Question about distribution and profits.

[Idoliside]

Sounds like a ferengi question but sadly this is based in reality.

I'm doing my usual round on Amazon hunting for Destiny 1 and my method is waiting for the "Used and New" sellers (mostly the new ones) because they distribute quicker than amazon do (and infact all the bookstores in the UK)

But does this effect the publisher/writers. Do you sell, say, 200 books to amazon (or similar book sellers) and they pay you a lump sum for those 200 books. Or do you dispatch book by book and get paid when one sells.

Also do these small distributors on the amazon used and new (obviously not the used ones) work the same way, or are they outside the retail chain?

It's nothing that's going to drastically change the way i purchace books but i'm just interested to know how it works.

Thanks!

 

[Therin of Andor]

But does this effect the publisher/writers. Do you sell, say, 200 books to amazon (or similar book sellers) and they pay you a lump sum for those 200 books. Or do you dispatch book by book and get paid when one sells.

Depends on the deal they have. If the store takes newly-released books from the distributor on "sale or return", the authors are not credited their royalty (against their advance) on any unsold copies - often the front covers are ripped off and returned, and the rest pulped.

If the store buys the books outright, they'll keep the books in stock till they sell. Perhaps they'll eventually reduce the price point but the author has already received the royalty (or a credit against the advance).

If a chain store elects to sell its new releases at greatly reduced prices, the author still gets the full entitlement on sold copies.

When books are ultimately "remaindered", the author receives no further royalty on that title (unless it comes back into print one day), although they do often get an opportunity to buy backstock for their own use (book signings at conventions), and at greatly reduced cost.