Quote:
Originally Posted by snipenekkid
harry,
are you fully certain this is the law in Australia? You are well versed in UK consumer issues but just wanted to make sure you know for certain that is how it works in Australia.
And in any event much will depend on the consumer protection laws in Australia. Then again $50 will buy, what 1.5 books at prices in Australia? Still it stinks on ice no matter the outcome.
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Harry is quite correct - and Harry, I DID work in insolvency in Australia so I am aware of the reasons I can't use my gift card. But - trading whilst insolvent is an offence. So selling gift cards at Christmas when they could not pay their debts by February may constitute an offence. However, being sent endless offers when I have a useless gift card may not be illegal, but immoral? Or tasteless?
Large booksellers in Australia have behave like the proverbial "dog in the manger" for years, putting small retailers out of business, charging universally high prices and stocking rubbish (and I often suspect, cheap stock which may have been publishers remainders). They ignored on-line sales until they were forced into the market, they generally showed a business acumen which would have been disastrous with a corner snack shop.
Maybe one good thing which could come out of this is that we will go back to having specialist, well-run book shops. However, I think any good bookshop managers have long since gone into other fields.