Alas for that PA author. I'm going to comment on her followup-post
from that thread. My dear author, if you read this, please know that I hold you personally in the highest regard.
Thank you Info center for the reply. I suppose my best option is to forget about this source of a bookstore that will carry my book and offer me a signing.
Infocenter's goal was to get you away from some people who a) knew the truth and b) were trying to tell it to you.
If everything is a lie that they are telling me then I cannot feel comfortable with any arrangements they will offer.
They were telling you the truth, and they'd gone to a great deal of trouble on your behalf. They're offering to take a chance on you. That's more than your publisher is willing to do.
This infuriates me! I have spent considerable time and money on visits to the store and in having posters and book marks made up in their name.
Do you imagine that any other bookstore, one where you aren't well-known and liked, will go to as much trouble on your behalf? All the other bookstores will have the same problems these fellows faced. Other PA authors could tell you the same ... if they weren't banned.
Okay I will now persue some other stores and prospects.
Don't think that the other stores will have any better results.
What is the discount they would get for 10 books then? Apparently that was what they wanted to order? They use a wholesaler so they say, but often order direct if they can get a better discount. I really have no idea how independent shops buy.
The discount they would get for 10 books would be 40%, if they ever got through to PublishAmerica, calling long-distance, with their credit card in their hand. And they'd have to pay shipping. And the books would be non-returnable. If PA ever got around to shipping them. $127.20 out of their pockets, when with other publishers their out-of-pocket costs would be zero.
They use a wholesaler "so they say"? Yes, they do. They clearly use Ingram, where the discount is 20% and the books are still non-returnable. $159.60 out of their pockets, and four weeks to get copies. Ingram owns Lighting Source and would have a pretty fair idea of how long it takes.
I'm sure they tried to order direct. No other reason for them to comment on the difficulty of getting through (which we've heard attested any number of times by others) and the unusual feature of PA not having an 800 order number (which we also know to be true).
Your local bookstore tried to tell you how independent stores buy. Please listen to them. They want you help you.
It's off to B&N or some other larger stores.
Oh, dear. Best of luck to you, but if PA hadn't deleted all the threads you'd already know what the reaction you'll get from B&N and the other larger stores will be. I suppose that the next you'll hear from Infocenter will be that the local B&N manager is just being a poopiehead. Some time after that you'll get your first "don't take that tone with us" letter.
Really, your best bet is to work with that local bookstore. They tried very hard on your behalf. They're your friends and they're on your side. Things aren't going to be better elsewhere.
Many who were banned have been re-instated. And well, some of us never left, nor were we banned. We hang out on the private board where you can`t see us...harrharr.
And you thought we all went poof.
