---
title: Why is it so hard to tell how many books I have sold?
description: Most books in distribution have sales coming from many avenues—author or publisher websites, the Itasca site, direct orders from bookstores and other retail outlets, Amazon (Advantage and/or Seller),
---

[Skip to content](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/why-is-it-so-hard-to-tell-how-many-books-i-have-sold#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

![book-mobile-logo.jpg\]](https://info.bookmobile.com/hs-fs/hubfs/book-mobile-logo.jpg?height=50&name=book-mobile-logo.jpg)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://bookmobile-6763360.hs-sites-na2.com/blog)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://bookmobile-6763360.hs-sites-na2.com/blog)
- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- Go to bookmobile.com

 Go to bookmobile.com

 Hello. How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Help Center](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge?hsLang=en)
2. [Itasca Books, Print Distribution to the Trade](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en)
3. [FAQs](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#faqs)

# Why is it so hard to tell how many books I have sold?

Most books in distribution have sales coming from many avenues—author or publisher websites, [the Itasca site](https://itascabooks.com/), direct orders from bookstores and other retail outlets, Amazon (Advantage and/or Seller), and Ingram—a good representative sample but also not a complete list.

It is important to note that books moving to Ingram are not actual sales on the front-end. They are taken on consignment, and payment comes 90 to 120 days later for actual sales. So total sales are often a complicated and ever-changing puzzle.

Looking at inventory numbers in [Stacks](http://Stacks.Bookmobile.com) is a helpful place to start. I am also happy to go over specific numbers for any title. As in all other things related to the publishing, printing, and sales of books, there are exact numbers but to get to them, we have to take a multitude of sales avenues into account (ideally).

- [Book Calculators](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/book-calculators?hsLang=en)
- [File Guidelines](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/file-guidelines?hsLang=en)
- [Stacks Print Run & Dropship Manager](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/stacks-print-run-dropship-manager?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Stacks Drophip Manager](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/stacks-print-run-dropship-manager?hsLang=en#stacks-drophip-manager)
- [Schedule](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/schedule?hsLang=en)
- [General Info and Capabilities](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/general-info-and-capabilities?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Hardcovers](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/general-info-and-capabilities?hsLang=en#hardcovers)
    - [Wire-O and Plastic Spiral Binding](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/general-info-and-capabilities?hsLang=en#wire-o-and-plastic-spiral-binding)
    - [Saddle Stitch](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/general-info-and-capabilities?hsLang=en#saddle-stitch)
    - [Print](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/general-info-and-capabilities?hsLang=en#print)
- [Proofs](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/proofs?hsLang=en)
- [Materials and Options](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/materials-and-options?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Cover stocks](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/materials-and-options?hsLang=en#cover-stocks)
    - [Plastic Spiral and Wire-O](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/materials-and-options?hsLang=en#plastic-spiral-and-wire-o)
    - [Hardcover Materials](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/materials-and-options?hsLang=en#hardcover-materials)
- [Itasca Books, Print Distribution to the Trade](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Amazon](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#amazon)
    - [About Itasca, General Info](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#about-itasca-general-info)
    - [FAQs](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#faqs)
    - [Title Information & Metadata](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#title-information-metadata)
    - [For Bookstores and Libraries](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#for-bookstores-and-libraries)
    - [SPD Publishers Moving to Itasca Books](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#spd-publishers-moving-to-itasca-books)
    - [Statements](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/itasca-books-print-distribution-to-the-trade?hsLang=en#statements)
- [eBooks](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/ebooks?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [eBook Distribution](https://info.bookmobile.com/knowledge/ebooks?hsLang=en#ebook-distribution)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://bookmobile-6763360.hs-sites-na2.com/blog)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://info.bookmobile.com/hs-fs/hubfs/book-mobile-logo-1.jpg?width=102&height=24&name=book-mobile-logo-1.jpg "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.Bookmobile.com)

bookmobile.com Help Center

Copyright © 2026, Bookmobile