Local bookstore charges author fee to sell book

I must share my experience with one Madison independent bookstore.  I will strive to share my experience without judgment, although it is difficult.  I would prefer each of you to form your jown conclusion.

I e-mailed the event director of the bookstore three times asking what the process was to schedule a local author reading/signing event.  In the third e-mail I allowed my frustration to show and specifically asked for the courtesy of a response and documented my two previous e-mails.

After the third e-mail I received an apologetic response that didn't address how to schedule an author event but did make an offer to take three of my books on consignment and a form was attached for me to complete and bring in when I delivered the books.

I was disappointed that they only wanted three books, but it was a start.  I printed the form and learned there was a $15.00 fee for selling my books plus the bookstore would take 40% of the sale price.  I admit, I was angry with the request for a $15.00 fee.  I had spent the week researching marketing opportunities and everything cost money.  For example, a two week blog tour cost $175; joining the Author Marketing Club cost $125; placing an ad in Goodreads was $100; a marketing company wanted $690 to evaluate my marketing plan and do 10 blogs.  The $15.00 fee was more than I could tolerate.

To calm myself I completed a financial analysis of the consignment.  When I include the book cost and shipping for each book then add the $15.00 fee it would cost me about $6.00 to have the bookstore sell three books.  The bookstore would make the $15.00 fee plus 40% of the sale price. The bookstore would get about $33.00 for selling my book.  Do you think there's anything wrong with this picture?

I e-mailed the bookstore event director and shared my financial analysis and asked if their practice of charging an independent author $15.00 to sell books was fair.  I told them I simply couldn't afford to have them sell my books unless they relinquished the $15.00 fee.

The response I received was that they too had completed a financial analysis and claimed that it cost them $15.00 to sell my book.  That argument seemed inaccurate to me because I'm sure they dont charge traditional publishers to sell books - no publisher would pay a fee.  In addition, the bookstore has to buy the book from a traditional publisher.  In a consignment sale the bookstore doesn't purchase the book.  The director of events claimed that most independent authors covered their fee by raising the price of their books.  My book has the price, with a barcode, on the back cover.  I can't and wouldn't change the price of my book, it isn't ethical.

I didn't respond to their final e-mail.  There is no point.  For the record, the bookstore is A Room of One's Own.  Next week I'll share my experience with the other independent bookstore in Madison.

What do you think of a bookstore charging an independent author/publisher to sell books?