Brick & mortar bookstores usually have contracts that stipulate if the books don't sell, they can return the books for more or less a complete refund. The book

Brick & mortar bookstores usually have contracts that stipulate if the books don't sell, they can return the books for more or less a complete refund. The books you see with considerable discount are often those taken back by the publisher and then sent back out as 80-90% off. Softcovers aren't even returned--- the bookseller just rips off the covers and sends those back to minimize shipping costs. In high school, I worked in a B. Daltons (a now defunct Barnes and Nobles subsidiary) and it made me sad when I was tasked with tearing up a cart or two of books every few months. I imagine the inventory will either be returned, destroyed or else shifted to their still remaining stores rather than a circuit-city-style liquidation sale.