Re: The Mahan Book: An Observation

[kludi@juno.com]

Hi all, 
The Discount Special that we received and are currently working with has
the following phrase:
"These special discounts are offered on a strictly non-returnable basis."

In regards to shipping costs, when we were discussing the AIS Price, we
factor in the cost of shipping from the publisher and the mailing from
the AIS Storefront to the customer. Granted this is an estimate, but it
was the best we had at the time. Maureen Mark, Chair, Publication
Committee, provided the estimated cost per book for shipping from the
publisher and I provided the input for the AIS Storefront to customer.

John Ludi
AIS Storefront

On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:40:57 EST ChatOWhitehall@aol.com writes:
> <<I also understand there is possibly a different discount schedule,  
> but to
> date I have not received any other information.
> John Ludi
> AIS  Storefront>>
>  
> At the risk of intruding to speak to the truly obvious,  I think 
> that, having 
> been a bookstore inventory buyer, I should,  perhaps, comment on a 
> couple of 
> points. 
>  
> First, the terms you have been quoted are about standard for the 
> trade,  
> points-wise, however, it is important to distinguish between buying 
> with return  
> privileges, or without. With same, unsold but still merchantable  
> copies of a 
> title may be shipped back to the publisher at the  buyer's expense 
> for credit-- 
> credit, not necessarily an  actual refund-- and there may be time 
> limits on 
> this. Now, Mr. Pries  has said that, under the terms someone has 
> negotiated you 
> do not, in  fact, enjoy return privileges. Accordingly, balancing 
> anticipated 
>  demand in a given time frame, the sliding discount/volume schedule  
> ratios, 
> and the AIS sales price-- which has already been published and  does 
> not leave 
> much wiggle room for expenses---is the nature of the chore at  hand. 
> Are you 
> expected to pay up front? 
>  
> Second, has anything been said about the cost of shipping the  books 
> across 
> country, or the actual anticipated time involved in same?  
> Typically, unless 
> something has changed, these expenses are, in the case of  hard 
> covers not 
> involved in a special freight deal, paid by the  purchaser. 
> Sometimes books bought 
> non-returnable ship free. In past, UPS was  much favored, however, 
> should you 
> be paying for this, be aware  that there may be significant cost 
> variables 
> involving shipment  weight in relation to time in transit, and  
> insurance 
> considerations. Conversely, all this may be entirely at the  
> publisher's discretion.
>  
> I have pondered, and concluded it is impossible to  anticipate how 
> far the 
> book is going to make it into general trade. The  publisher is 
> private and 
> quirky, the subject is arcane,  and the suggested retail price is 
> correspondingly 
> high. I think it  unlikely that stacks of this book will appear in 
> every chain 
> store,  but much depends on what else is being published, and on the 
> personal  
> quirks of the buyers and merchandisers. It also depends on how well 
> the  
> publicity machine is cranking, which includes industry reviews, and 
> word of  
> mouth. 
>  
> I'm reading the book now, a gift from the author, and enjoying  it. 
> From time 
> to time Clarence sends me manuscripts of one sort or another  to 
> read. 
> Whereas we share a passion for the subject, and for language, we  
> differ markedly in 
> how we approach these matters-- indeed, our  visions have been known 
> to 
> collide--- so that he is aware he  will never receive an 
> unconsidered sugary 
> attaboy from me;  hence, I suppose, my utility.
>  
> I believe this book will interest anyone not actively  hostile to 
> the written 
> word who engages the  Genus on anything beyond the most primitive 
> sensory  
> level. Moreover, I think that when someone one knows publishes a  
> book, it 
> behooves one to salute their labors, which  are typically solitary, 
> humbling, and 
> born of love. 
>  
> Cordially,
>  
> Anner Whitehead
> 
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