Quote:
Originally Posted by Purple Lady
Random House was not part of the original price fixing and I would search for Random House books because of this. I didn't buy more that a couple of books from the other publishers because I refused to pay the higher prices. Since Random House is now part of Penguin I wonder if that along with the losses will convince them to try going without agency.
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I suspect that if it were up to RH US, they would stay as is and reap the benefits of size and retailer discounting now that the other BPHs are locked into agency for the next few years. The perks of going last...
...but...
Penguin was a ringleader of the conspiracy (they lobbied B&N to force RH to join in) and Bertlesmann believes in price fixing as much as Hachette so I expect the RH execs will be told to join in with the new normal.
(Shrug.)
If raising consumer prices is so important to them they're willing to lose profits and market share, they can live with the consequences. As long as they didn't leave evidence of collusion lying around thus time. If they did, then they are truly idiots and deserve what they'll get.