By JoAnn Melton on Oct 13, 2009 | Reply

The thought comes to me that brick and mortar bookstores provide a nicer place to hang out for when we have time, yet price pretty much becomes the god of our wallet. The huge chains drove off smaller booksellers – or sure made it difficult to remain afloat. Those stores don’t do it for the huge profits – but more a heartfelt love of having people drop by and stay a while.

Yet, in a recent visit to a large chain recently, I found a book with smudges on it somehow, and asked if they would sell it as a discount. The clerk, who thought himself a whiz salesman, offered 10% off for the stain and refused to discount further. I can buy it online for more discount than that any day of the week. And would not have to wait the 7-10 days to have it shipped in there. That same chain wants to charge $25 for a card that would discount my purchases for a year. I’d have to spend $250 to get that return on investment.

Amazon does not offer lumpy tired chairs for me to lounge in while I thumb thru books and likely do not have to then buy them. Books-a-Million discounts most books as soon as they hit the floor and they too offer somethings that are attractive for lazy days, or the scent of coffee to lure me to the cash register while I do so, but we are all a nation of consumers and we can’t point fingers at the big guys. It is my understanding that Amazon barely made a profit in its first few years, but as we gradually learned to shop online it makes for a tough market in these economic times.

By Jeff Cole on Oct 14, 2009 | Reply

Authors should realize how negatively the closing of independent bookstores affects us. Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. sell at a discount. The lower the sale price, the lower the royalty.

Plus, independent bookstores are more willing to promote new authors. The big chains are only willing to promote the Dan Browns of the world, because they will make more money.

What that does is shut out new authors from building a fan list. Makes it hard to sell books.

By Randall Platt on Oct 15, 2009 | Reply

Jeff;
All of my royalty contracts with a variety of publishers give me 10 percent royalty of the RETAIL price listed on the book. Discounts granted by the booksellers come off their end of it, not the author’s. Or at least, this author’s. This is only fair since booksellers usually get 4 times what the author gets.

But I think the indies are the best bet for midlist or new authors – they handsell a book and can really make a difference. I am thrilled to make them money. I always advise authors to support their indies!

On the other hand, you go speak and sign wherever you are asked. Even the boxes.

Randall

By Little Jo on Oct 16, 2009 | Reply

Recently a local well-regarded indie bookstore closed in downtown Toronto. They went out of their way for their love of authors and illustrators to promote new and emergent talent. It is a huge loss to the consumer and ultimately the publishing industry who often capitalizes on the risks these small shops are taking to find talent for themselves. The focus in the small shop being on literature and quality rather than pulp fiction and marketing schemes. So sad to see them go.