Books on Consignment

I've begun scoping out book sellers in the Bucks County region. The second organization I contacted owns two outlets. As it turned out, their modus operandi was only to sell books on consignment. If that wasn't bad enough, the person I was dealing with was, for lack of a better description - a millennial. What that means in this context, is a young person who has yet to have learn the meaning of respect.

Here's my assessment of consignment.

Not only is consignment a total waste of my time, because I'm not in the business of giving books away or spending my resources to stock someone else's shelves, but in this case, this retail outlet had the audacity to demand a percentage cut that gave them twice the profit than any other participant in the project was getting and to do so without discussing the merits if the project.

My experience with retailers who only deal on consignment is that - 1) your product ends up on the back of the shelf, after only a short time, because the seller is not vested 2) in all cases they display their paid-for product inventory in preference 3) they disrepect both you and your product  4) you have to eat the product they damage because they didn't pay for it and they've got-you-over-a- barrel 5) you don't get paid in a timely manner and the effort to monitor the inventory and seek payment ends up wiping out any profit and, in fact, costs you 6) they loose your product 7) you are expected to accept returns 8) you are expected to refresh their old inventory with new product at your expense 9) you end up loosing your product, your time and the value of your product in the selling environment, because they do not put the effort into displaying or selling and consequently your product goes stale.

So consignment is a bad deal all-the-way-around. It reminds me of the way some theatre groups scam actors into working for free, because "it's good for your" (nonexistent) "career"

So I was disappointed at the "consignment" response. But
add to that; the fact that less than a week after I provided a review package, when I contacted the "buyer" for feedback and to pick up the package (if they were not interested) he tells me he threw the package away. Claiming he read the material, which I doubt, because I know how long it takes to consider the material. Before even talking to me, he threw away my presentation? What kind of business person is this? An outrage and an insult! That package cost me between $50 & $75, plus the time and expense to hand deliver the package and personally check in twice, and he presumes he has the right to throw it away before even talking to me. I'm livid. I'm tempted to sue.

I'm also tempted to revel who that was, but I will withhold my wrath. If you communicate with any bookstore who works on a consignment basis, particularly one with two outlets in Bucks County; be forewarned.

I made the mistake of thinking that respect is to be presumed. I will not make that mistake again. It's not worth it to deal with these retail outlets.

I expect to concentrate on the showroom and sales office in my studio. If you are a retailer, of any kind, who has interest in showing or selling any of our product-lines, you will need to reach out to me.

I will not be pounding the bricks. I may, possibly, do it once in order to create an initial contact. If that results in respect, then great. We can move forward.

If it comes even close to what I just experienced, then that retail outlet will be banned for life from acquiring any of my products. So if it becomes extremely successful, you're out.

The only sales efforts I will make is direct, from my showroom, or online.

From now on any of sales effort that services an outlet directly at their location will need to be via sales reps. So if you are a sales rep and want work, let me know.

The disrespect that I just experienced, and that seems to be increasingly with this younger generation, is not acceptable to me. I'm appalled.

AG