When setting up distribution, in addition to setting a wholesale discount percentage, we also had to choose whether or not our books would be returnable. Although it may hurt our chances of a bookstore agreeing to stock our product, we had to consider this: If we allow our books to be returned then we become responsible for the printing cost of any returned books.
Consider this example:
Bookstore A sees our collection of books and buys 100 copies of those books. Using the numbers above, the retailer is spending about $14 each for a total of $1400. Now, let’s say they put these books up for sale. After a few months, they still have 80 copies of our books and decide they don’t want to continue selling them. So they return them to IngramSpark who can then either a) destroy the books or b) ship them to us, the publisher.
For either of those options, we would be responsible for 80 books and their $11 print cost, $880, plus an additional shipping charge if we want those books shipped to us instead of destroyed.
Allowing returns, then, is a huge unknown risk for our business. Until we have capital in reserve to account for this type of risk, returns are not an option. Therefore, retailers are most likely not going to stock our book on their shelves.
*Retailer returns are not to be confused with consumer returns. If you purchase one of our books through any of the bookstores noted and it is not printed to the quality expected, you can absolutely return it for a new copy or credit at that store.*