"A word after a word after a word is power" - Margaret Atwood

BRIDGET WHELAN

A blog for readers and writers

A blog about the stories we tell each other and how we tell them...

Monday 6 December 2010

How much for that book? Depends where you live

Reports in newspapers today suggest that how much you pay for a book could depend on where you live. Well, it wasn't just books, it was all kinds of Christmas presents (but you weren't thinking of giving anything else, were you?) And it wasn't referring to proper bookshops but High Street chains like John Lewis, Gap, House of Fraser, Argos, HMV, Boots and WH Smith...
 John Lewis! I thought they were the Mother Teresa of commerce, but they are one of the stores that have put their hands up and said yes, that's what we do...
Others are saying no, not possible with our computerised tills - it must be some mistake.
One of the examples the Daily Telegraph gave was WH Smith selling Nigella: Kitchen Recipes From The Heart of The Home and Jamie's 30 Minute Meals, for £3 more  in London than anywhere else. 
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised or annoyed that there isn't a national pricing system. Perhaps there is an argument for a Sunderland price for Shakespeare's plays and a Chelsea price. Maybe I'm just being a bit Monday morning-ish. What do you think?

1 comment:

Miriam said...

That seems like one more argument in favour of online shopping!