A book’s recommended retail price (RRP) is the sum suggested by the manufacturer or distributor as suitable for selling at retail in an outlet. This figure is usually on either the inside flap of a jacket or printed across its back cover. The RRP may be written in more giant print than other prices within a work and often appears bolded. It only sometimes equates to what will subsequently be paid by customers shopping in stores but rather represents more of a non-binding suggestion that frequently gets discounted.
The people behind setting recommended retail prices are most universally publishers themselves, whose calculations involve production costs, shipping fees, marketing expenses, and expected pricing points for similar kinds of text roaming around. As an added consumer bonus, these RRPs also constitute handy quality markers when taken together en masse: generally speaking, books boasting higher RRPs are deemed better made, while those tagged lower aren’t given nearly so much slack.
The recommended retail price (RRP) is a price the publisher determines, advising booksellers on how much they should sell the book for. It serves as a guide rather than an absolute selling price.
The significance of the RRP lies in ensuring that publishers receive a certain level of income from each book sold while also allowing them to establish what they consider a fair price. Additionally, it gives publishers control over the profit margin earned by booksellers with each sale.
It’s best to comply with the recommended retail price to avoid future refusal by the publisher to supply books to that particular seller. Therefore, when purchasing or selling books, considering the RRP becomes crucial.