Amazon didn’t take my business away from these bookstores. These bookstores decided to not cater to me.

So sad, but true.

Amazon didn’t take my business away from these bookstores. These bookstores decided to not cater to me.

Small independent bookstores go out of business because their profit margins are, for the most part, too slim for them to continue when there’s a drastic decline in sales. A solid, thriving business can compete against a larger one–there are many small local businesses who have succeeded despite the presence of Wal-Mart.

The fact of the matter is that bookstores are begun on the basis that, unlike other retailers, they will be able to “borrow” their stock, and ship it back for credit if it doesn’t sell in order to replace it with newer stock. This is the system of returns begun in the late 1920’s by the publishers who feared they wouldn’t have anywhere to sell their wares. A system which has since come back to bite them in the gluteus maximus. In some cases returns run as high as 50% of books shipped.

Returns are charged against sales. That means every book returned are royalties some author doesn’t collect. Losses from returns translate into less money for publishers to sign up new authors.

It’s simplistic to blame Amazon for the demise of independent bookstores, many of whom are as much victims of skyrocketing commercial rents and other factors as anything else. If you were to survey those bookstores that are operating successfully, you’ll likely find most if not all are owned by people who also own the real estate.

Here’s the truth: books are a losing proposition for Amazon, too. At least, they were until quite recently. It may be that’s improved with their various streamlining efforts, but the image of them as some sort of ogre swallowing up the publishing industry is based on emotion, not facts. This is precisely why Amazon has diverged into all those other areas of commerce–they make more money. Those other areas subsidize the book department.

I will also point out that small presses who choose not to accept returns are essentially barred from being included in those small independent bookstores. Because we aren’t willing to shortchange our authors and, probably, put ourselves out of business, we have no other recourse but to put our faith in Amazon.

I for one would love to support local booksellers. I do, as much as I can. And more and more of them are coming to discover there’s a difference between subsidy presses who use digital on-demand printing and publishers who choose to do so for reasons both economic and environmental. Much is made of the fact that indie booksellers are active hand-sellers, providing personal recommendations you can’t get at a Barnes & Noble. So, how hard could it be, if they find a Zumaya book they like, to stock one or two copies and do just that?

We inventory-free publishers aren’t asking for special favors, and most of us are willing to be as accommodating as our own welfare allows. However, if we don’t sell books, we won’t last long, and for most of us the majority of those sales are made through Amazon.

I took advantage of a 4-for-3 special (got my books today), when I bought the Smart Bitches book. The thing is, if I’d gone into a local store I would have spent less money because I wouldn’t have even known about the other books. Thanks to some commentary on the SB thread I looked at the additional books offered, went on a link-y binge and found four Zebra Debut historical novels that I can’t wait to read. Added a book from my shoping cart to the total order (because I was getting one of those books free) and Amazon, the authors, and I are happy campers. :) They get the business/royalties and I get more books.

I wouldn’t have made those extra purchases in person, because I would have said, “well, I have a TBR pile at home….” and walked out of the store.