To the point: Don't change your mind
The book industry is celebrating in Frankfurt. A year ago, the Bundesrat banned fixed book prices in German-speaking Switzerland. Booksellers were able to set their own prices and were no longer required to adhere to the prices set by publishers.
In Frankfurt, the book industry celebrates itself. A year ago, the Federal Council banned fixed book prices in German-speaking Switzerland. Booksellers were free to set their own prices and no longer had to adhere to the prices prescribed by publishers. The parliamentary Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxation commissioned the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) to draw up a report on the initial effects of the abolition of fixed book prices. The results of the study are now available.
What was the impact of the abolition of fixed book prices? The average list prices of all books rose by 6.8 percent in German-speaking Switzerland between March 2007 and March 2008. This figure is entirely in line with the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV), which had always argued that the abolition of fixed book prices would make books more expensive, with the exception of bestsellers. Therefore, the abolition of fixed book prices would also be harmful to consumers.
But let's take a closer look at the matter. The 6.7 percent increase relates to list prices in German-speaking Switzerland and not to actual selling prices.
Here, the situation is quite different. The hitherto passive book trade suddenly moved. Ex Libris offers a 15 percent discount on the list price of its full range and 30 percent on its bestsellers. Large bookstore chains offer discounts of up to 30 percent on their own bestsellers. Smaller booksellers offer discounts on selected ranges or have introduced customer loyalty systems where regular customers can also benefit from discounts.
Consumers can therefore save money if they inform themselves. For a basket of 20 titles without bestsellers, this was 14.7 percent in June 2008 and 16.5 percent for one with bestsellers.
Of course, this does not suit the SBCV, and Ex Libris was promptly sued. The SBCV paints the death of smaller bookstores on the wall with the fall of the fixed book price. I am firmly convinced that this horror scenario is wrong. It is always used when protected and rigid relationships have been nurtured in an industry for decades. To the benefit of the industry, at the expense of the consumer.
The small bookstore has a real chance of survival in the market. But only if it takes care of its customers. Many have recognized the signs of the times, only the association is still trying to stop a normal development. Structural preservation instead of innovation. As usual. A pity.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
What was the impact of the abolition of fixed book prices? The average list prices of all books rose by 6.8 percent in German-speaking Switzerland between March 2007 and March 2008. This figure is entirely in line with the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association (SBVV), which had always argued that the abolition of fixed book prices would make books more expensive, with the exception of bestsellers. Therefore, the abolition of fixed book prices would also be harmful to consumers.
But let's take a closer look at the matter. The 6.7 percent increase relates to list prices in German-speaking Switzerland and not to actual selling prices.
Here, the situation is quite different. The hitherto passive book trade suddenly moved. Ex Libris offers a 15 percent discount on the list price of its full range and 30 percent on its bestsellers. Large bookstore chains offer discounts of up to 30 percent on their own bestsellers. Smaller booksellers offer discounts on selected ranges or have introduced customer loyalty systems where regular customers can also benefit from discounts.
Consumers can therefore save money if they inform themselves. For a basket of 20 titles without bestsellers, this was 14.7 percent in June 2008 and 16.5 percent for one with bestsellers.
Of course, this does not suit the SBCV, and Ex Libris was promptly sued. The SBCV paints the death of smaller bookstores on the wall with the fall of the fixed book price. I am firmly convinced that this horror scenario is wrong. It is always used when protected and rigid relationships have been nurtured in an industry for decades. To the benefit of the industry, at the expense of the consumer.
The small bookstore has a real chance of survival in the market. But only if it takes care of its customers. Many have recognized the signs of the times, only the association is still trying to stop a normal development. Structural preservation instead of innovation. As usual. A pity.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
