On-Sale Date

Definition: The on-sale date is the day dictated by the publisher on which books are officially available for sale. For many books, the on-sale date is an approximation. However, for some eagerly-awaited new books from bestselling authors, these dates are strictly enforced, so that one retailer doesn't have the advantage of selling the book before another does. If one retailer sells the book before the specified time, it's referred to as breaking the on-sale date and the violators can be penalized.