What is a Remainder Mark & Why It Matters to You

A remaindered book is typically a book that has been returned by the bookseller to the publisher because it wasn’t selling well. Once the bookstore has exhausted its stock and needs to make room for more popular titles, the unsold copies are sent back. These returned copies receive a remainder mark, signifying that they can no longer be returned for a refund.

The publisher then re sells these books at a lower price or with a discount through outlet stores or other booksellers. This process helps the publisher recoup some of the printing costs, while the mark clearly identifies these books, preventing them from being sent back for further refunds. It’s a strategic way of moving unsold inventory while minimizing losses for both the booksellers and the publisher.

What Are Remainder Marks, & Why Do They Exist?

When a bookseller cannot sell all the stock of a new book, they can return the unsold copies to the publisher for a refund within a specific period. However, once these books are on the floor of a bookstore, they are no longer considered brand new, which means they can’t be sold for full price. To avoid keeping them sitting on shelves or storing them in a warehouse, the publisher marks them as remainders and sells them at a cheaper price.

This allows the publisher to recoup some of the money and save a bit of revenue from the pristine copies that were returned. This process helps the publisher move these books without losing too much and gives new sellers a chance to offer these remainders at a discounted price. The remainder mark helps identify these books and ensures they are not returned for another refund.

What Does It Mean When an Author’s Books Are Remaindered?

When a publisher remainder’s a book, it doesn’t always signify failure, even if the debut author faced a bad first run. In fact, some authors experience a second wind once their leftover stock is sent to the bargain bin and offered at a discounted price. While the author no longer receives royalties, the name recognition from these remainders can significantly boost their career.

As booksellers work to make space for new releases, hardbacks often find their way into the remaindered pile, especially around the paperback release. Readers drawn to cheap prices may eventually buy these books, leading to more sales and a revival in interest. A successful run for an author can sometimes be delayed or unrecognized initially, but the process of being remaindered can still prove beneficial, offering a path to long-term success.

Why Remainder Marks Should Matter to You?

When you see remainder marks on a book, it’s important to think about where the book is coming from and how it got there. Many third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon take advantage of these books, buying them at a discounted price and then reselling them for full price as new books, keeping all the profit for themselves.

This creates a loss for both the publisher and the author, as they don’t receive any of the money from these sales. Furthermore, since there’s often no regulation or tracking, third-party sellers can easily manipulate the system, marking up books they purchased for cheap prices. This means that while you might get a $20 hardback at a discounted price, the publisher and author miss out on their rightful earnings.

So, it’s essential to be aware of where your money is going and how it affects the publishing industry. After all, when you support these sellers, you’re contributing to the profit of those who aren’t directly involved in making money from books—which is something every author and publisher works hard for. In the end, being conscious of this process will help you make more informed decisions about the books you buy and the authors you choose to support.

Will an Author Receive Payment for Remaindered Copies?

If an author’s book becomes a remainder book, it’s likely that they won’t earn royalties from the sales of those remainders. In traditional trade publishing, some authors have remainder clauses in their contracts, which means that if a book is remaindered, the author still receives a percentage of the profits.

However, these percentages are often small. The situation has changed somewhat today as publishers can use print-on-demand for low-selling titles, reducing the need for large print runs and helping avoid the remainder issue altogether.

This makes remainders less of a concern, especially compared to the past when a large offset press run meant huge numbers of unsold copies and a real loss for both publishers and authors. Today, publishers are more strategic and can print only what they expect to sell, minimizing leftover stock and ensuring the author receives fair compensation.