Authors and Their Books: Is it just me or does this make you crazy?

[Nancy]

I finally had to terminate my relationship with a beloved indie bookstore today. They hadn't paid me since July of 2011 but wanted me to bring them more books. When I collected my unsold books and the money for sold books, I was informed about 20% of my books were "missing" and that I would not be paid for them. They told me I should be flattered people stole them. Aggh!

[P.I.]

Were the "people" employees?

[Christina]

That would make me crazy!

[Judy]

Sounds like a poorly run business with an owner who is careless and clueless.

[Howard]

I've always signed a consignment agreement, with all the particulars (amount of books left for sale & price structure, etc.) before doing business with any bookstore.

If they are a legit business they would prefer this also.

[Nancy]

I did sign an agreement with them, Howard, as I have with several other book stores and other places the books are for sale. I've never had any books go missing in any of the other places, let alone 20% of them.

[Howard]

Sorry but I don't follow.

Are you saying that they are not standing by the signed consignment agreement?

Mine clearly states, amoung other things that 'the theft risk is born entirely by the consignee.'

Yet if this is the case then I guess it's small claims court for you, plus any terse but true word of mouth, through social media etc. that you can manage.

Times are tough though & you never really know the modivation behind some baffling behavior.

Perhaps they're up against a wall, but the best policy then would be to play it straight with you, to ensure your trade in the future.

Go figure.

Still, in any scenario, I wish you the best outcome in the long term.

Don't be negative.

[Nancy]

Hi Howard,
I know this bookstore is struggling as are so many and I'm not litigious by nature, although I admit to wondering about conspiracies sometimes, LOL. I will consider all the positives I've had by having my books with them in the past; unfortunately now I will always wonder if 20% of their non-consignment books also "go missing." If so, no wonder they're struggling. If not...

As bad as the experience of losing so many books was, what really set me off was them telling me I should be flattered by it.

[Ken]

Struggling or not, it seems the proprietor, when accepting your consignment, should exercise reasonable care in seeing they aren't stolen. 20% seems like a bogus number. I wouldn't feel flattered unless at least half were stolen.

Sounds to me like the store owners, regardless of financial condition is telling you something that has worked in the past and successfully blown off other authors. Seems like, if you leave ten books, then ten books should be accounted for either as returns or royalties.

[Howard]

That Nancy, would be a judgement call.

It would depend totally on what they were doing with the books.

You'd hope they were ending up with the intended end user, but you never know.

I doubt they were being coy in any case, as they probably wanted you to be flattered.

If so they missed that mark.

Live & learn, a speck in the bigger picture kind of a thing.

Move on knowing it's not your behavior that's in question.