On several occasions we've had authors calling us about overseas sales. When researching where their books are listed online, they find that their books are showing up all over the world on different online bookstores.
Our authors feel generally one of two possible ways:
1. Think it's awesome they are selling so well in London
2. Totally freaked out that someone has copied their book and is selling it in bulk, or is selling used copies, to the masses at greatly reduced prices.
Here's the skinny.
Online retailers list Wheatmark author titles on their site via a wholesaler. This is one of the great things about publishing with Wheatmark! Your book is easily available for any site to list as "available in stock."
The wholesaler makes this information available to any online book retailer that pulls from their list directory. This means that if a bookseller in Prague is receiving a buy list from the wholesaler Ingram or Bertram, you'll be on it. This doesn't mean that there is a high demand in Prague for your book ... but you never know!
There are a few things about these listings that can be confusing. For example, some authors are concerned when they see used copies of their book listed.
This doesn't really mean that there are used copies available or that someone at Wheatmark is snatching inventory and selling it at a reduced price online. (For one, it would be expensive because said employee would have to actually BUY the book at list price to turn around and sell it at a reduced cost ... not a great business model ... and the author would STILL get the royalty!)
The "used copy available" option on sites like Amazon is just to tantalize buyers. Generally, once the customer clicks to buy the "used" copy, a message will come up that they do not actually have used copies, but that you can go ahead and buy a new copy one at the normal price.
Still concerned?
Wheatmark is able to track all the purchases of your book. If you really feel your books are being illegally sold (or are selling like hotcakes in Tokyo) we'll be able to verify it. Just call!
Our authors feel generally one of two possible ways:
1. Think it's awesome they are selling so well in London
2. Totally freaked out that someone has copied their book and is selling it in bulk, or is selling used copies, to the masses at greatly reduced prices.
Here's the skinny.
Online retailers list Wheatmark author titles on their site via a wholesaler. This is one of the great things about publishing with Wheatmark! Your book is easily available for any site to list as "available in stock."
The wholesaler makes this information available to any online book retailer that pulls from their list directory. This means that if a bookseller in Prague is receiving a buy list from the wholesaler Ingram or Bertram, you'll be on it. This doesn't mean that there is a high demand in Prague for your book ... but you never know!
There are a few things about these listings that can be confusing. For example, some authors are concerned when they see used copies of their book listed.
This doesn't really mean that there are used copies available or that someone at Wheatmark is snatching inventory and selling it at a reduced price online. (For one, it would be expensive because said employee would have to actually BUY the book at list price to turn around and sell it at a reduced cost ... not a great business model ... and the author would STILL get the royalty!)
The "used copy available" option on sites like Amazon is just to tantalize buyers. Generally, once the customer clicks to buy the "used" copy, a message will come up that they do not actually have used copies, but that you can go ahead and buy a new copy one at the normal price.
Still concerned?
Wheatmark is able to track all the purchases of your book. If you really feel your books are being illegally sold (or are selling like hotcakes in Tokyo) we'll be able to verify it. Just call!
Labels: book sales, independent booksellers
posted by KatG on 4/01/2009
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