Watch for Book Sales

I was reading an interesting article which may lead to a fundamental change on how publishers sell books to bookstores. The proposed change may lead to a “No Return Policy”.

Robert Miller who left Hyperion for a new unit of Harper Collins is experimenting with the idea. In the end, this idea may work well for the publishers and the bookstores. Miller believes that this policy may stop publishers from overprinting. One book retailer executive told us, “This policy works well for us too. Each day, at least one of our employees in a bookstore spends most of their day packaging old books to be shipped back to the publisher.

In order for this new system to work, publishers will have to offer bigger discounts to the retailers. In the end, this policy may be a big win for both sides.

In 2005, 31 percent of all books were sent back to the publishers.