A Ludlow book shop is refusing to stock the seventh Harry Potter book because it cannot compete with Tesco’s prices, owners said today.
Nick Galtress, of Ross’s Books, says he cannot buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for the amount Tesco sells it for.
He has posted a sign in his window, which says: “No! We do not stock Harry Potter. Why? Because Tesco can sell it for less than we can buy it for.”
Tesco is selling the title for £8.97, which is less than half of the publisher’s recommended price of £17.99.
Independent book shops have to buy copies of the book from the publisher but they are unable to obtain them as cheaply as £8.97.
Mr Galtress said: “This is not the first instance. I have been unable to buy some CDs at wholesale for the same price that they are sold in supermarkets. For the supermarkets, it amounts to a loss leader. They are able to buy the books or CDs at such a low cost that we simply cannot compete.”
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be published in July.
3 Comments
buy the book from tesco’s and sell it in your shop, no one will notice the difference and at least you will have tescos stock in your shop, which means no one can buy it from tescos
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that is a outrage to harry potter fans every were
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I’m always sorry to see small retailers suffer because of the spending power of big supermarkets however, I buy most of my books on line as the range, price and convenience is far greater than specialist book shops or supermarkets. I’ll be disappointed when most book shops have closed down as I enjoy browsing in them but close they will as their relevence in society and economic viability diminishes.
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