Books A Million now joins BN in refusing to carry amazon titles

[B. Justin Shier]

Agreed. I'm not influenced by this stuff at all. It's established bestselling authors I'm wondering about.

B.

[Asher MacDonald]

I asked this in the other thread. If a T&M novel cannot get into B&N et al, can it become a NYTimes or USA Today bestseller? Would this bother big name authors? Would it influence their decision to go with Amazon? If i was considering such a contract, i might be troubled by being locked out of x% of the US bookmarket.

And indies don't really matter in these equations. We be peanuts...

B.

Victorine hit the NYTimes bestseller list with her indie ebook.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

If I owned an indie store not only would I have every book I could possibly carry, I would SO have computers and an affiliate account so people could buy what they wanted from my store and *I* would make money from it if they wanted it in eBook.

What on earth happened to the concept that if you can't beat 'em, you join 'em?

This is easy to say, but a physical store has a finite amount of shelf space.  Do you stock books on which you can actually make a profit, or do you stock books where the manufacturer is selling the book to customers for the same price (or less!) than you can actually buy it? 

I agree with you on the affiliate thing, however.  I actually know a few hobby shops that have set-ups like this with RPGNOW.com and it works out very well. 

[R. M. Reed]

I've heard that the biggest seller of physical books is Wal-Mart. If they carry Amazon books, plus drug and grocery stores, and airport stores, actual bookstores may not matter.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

I've heard that the biggest seller of physical books is Wal-Mart. If they carry Amazon books, plus drug and grocery stores, and airport stores, actual bookstores may not matter.

Amazon would have to offer WalMart something pretty substantial.  They won't tolerate a vendor that undersells them. 

Also keep in mind the type of books found in drug stores and airport stores.  These are mostly what you would call "popcorn books."  Light, cheap reads.  Lots of romance novels and a handful of paperback versions of bestsellers.  That's fine if you are selling a light romance or you are already a bestseller, but the rest of the publishing universe isn't going to be found there. 

[jackz4000]

Amazon would have to offer WalMart something pretty substantial.  They won't tolerate a vendor that undersells them. 

Also keep in mind the type of books found in drug stores and airport stores.  These are mostly what you would call "popcorn books."  Light, cheap reads.  Lots of romance novels and a handful of paperback versions of bestsellers.  That's fine if you are selling a light romance or you are already a bestseller, but the rest of the publishing universe isn't going to be found there. 

Can't see Walmart and Amazon getting close on books. Interesting how Amazon will sell their authors in print both online at their store and at some physical stores. Price will be the big factor. If Amazon is going to undercut the physical print retailer it will be difficult to find a chain willing to devote physical space.

Maybe Sears or Kmart or JC Penny? Don't see those stores getting book traction though. Chain drug stores? Maybe supermarket chains or Starbucks? Nah. I'm sure they have a chain in mind.