Non-net sales is a term commonly used in book and publishing industries to refer to the total number of books sold after subtracting any returns to provide an accurate picture of sales figures; returns can vary significantly from month to month and distort true sales numbers.
Non-net sales are essential when tracking the sales of a new book, as returns tend to peak shortly after publication. By following non-net sales over time and seeing how many copies have been sold to readers, publishers can gain more of an idea about its success as it becomes available for purchase.
Returns can vary significantly across book genres, making non-net sales figures the ideal way to compare book sales figures. For instance, a book selling 200 copies in a month and receiving 100 returns would have non-net sales of 100; conversely, if selling 500 copies but having 300 returns would result in 200 non-net sales figures; both cases indicate the book with higher non-net sales is selling better, even though its gross sales figures seem superior.
Non-net books, or traditional or printed books, cannot be purchased online or digitally and may be more difficult to locate outside conventional bookstores. Though non-net books may be harder to come across and purchase than their digital counterparts, they still play an integral part in the book industry.
Non-net books are vitally important for various reasons. First, they offer an alternative to digital books, which may be more challenging to access for confident readers. Second, physical books tend to last longer. Thirdly, used copies may be more affordable. Fourthly and finally, non-net books may provide more personalized and unique reading experiences as they often aren’t mass-produced.