A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: What do publishers do with books that are returned by bookstores?

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Ever wonder what publishers do with books that are returned by bookstores? This week's blog post answers that question. Publishers often get creative with how they handle unsold bookstore returns. Here are some common strategies they might use for book returns : Discount Sales: Offering these books at a significant discount through clearance sales, outlet stores, or discount retailers. Bulk Sales: Selling books in bulk to schools, libraries, or non-profit organizations at a reduced cost. Recycling: If the books are damaged or outdated, they might be recycled for their paper. Repackaging: Creating new bo...