Quote:
Originally Posted by AnemicOak
In the past they haven't generally seen individual consumers as their customers (that's what booksellers are for  ). |
Depends on how far back you go.
Before the multinationals took over most of what were then the "big boys" did lots of direct business. Doubleday not only had bookstores but also a half dozen mail order book club operations, all sold off when Bertelsmann bought them up.