Quote:
Originally Posted by crossi
If a book unexpectedly sold so many that the publishers ran out I would think they would be delighted if Amazon took on the expence of putting more copies in the hands of the slavering hordes wanting the book until the publishers have time to print a new batch. It's not like they wouldn't get the same royalties. Certainly the authors should be delighted to sell more copies. If anything it's insurance for the publishers so they wouldn't need to print un-needed copies of a potential dud book. Isn't that a major expence for the publishers, printing, and paying for the printing and storage of a lot of books that simply no one wants to buy?
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Yes it is.
Traditionally, 40% of books printed and shipped at launch get returned to be pulped or sold at "deep discount" generating very low or zero income to the authors.
This has gone down a lot in recent years because Amazon rarely returns books (which is why they aren't just one of the biggest pbook distributors but sls
on by far the most profitable channel for publishers) and because independent bookstores have been more careful with their orders since the publishers pushed BORDERS into Chapter 7 liquidation by refusing to take books back during their Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings.
The main benefit of retailer POD is faster delivery of books without incurring warehousing costs so, if this *rumor* is true, the intent is for Amazon to save money on their end while still making up for publishers inability to deliver books fast enough to satisfy customer needs. It also theoretically allows Amazon to sell books that would otherwise be technically out of print which is a competutive advantage all its own for Amazon.
On the minus side, the publisher gives up control over the finished product the consumer receives and highlights even to tradpub authors just how little value add traditiinal publishers bring to the table which is innevitably goingto reduce the publishers' control over their authors, hence the "suicide" aspect.
And we all know by now know obsessive the BPHs have become over retaining their declining control over a uthors, distributors, and retailers, right?