How to Buy Books From Publishers

Some books are difficult to find. When you're looking for a particularly elusive title, the best option is to often buy the book directly from the publisher. This is also the way to go if you are buying books for resale purposes, as the publisher is often in a position to offer wholesale pricing. Buying books straight from the source is surprisingly easy. Here's how it's done.

Instructions

1. Identify the publishers you are interested in. A list of book publishers, complete with their phone numbers and mailing addresses, can be found in the Resources section.

2. Write a letter to the publishers to ask for a complete catalog of titles they publish. You can also call them to ask for this catalog. A book catalog will be mailed to the address you provide, listing all of the titles that are currently available.

3. Browse through the catalogs you receive and decide which books you are interested in purchasing. Once you determine what books to purchase, fill out the order form that is included with the catalog and mail it in.

4. Expect some items to be placed on back order. Sometimes the book you order will not be available in the publisher's warehouse. When this happens, the book will be placed on back order until more copies can be printed. You will receive a notice by mail if this happens. That notice usually estimates how long you will have to wait before the book is available.

5. Know that sometimes your order will be shipped in parts. If you have a large order and some items are available before others, it is not uncommon for the publisher to ship the items that are immediately available as soon as your order arrives, and then ship the remaining portion later. This typically only happens on very large orders. You will receive a written notice explaining why you have received a partial order, should this happen to you.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are a business and are requesting a wholesale catalog, be sure to mention this at the time you request the catalog to be sent, since the pricing and minimum order quantities will be different.

• You'll have to wait for your books. Many books are delivered within two weeks of the order, although some take up to four weeks. From time to time, you will have to wait even longer if the item you have requested is not in stock.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• List of Book Publishers
• Publishers Lunch
• Publishers Weekly