Twice in August, circulation desk employees at the University of Washington Libraries in Seattle saw insects crawling in returned books.
And without the costs of expensive buildings, heavy staffing and returned books, he can match the chains' prices.In response, the big booksellers are developing their own websites, and W.H. Smith recently bought The Internet Bookshop, Amazon.com's main rival in Britain.
Jim Miller, vice president for supply chain management for Amazon, said the company temporarily increased the rate that it returned books to publishers over the last few months as it tried to rid itself of slow-moving inventory.
Some publishers said that they would like to reduce the costs of returned books — which have to be shipped and then pulped or sold at deep discounts — but that it might be unrealistic to abolish the practice in tough economic times.
Add to that the 25% rate of returned books, as well as the prepaid shipping label in every box for $2.50 to help defray expenses, and you wonder how the company which gives a 4% to 6% cut of sales to college bookstores will be able to make money.
Around the corner, a squat beige drop box awaits returned books and videos.
