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.
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.