian

Hi,
Check out http://www.rjcom.com/childrens/.
Thanks
Ron

]]> By: Donald A. Wilhelm http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-29569 Donald A. Wilhelm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:20:26 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-29569 Awesome article. I was already leaning away from the industry establishment and put up my own website, MySpace and YouTube pages to hock my book direct. I'm going to stay on this path and avoid the nightmares you've described here. Besides, I'm sure when Oprah calls, I can handle the distribution details then. ;) Awesome article. I was already leaning away from the industry establishment and put up my own website, MySpace and YouTube pages to hock my book direct. I’m going to stay on this path and avoid the nightmares you’ve described here. Besides, I’m sure when Oprah calls, I can handle the distribution details then. ;)

]]> By: Dr. LInne http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-29487 Dr. LInne Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:53:52 +0000 http://www.publishingbasics.com/2008/07/08/bookstore-distribution%e2%80%94self-publishing-dream-come-true-or-the-emperor%e2%80%99s-new-clothes/#comment-29487 Wow. Ron, you have explained every sense I've had about bookstore distribution! Luckily my corporate customers do not buy in bookstores, but I was considering it for my What You Say Is What You Get(R) books and audios on Appreciation in Marriage and Parenting. Thanks for saving me tons of time and money! And upsets! Question for Reply #15, Rob: Did you shift from Amazon as distributor to their $40/mo. program? And how do you get your buyers' email addresses now that AMazon controls every communication thru their site? Thanks much, Dr. Linne Bourget Wow. Ron, you have explained every sense I’ve had about bookstore distribution!
Luckily my corporate customers do not buy in bookstores, but I was considering it for
my What You Say Is What You Get(R) books and audios on Appreciation in Marriage and Parenting. Thanks for saving me tons of time and money! And upsets!

Question for Reply #15, Rob: Did you shift from Amazon as distributor to their $40/mo. program?
And how do you get your buyers’ email addresses now that AMazon controls every communication thru their site?

Thanks much,
Dr. Linne Bourget

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