DJ,

I really must follow my own advice, but I figured it’s Friday and I want to tie up any loose ends before I give up the fight.  Well not exactly give up, more like postpone.

Switched on my laptop, just to check my mail then got sucked in again.  There was an email from Gardners that didn’t really say much or explain anything to my satisfaction.  So I’ve responded and no doubt I’ll be ignored.  I’ve accepted the fact that I won’t be getting Imagine This into Borders, Waterstones or WH Smith, so I’ve decided to retreat and fight the good fight another day.  In the meantime, just because I can and I know no one is reading this blog other than T & N, I’m pasting my email saga for their pleasure.

Dear Sandra,
Thank you for your email. Our decision whether or not to stock a book is taken on a number of factors and we have decided not to carry your title. If the volume of sales increases significantly then we may review our decision and contact you at that time but at present Gardners will be sourcing the title for fulfilment of customer orders through the teleordering system.
Regards
Maria Mancey

My response

Hi Maria,
Thank you for your email, however it doesn’t address the central issue. I have two potential booksellers who want to order Imagine This, one of them – Borders – tell me they’re unwilling to order it because the terms are not SOR due to the book being on special order. I don’t know the quantity they were willing to order, so my problem is that I can’t increase sales if potential buyers can’t order due to the terms you have set. Where does that leave me, when most of the major book chains order through you. I don’t know what your business model is or how your processes work, so please excuse my ignorance. My question is; is it possible to offer them SOR and still have the book on special order?
Regards
Sandra

It’ll be interesting to see what she comes back with, assuming she does respond.