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It’s actually almost the same in Germany. I don’t know the details, but we have fixed prices (no +/- wiggle room) and the rest of your post rings true. Though i
by Semaphor 4y ago
It’s actually almost the same in Germany. I don’t know the details, but we have fixed prices (no +/- wiggle room) and the rest of your post rings true. Though independent book stores have been dying with mainly major chains surviving.
This is only for German books, though, foreign languages are not affected by the fixed prices.
- robertlagrant 4y ago> Though independent book stores have been dying with mainly major chains surviving. This isn't surprising - larger chains can get economies of scale and spend that money on hiring the best staff / more marketing / more locations / lower delivery costs / faster delivery / nicer shops. Smaller shops not being able to charge more for their books sounds detrimental to their survival.
- Semaphor 4y agoThe lack of fixed prices would have killed them even faster. It’s not big chains killing them, it’s that only big chains manage to hold on to life vs Amazon & Co. We have had some kind of fixed book price regulation since 1888 (yes, that’s an 1800, not 1900).