Comments on: What About Returns? http://gropenassoc.com/blog/2007/11/what-about-returns/ Discussion, issues and answers for the independent publishing community, hosted by Marion Gropen Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:57:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Marion Gropen http://gropenassoc.com/blog/2007/11/what-about-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-7061 Marion Gropen Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:36:00 +0000 http://gropenassoc.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7061 That was in the other entry on returns. But basically, given the severe power imbalance between publishers and bookstores, publishers are going to bear almost all of the costs of those books that don't sell, either in extra discounts, or in returns, or in some similar way. If we get the books back, then the publishers that sell the right books into the right places, and make the right marketing decisions won't be penalized for the mistakes of others, AND we'll all have the books back when they really don't sell. This opens up other options for us, including disposing of them via firesales or eBay, or . . . as well as offering us further information about our market. That was in the other entry on returns. But basically, given the severe power imbalance between publishers and bookstores, publishers are going to bear almost all of the costs of those books that don’t sell, either in extra discounts, or in returns, or in some similar way.

If we get the books back, then the publishers that sell the right books into the right places, and make the right marketing decisions won’t be penalized for the mistakes of others, AND we’ll all have the books back when they really don’t sell. This opens up other options for us, including disposing of them via firesales or eBay, or . . . as well as offering us further information about our market.

]]> By: Ben Ohmart http://gropenassoc.com/blog/2007/11/what-about-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-6996 Ben Ohmart Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:52:37 +0000 http://gropenassoc.com/blog/?p=29#comment-6996 I don't agree with your statement at all because you've given no alternative to what happens if bookstores had to pay for returns rather than the publisher. Put that in terms negative to the publisher and perhaps the argument would work. I lost 1000s of dollars last year from returns, and I'd like to hear what life might be like if stores Couldn't return things. I don’t agree with your statement at all because you’ve given no alternative to what happens if bookstores had to pay for returns rather than the publisher. Put that in terms negative to the publisher and perhaps the argument would work. I lost 1000s of dollars last year from returns, and I’d like to hear what life might be like if stores Couldn’t return things.

]]> By: PublishingGuide http://gropenassoc.com/blog/2007/11/what-about-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-445 PublishingGuide Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:55:41 +0000 http://gropenassoc.com/blog/?p=29#comment-445 Thank you for commenting. Yes, returns do exact a toll upon our environment. But that toll is more complex than it looks. When we talk about eliminating returns, we aren't talking about eliminating excess books. We don't have a clue about how to do that. We're talking about denying bookstores the right to return them. Unneeded books would still be produced. In addition, the total number of books sold, especially the riskier ones that are likely to foment positive social change, would drop. We'd have cut book production and sales, but not by the RIGHT (the unwanted) books. As for the shipping of returns, I think it's pretty low impact. You see, if you eliminate it, you probably don't change the number of delivery trips to either the stores or the central warehouses. And the trip itself has a bigger impact than the incremental weight of the returned books. Good question, though. Thank you for commenting.

Yes, returns do exact a toll upon our environment. But that toll is more complex than it looks.

When we talk about eliminating returns, we aren’t talking about eliminating excess books. We don’t have a clue about how to do that. We’re talking about denying bookstores the right to return them. Unneeded books would still be produced.

In addition, the total number of books sold, especially the riskier ones that are likely to foment positive social change, would drop. We’d have cut book production and sales, but not by the RIGHT (the unwanted) books.

As for the shipping of returns, I think it’s pretty low impact. You see, if you eliminate it, you probably don’t change the number of delivery trips to either the stores or the central warehouses. And the trip itself has a bigger impact than the incremental weight of the returned books.

Good question, though.

]]> By: Levi http://gropenassoc.com/blog/2007/11/what-about-returns/comment-page-1/#comment-443 Levi Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:10:32 +0000 http://gropenassoc.com/blog/?p=29#comment-443 What about the environmental impact of producing these books, not to mention shipping them back and forth? What about the environmental impact of producing these books, not to mention shipping them back and forth?

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