Inns and Alehouses of Stafford

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
Part of the contract is that the Author provides the publisher with 150 books for free and the company that distributes books to book shops with 150 books for free. Amazon and Waterstones are two of the standard outlets. Waterstones require around a 50% discount off the RRP and Amazon 60%.
Additional to that the publisher and distributor take another 15%. The RRP is set by using these discounts and ordering a total number of books that would cover this. The publisher additionall requires standard fees i.e Pre Press £816, Marketing assistance £300, and a varying cost to print a batch £1308 for 500, £2480 for 1000.
So the more books the author orders the cheaper each copy becomes, but the more expense he has. It is up to the author to set his requirement. Author also pays for the shipping costs of the books to him.
So basically the RRP is set by Amazon the biggest seller of books, for the author to avoid a loss he probably has to order more than he thinks he can sell. The object is to break even over a period of time, profit does not come into the equation. The author of this type of book generally goes through the process by interest and a willingness to share historical information.
When the book was launched my website did not have a selling cart, but it became clear that in order to compete with Amazon I must be able to offer a better service - although Amazon adjust their price regularly I have decided to compete by knocking £1.95 off the RRP and give free delivery within the UK, I can guarantee next day delivery in Stafford Amazon cannot. This is now working well for me.
Hope this explains the complicity.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
So what you are saying is, much like Tesco and the dairy farmers, you are at the mercy of amazon setting the sale price? It seems illogical to sell to anyone at a loss, not getting a sale would be better. Can you not sell on amazon, or are you tied to all outlets?

Seems to me selling a book at £10 when you buy 1000 means the books have cost a fiver each once the publisher costs are factored in. If amazon want to buy at £4 I'd want to tell them where to go.
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
Yes you at the mercy of Amazon. So you have to compete with Amazon. That's the wonder of Publishing.
But if you look at it from another perspective, The author has put the money up front, so to get to that break even point he has to do aggressive marketing and continually look towards ideas for ways to sell. Each one that the author sells brings the break even point closer, and each one that Amazon sells brings the break even point closer.
 

gilbert grape

Well-Known Forumite
I bought two copies and got them direct. One for me and one for my Brother. From the info in the book, regarding an old town centre pub, I have learned a bit more about my family that none of us knew. Looks like Christmas Day may bring some more conversation and head scratching.
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
Nice to see, if the conversation does bring up something, just send me a message and I will try to help. All the information in the book is abridged so I may have more.
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
Waterstones sold out again. If you have a late decision on a Christmas present you can only get 'The Inns and Alehouses of Stafford' in time for Christmas from www.john-connor.co.uk
Will hand deliver until Christmas Eve in Stafford. Neither Amazon nor Matador can guarantee delivery.
 

Darren

Well-Known Forumite
Part of the contract is that the Author provides the publisher with 150 books for free and the company that distributes books to book shops with 150 books for free. Amazon and Waterstones are two of the standard outlets. Waterstones require around a 50% discount off the RRP and Amazon 60%.
Additional to that the publisher and distributor take another 15%. The RRP is set by using these discounts and ordering a total number of books that would cover this. The publisher additionall requires standard fees i.e Pre Press £816, Marketing assistance £300, and a varying cost to print a batch £1308 for 500, £2480 for 1000.
So the more books the author orders the cheaper each copy becomes, but the more expense he has. It is up to the author to set his requirement. Author also pays for the shipping costs of the books to him.
So basically the RRP is set by Amazon the biggest seller of books, for the author to avoid a loss he probably has to order more than he thinks he can sell. The object is to break even over a period of time, profit does not come into the equation. The author of this type of book generally goes through the process by interest and a willingness to share historical information.
When the book was launched my website did not have a selling cart, but it became clear that in order to compete with Amazon I must be able to offer a better service - although Amazon adjust their price regularly I have decided to compete by knocking £1.95 off the RRP and give free delivery within the UK, I can guarantee next day delivery in Stafford Amazon cannot. This is now working well for me.
Hope this explains the complicity.
I hope on the next book you can avoid Amazon and sell it through your website, if anyone is looking for a last minuet Xmas present i recommend this book it is a very interesting read and would make a great present.
 

kilmaccumsey

Well-Known Forumite
Got this today and signed by John , thank you very much , a very interesting book ! I can't put down , looking forward to the next one .
 
Just ordered the book, cant wait for it to arrive . Also, just found out from this thread that my husbands Aunt used to have to the Chains. We knew she had the Kings Arms - the Chains is new for us !
 

darts22

Well-Known Forumite
Book 2 is now available to pre-order.
The Journey moves along Foregate to Creswell then back to the the town, on to Doxey, Castletown, Forebridge, Littleworth, Baswich, Milford, Brocton, Hyde Lea, Bradley, Haughton and back to the Green Bridge.
Please have a look www.john-connor.co.uk
 

Helen Goff

Well-Known Forumite
OT: shouldn't this be in "pubs and eating out" section of the forum ?


Just asking as i keep getting told off for similar wrong doings
 

gilbert grape

Well-Known Forumite
Order placed! The first book taught us a lot about our family history and hopefully the next one will add more info as it includes my home patch.
 
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