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Originally Posted by HarryT
I'm not sure that I agree with you. That's exactly the reason that many European countries have fixed prices for books: the benefit for society of keeping small independent bookshops in business is reckoned to outweigh the benefit for the individual consumer of (say) supermarkets selling only the best-seller list at low prices.
And, indeed, since fixed pricing for books in the UK was abolished in 1996, the overwhelming majority of independent bookshops have gone out of business; they just can't compete with the big chains in an open marketplace.
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However, the existence of Amazon et al mean that availability of books has never been greater. Once you can order everything online, the need for local shops becomes much reduced. (Not removed)