More on LSI.

As you know, Never Ceese is through Lightning Source--for right now. Yet I'm having major issues with getting them to honor their return policy.

I've been told over and over again that returned books (that I have to pay a full refund on) are destroyed and I can't even get them to resale if I wanted to thus defraying some of the print cost. In fact, here's is a selection from a return email from them on the matter:


" . . . We spoke about this at length a few weeks ago. The cost to have the "yes-deliver" option for returns is $2 per copy on top of the cost to refund the amount the distribution partner paid for your title . . . if you choose yes-Deliver, the books are destroyed, reprinted and shipped to you. . . The only difference between these two options [yes-delever or no-destroy] is that you no not incur an additional $2 per copy for shipping the books back to you."

If I wasn't confused before I am now. I was sent a PDF (that I already have) that clearly (supposedly) states the "yes-return" option that LSI follows. Here it is:

"Yes-Deliver: Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option you will be charged the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge. LSI does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned."

So which is it LSI? According to the PDF the Yes-Deliver option has the returned book being returned to you with a $2 shipping fee and LSI not guaranteeing the shape of the returned book while the rep says choosing the yes-deliver option will have the book being destroyed and the publisher being sent a new book. The rep does state the $2 is for shipping but how can it be for shipping when the rep also states the book is destroyed (see email reference above.)

I think the Yes-deliver option in the PDF is fine, though not great. But if LSI isn't going to honor it then what else aren't they doing?

I'm waiting to hear back from them now. ;)

Addendum: well that didn't take long. LOL

To my question concerning this option:

Yes-Deliver: Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option you will be charged the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge. LSI does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned.

I was told that the document states that I'll receive a physical copy of the book, not the exact physical copy that is returned. The yes-deliver option incurs a $2 per copy fee for shipping back to you The yes-destroy option does not incur the $2 per copy fee. I replied by asking what the last line meant if in fact I was NOT getting my returned book back as I assumed. You know, the line that says LSI doesn't guarantee the condition of the book being returned. I was then referred to another rep who always sends me back to the first rep. Not sounding good.

I don't suppose it sounds all that unreasonable for LSI to charge $2 shipping for sending a book back BUT in the yes-return option the implication is they're sending you the returned book back. In fact they don't even guarantee the condition of the book returned.

The reps tell you that LSI prints you a NEW book for free and with no print charges and destroy the returned books. The $2 is for shipping. What a waste as I already know that most of the books returned are in excellent shape and quite resellable. I've received some as new from other distributors and I couldn't tell the difference except I'd already signed some of them them and some still had the autograph sticker on them.

I suppose my biggest concern is that LSI and every other company that operates the way they do, isn't destroying the books at all but charging me print cost and sending returned books out to bookstores. Yes. That sounds more believable than the "we're printing you a new book for nothing line" because as you know if it's too good to be true . . . it probably is. And what's the point of all the double speak if nothing out of the ordinary is going on or rather something that's going to bring someone other than the CUSTOMER money.