I, Alex Cross is included in the deeply discounted book price war
The American Booksellers Association is taking steps against the recent book price wars waged by Walmart, Target, and Amazon. The three giant retailers have dropped prices on their online sales of anticipated blockbusters to a below-cost $8.99.
Publishers, writers, and others in the publishing industry have worried that such deep discounts will create numerous problems. The work of writers will be devalued, only “major” authors’ work will get attention, leaving newer talented writers to be overlooked, and publishers will be less willing to take chances on innovative works.
The New York Times has reported that the ABA has contacted the Justice Department saying that Walmart, Target, and Amazon are “…engaging in predatory pricing,” which is damaging to the book industry.
Times reporter Mikoto Rich quotes David Young of Hachett Book Group, which publishes James Patterson’s I, Alex Cross, as saying that he would like to see the United States follow France’s model that prohibits selling books below cost. France uses a system of fixed prices on books.
Since 1981, French law dictates that both large chain booksellers and independent booksellers sell the same titles at fixed prices. This has allowed small independent bookstores to maintain their businesses. In an interview with the Hungarian Quarterly, Gallimard Publishing House editor Jean Mattern, commented , “On a national level there is an extremely strong will to keep the diversity of these independent bookstores alive, because these stores serve as a kind of guarantee for the future of independent publishing as well." Many in the book industry agree that extreme measures like this should be taken here in the U.S. Others think the problem will work itself out, even though small independent bookstores find it increasingly difficult to maintain a successful business against the large chains.
See Examiner's earlier articles:
Amazon and Walmart in book price war
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