Here's the master of the Ingram's situation....
....H. B. Marcus, explaining why those pesky bookstore managers still won't order PA/POD books after the explanation of the situation given by PA....
"It's up to the individual managers of the bookstores folks. I've caught them in lies before. They can order any books but most of the time they don't want to be bothered. That's where multiple book signings are important. That's where you are offering the public genre variety. That makes the managers take notice. Otherwise it's a lot of hassle for them and they just aren't interested in a new author.
If you want your book stocked in a book store you can play the garage band trick. Have people call the book store and ask if your book is in stock. They'll ignore the out-of-stock nonsense and order it anyway. Then you go in to the store personally with a copy in hand and ask them to stock your book.
I've done it for four years and it gets easier all the time. It used to be impossible to get on the shelves. Now it's a freakin' phone call! You explain that the book is incorrectly listed if that becomes a question. Take a promo pack with reviews and such to prove you're selling and doing well. And if you get the run-around from one of these store managers, you call their boss!
As far as setting up an individual signing goes, you're better off getting together with other authors. Go to a local library and set up any indiviual signings. The bottom line is that the individual store manager has to justify things with their boss. One unknown author asking for special treatment is going to be lied to. You have to show them they can sell books."
What an authority on this subject! It's just amazing, with PA author after PA author stating something like the below....
"I was refused by two bookstores, one including Barnes & Nobles, because they pulled me up in the system and showed me as being POD and that Ingrams, Baker & Taylor show that they do not stock my book. The first book store's community relations person would not even talk to me and hung up. The B&N community relations person said that they cannot stock me on the shelves or let me do a booksigning if Ingrams will not stock my book. They sent me an email asking for 2 pages of information, including a marketing and promotion plan, trade reviews (which I do not have), and a note describing how the book meets the competition / makes it unique. Then after I send all 2 pages of requirements, it will take 6 weeks just to be considered. I was hoping to be able to do book signings before the holidays to get some bulk sales,b ut I am just heldback right now."
If Meiners went out and took a leak on the White House Lawn, HB would tell everyone that it's National Pee For Freedom Week...
....H. B. Marcus, explaining why those pesky bookstore managers still won't order PA/POD books after the explanation of the situation given by PA....
"It's up to the individual managers of the bookstores folks. I've caught them in lies before. They can order any books but most of the time they don't want to be bothered. That's where multiple book signings are important. That's where you are offering the public genre variety. That makes the managers take notice. Otherwise it's a lot of hassle for them and they just aren't interested in a new author.
If you want your book stocked in a book store you can play the garage band trick. Have people call the book store and ask if your book is in stock. They'll ignore the out-of-stock nonsense and order it anyway. Then you go in to the store personally with a copy in hand and ask them to stock your book.
I've done it for four years and it gets easier all the time. It used to be impossible to get on the shelves. Now it's a freakin' phone call! You explain that the book is incorrectly listed if that becomes a question. Take a promo pack with reviews and such to prove you're selling and doing well. And if you get the run-around from one of these store managers, you call their boss!
As far as setting up an individual signing goes, you're better off getting together with other authors. Go to a local library and set up any indiviual signings. The bottom line is that the individual store manager has to justify things with their boss. One unknown author asking for special treatment is going to be lied to. You have to show them they can sell books."
What an authority on this subject! It's just amazing, with PA author after PA author stating something like the below....
"I was refused by two bookstores, one including Barnes & Nobles, because they pulled me up in the system and showed me as being POD and that Ingrams, Baker & Taylor show that they do not stock my book. The first book store's community relations person would not even talk to me and hung up. The B&N community relations person said that they cannot stock me on the shelves or let me do a booksigning if Ingrams will not stock my book. They sent me an email asking for 2 pages of information, including a marketing and promotion plan, trade reviews (which I do not have), and a note describing how the book meets the competition / makes it unique. Then after I send all 2 pages of requirements, it will take 6 weeks just to be considered. I was hoping to be able to do book signings before the holidays to get some bulk sales,b ut I am just heldback right now."
If Meiners went out and took a leak on the White House Lawn, HB would tell everyone that it's National Pee For Freedom Week...