The Bookseller.com

30th August 2008

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Hachette's war of attrition with Amazon

21.07.08

"Publishers have had their Dunkirk, and now Hachette is attempting to launch D-Day", is Nick Clee's interpretation of the trade negotiations between Hachette and Amazon.co.uk. "In retrospect, the publishers would admit that they should never have allowed discounts to get so high, and that they ought to have taken a stand much earlier. That is easy to say with hindsight."

"Booksellers’ demands are not going to lessen. The leading booksellers’ market shares, and therefore negotiating clout, may well increase. Publishers are not going to stage a triumphant counter-offensive any time soon. A long war of attrition is ahead."

The headline to the piece, reckons that the conflict will not be over by Christmas.

The Times

Hachette amazon terms