ABA requests Dept of Justice Investigate Amazon pricing

[Julie]

I thought this group would find this article from the ABA interesting.

http://news.bookweb.org/7140.html

If you haven't been following this - a bit of background information. Amazon, Walmart and Target are in a price war for some hardcover bestsellers, pricing the books at $9 (list price $25 - $35), which is much lower than cost to make the book. The ABA sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking it to investigate the predatory pricing practices, explaining how this will not only devastate independent book stores, but also will result in limited choices of books to consumers. I liked the comment made in the NY Times that said if consumers can buy Grisham's latest book for $9, why would they even try a book by a brand new author for $25? Interested to hear people's thought on this ... How do we get consumers to spend 3 times the price of a book at Amazon at their local independent bookstore?

[[deleted user]]

As an indie bookseller, I really enjoyed that article. Especially the link to the Huffington Post column by Petrocelli. I think it's important people realize that indie booksellers aren't solely concerned about their bottom line by opposing these pricing practices. None of us are in this business to make money, so it's personally frustrating to me when others present us in that light.

[John]

I can see how this is going to be a complex problem with no easy answer. I wasn't aware of the price war because we don't have Target, I don't use Amazon and I won't step into Wal-Mart as a matter if principle. Even the independent book stores have a few discounted books so the French example of cover price only sounds expensive and a non free enterprise exercise. Are the people who are looking for the cheap best sellers the same people who frequent and support the independents.
I must confess I will buy the occasional book at Costco, but the have no selection. And selection is the reason to go to an independent store. Hopefully through book sites like this we can tell readers that paying a fair price for a fair product supports the whole book industry. One of the most disturbing things was The Atlantic column about not protecting the small inefficient stores. They are not inefficient, they just can't compete with the volumes of the mega stores. That kind of bigger is better thinking got us into the financial and housing crisis. Have we learned nothing. People should watch the documentary "The High Cost of Low Prices". If you are a real book lover promise to not buy the super cheap books at Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon!