This book, Thumb-sucking and Dummy-sucking by Dr Elsie Mobbs which arrived in store yesterday is another example of a title which ought to have been denied access to the newsagent channel. Speedy Distribution sent us two copies: RRP – $14.00; our price $10.50; on sale period – 6 months. These numbers don’t work, especially given that this book is A5 in size and I only have two copies with which to create a story. It would get lost in our magazine racking. We already have more titles in this category than our space allocation can professional handle. Speedy Distribution is abusing their relationship with newsagents by sending the title and newsagents are fools for allowing this.
If authors and publishers of books want access to our channel they ought to pay a minimum of 40% commission. For unknown authors where, we are investing in building their profile, we ought to be paid a stocking fee to cover our space for the entire on sale period. We have to remember that the retail newsagent channel is has the upper hand, our network is valuable.
This is why newsagents ought to appoint a magazine czar to control which titles access our retail network.
We have contacted Speedy Distribution asking that they collect t their cost these books from our newsagency and immediately credit us for the two copies supplied.
I have no gripe with Dr Mobbs or her book. My gripe is that the newsagency channel has been used to distribute a title which will lose money for newsagents and that Speedy Distribution would have known this when they decided to use us for this title.