If you are looking for a book distributor, I would like to tell you about a small little outfit out of South Bend Indiana, called The Distributors. The owners are two brothers by the name of Michael and Steve Raymond.
You think shadey cons don't happen in the book businesss? You'd be surprised.
As of today, Monday, October 15, here has been my experience with these shadey guys:
1. When getting paid by a wholesaler, be it The Distributors, or any other wholesaler, authors receive money from any sold books AFTER 60 days. Some are 45 days.
The owners of The Distributors, Michael and Steve Raymond, have yet to pay me on 75% of the books sold past the 60-day mark... Almost $1,000!
2. They have only two numbers from which to call them. One is the ordering line. The other is to their assistant, Patty Walsh. If there is a legitimate complaint, the only number to call is to Patty Walsh's office. Most of the time she lets the voice mail answer calls.
After having my phone calls and e-mails ignored by Patty Walsh, I had to resort to calling the ordering line so I could contact the owners. I spoke with a gentleman twice about my situation. The third time I called was for the purpose of letting them know that I plan to file a complaint against them with the Attorney General's Office.
As it turned out, all that time I was talking to one of the owners, Michael Raymond! Not only did he NOT say who he was the first couple of times we talked, he didn't even bother to help me.
Yes, he actually said that. Of course he meant that I would have to go through proper channels, but when a customer has a problem, a serious one, wouldn't you think the owner wopuld look into it? He didn't.
By the way, this shadey outfit has only 8 employees! He could have very easily helped me.
3. At the end of September I went to a writers' convention. I talked to another author, and he has had the same experience. Like me, he is spreading the word about these guys ripping authors off.
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